Avinash Diwakar returns to screen with ‘Chase’

Avinash Diwakar’s last appearance on the big screen may have been six years ago, but in his latest release, chaseFor his role as a CCB officer on the hunt for criminals, the actor is known for the same subtlety and underplay that he is known for.

like his last movie last bus (2016), chase There’s also a thriller, a genre that Avinash confesses he’s really attracted to. But what sealed the deal for him was the opportunity to play a cop in a film that revolves around the issue of the medical mafia.

“I don’t like working in commercial films with characters that are exaggerated. I prefer content-oriented themes,” he says.

it would be wrong to call chase Avinash’s comeback because although the film saw a delayed release last week due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was shot in 2017-18. However, Gamble was working with debutant director, Vilok Shetty.

“Vilok saw my previous work last bus And thus he came to me. We had our own opinion about how certain things should look as there were ups and downs, because I was also the art director for this film. However, for a newcomer, Willok is technically sound,” says Avinash.

To prepare for the role, Avinash met some real-life policemen to understand how they work. “They don’t trust people easily,” he says. “There is always an air of doubt. But Vilok did not want me to play a tough cop as the character also demanded that I become weak and emotional, so we kept it subtle,” says Avinash.

Grandson of renowned Kannada comedian Narasimharaju, Avinash’s journey into acting has traced an uneven graph due to his many other activities. A graduate of Chitrakala Parishad, Avinash is a visual artist, an art director and designer for ad films and also the CEO of an OTT platform.

He entered the industry by accident, through the direction of his brother Arvind Diwakar, Jugari (2010). Even after a decade, commercial success is yet to shine on it. Avinash attributes this to his hesitation.

Pictures by actors Avinash Diwakar and Chal Chase | photo credit: special arrangement

Prior to this, he says, he had a “mental block” in regards to ‘dancing around the trees’ for the camera. But after spending more time in front of the camera, she is now determined to overcome these self-imposed restrictions. A new imagination of himself has just begun and Avinash is aware of the hard work that will have to follow. But what matters is the time they feel.

“As an artist, I have already made it up in my head. As an actor, there is still some way to go. But there comes a time in our lives when things just click; The twist where you tell yourself that now you can do better and do justice to a wider range of characters. It’s an experience I’ve had with acting recently,” he says.

Also, given his multiple interests, Avinash is honest about the fact that he was always an artist, never an actor. And a product of these artistic sensibilities is Katte, an OTT platform founded by the ‘Jugari Brothers’ in 2021, exclusively to cater to the entertainment needs of Karnataka and promote local artists.

Katte’s aim was to capture the essence of Karnataka and its people through shows created in its many languages ​​and regional dialects, including Tulu, Kodava, Konkani, Havyaka, North Karnataka, Old Mysore region, Kannada and Kanglish.

Pictures by actors Avinash Diwakar and Chal Chase | photo credit: special arrangement

Avinash explains how, in the last 30 years, children are being sent to top schools to learn English, putting Kannada in a perilous position. “Our answer is to come up with good original content across age groups ranging from rhymes, bedtime stories, quiz and reality shows for kids as well as web series, movies, sports, travel and food stuff for adults. Our vision is for Katte to be a cultural platform that will take Kannada to every household and showcase the finer cultural nuances that we see every 30 km in Karnataka,” explains Avinash.

For now, the platform has such shows Namma Orina Rasikru, comedy pantru and many short films. An interesting line-up of children’s content including an interactive quiz on Kannada and Carnatic as well as a music show called Sangeet Petige, similar to Coke Studio, is also planned.

However, a year after inception, these best-laid plans are either awaiting execution or are released due to paucity of funds. Avinash believes that investors are afraid to take a chance on something which is still in its early stages.

“People don’t trust anything new. Investors aren’t sure whether an OTT just for Kannada content will be profitable or not. Instead everyone will put their weight behind companies that are already established.”

The actor-entrepreneur feels the only solution is to keep experimenting and pumping new things into the ocean of content. And once things settle down, Avinash is confident that the audience will discover Katte for all things fresh, local and cultural.

“Like Netflix and Amazon, solid content and an initial promotional push are needed. Subscribers themselves will market the content with word-of-mouth, says Avinash.

In the immediate future, Avinash is excited about a feature film project, which is likely to both direct and act. “It is still in its scripting stage and may come out in the next 6-7 months. This is where I am hoping to make a difference with my acting,” he says.