‘Karavali’ movie review: A race that stumbles before the finish line

Kambala, the high-speed buffalo-racing sport, had a small yet significant presence in Rishab Shetty’s Kantara (2022). That movie used the sport as a tool to depict the fearless, fierce energy of its protagonist. Now, imagine a movie that revolves around Kambala — its politics and the rich history behind the century-old tradition — while giving as much importance to the animals as to the men who race them. That’s exactly what director Gurdhatha Ganiga’s Karavali sets out to do.