Rakshit, Raj and Rishabh are endorsing the talent, culture and language of Dakshina Kannada, which are often sidelined as the comic relief of a film.
In October, Kannada star Rakshit Shetty – known for backing and being a part of ‘Thinking Projects’ – tweeted about a film that blew his mind and his collaboration with production house Paramvah. do. On 19th November when Raj B Shetty’s Garuda Gaman Taurus Vehicle ,GGVV) released, viewers can relate to that emotional announcement.
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The film marked the coming together of three talents from Dakshina Kannada, the coastal southern tip of Karnataka. It starred Raj (34) and Rishabh Shetty (38), and was presented by Rakshit (38). “It stayed with me for more than three days, which is very rare for me,” says Rakshit, who watched it during the Covid-19 lockdown in June 2020. “I knew it was special and I had to be a part of it. Its.” The film has now been picked up by Zee-5 – the third Kannada film the OTT platform has picked up recently – and is expected to gain the kind of national popularity that Malayalam and Tamil films are currently experiencing. Huh.
A scene from ‘Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana’
lead a revival
Dakshina Kannada is slowly reclaiming its place in mainstream Kannada cinema. Although actor-directors Kashinath and Upendra paved the way a few decades ago, unfortunately, the region’s unique dialect and sing-song will soon be used to evoke laughter rather than merely serving as a cultural indicator. Had been. Exactly as it happened in Tamil Nadu deep south and Hindi hinterland, before the revival (in Tamil, it was ‘Madurai Triumvirate’ – as Anurag Kashyap Bala, Amir and Sasikumar call it – with films like Subramaniapuram, bridge, And paruthiviran, In Hindi, filmmakers like Kashyap, Prakash Jha and Aanand Rai went back to small towns in films. gangs of wasseypur, Gangajal, And Tanu Weds Manu,
Rakshit Shetty
Rakshit’s first directorial debut of 2014 which again made headlines in Dakshina Kannada was, Ulidavaru Kandanthe. The crime drama inspired others in the industry such as Rishabh (Kirik Party, Government Hiriya Prathmika Shale… Kasaragodu) and Raj. Today, all three are ensuring the region’s stories, language, cuisine and distinct culture. Pili Vesha) Attention to the whole of Karnataka and beyond.
all things local
GGVV Refers to the trinity of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Not unexpected, as the three actor-directors were surrounded by Yakshagana, theatrical dance drama and other local art forms. Udupi boy Rakshit remembers watching Pili Vesha Artist painting outside his house. “When I write my movies, these images float,” he says.
A scene from ‘Sarkari Hiriya Prathmika Shale-Kasaragodu’
Rishabh was in the sixth grade when he played the role of Lord Subramaniam in a Yakshagana performance at his village Keradi in Kundapura, about 40 km from Udupi. Raj, the youngest of the Shetty trio, grew up in Bhadravati, near Shimoga, before moving to Mangaluru. “I wonder if any other region of the country offers such a cultural smorgasbord, with so many performing arts: Yakshagana, Bhootkola, dance and music, and festivals,” says the actor-director, who also fell in love with Mangaluru Kannada.
I understand what that means. his movie ondhu motteya kathe – About a young bald man in search of love Ujda Chaman and in Malayalam as Tamasha:) – The first Kannada film I saw after going to Mangaluru in 2017. It was surreal looking at the moss-green walls, the familiar areas depicted in the film. And the language, that was sheer poetry.
Rishabh Shetty
language factor
In fact, it was the language – specifically Mangaluru and Kasaragod Kannada – that Raj and Rishabh bonded in 2017. influenced by the kingdom Omke, The latter asked him to write some dialogues Government…, a 2018 film about a Kannada medium school struggling to survive in the border district of Kasaragod. The ‘deal’ was signed in Bengaluru on rice and leftover fish curry (without fish). “I think our boys [Raj and his team] was happy to have femoral-style curry and steamed rice in town,” smiles Rishabh, adding that Raj “wrote the dialogues for 10 scenes in 10 minutes, and turned them into the other five”.
Rishabh and Rakshit’s friendship, meanwhile, goes back to their years of struggle, especially 2011-2012. Rakshit, an engineering graduate, was trying to make a mark in cinema, and Rishabh, who had a diploma in directing from the Government Film and TV Institute in Bengaluru, did everything from real estate to selling water cans in Bengaluru. It was when the two met. On the sets of Arvind Kaushik Tughlaq – The debut of Rakshit as the protagonist, with Rishabh as the antagonist. We used to sit in front of Tribhuvan Theater every day to watch the reaction of the audience [as they exited], We were told that some films pick up on the fourth day. A week later, it moved to another theater, and we waited there too, without luck, ”recalls Rakshit.
A scene from ‘Katha Sangam’
In 2014, they will collaborate ulidavaru kandante, now a cult classic, and in 2016 the two came together Kirik Party, protect is working now Richard Anthony, which takes ulidavaruThe story goes on (while delving a bit into the past). Meanwhile, I find out, Raj was initially wary of interacting with Rakshit – he stayed away from the stars. “But when I finally met him during the Covid-19 lockdown and we discussed cinema, I saw a kind soul. I wrote an idea to him for an OTT project, and he liked what he saw GGVV And offered to offer it,” he says.
a growing community
Each of them, in their own way, has helped create an ecosystem of like-minded creators. Rakshit invests heavily in writing and his team, Rakshit and the Seven Odds, is quite popular in the industry. a reason they decided to make Ulidavaru Kandanthe It was in Dakshina Kannada dialect because he was tired of hearing bad versions of the dialect on screen. “That’s not the language we speak,” he insists.
Rishabh has been producing films from across the state and supporting new talent. He does this because “no one has to stop pedaling for 10 years before they can ride a bicycle!” – He has to make a movie (Ricky, 2016) after 10 years of struggle.
For Raj, his ecosystem is his friend and his cinematographer-editor Praveen Shriyan, with whom he has worked since his first short film. “When like-minded people are involved in a project, it becomes more valuable… I feel like I am succumbing to the selfish motive of seeing the creation of pure art,” he says.
A scene from ‘Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana’
,Writing is deeply cathartic’
Rakshit, Rishabh and Raj – who write, act, direct and produce films – learn from each of their roles. “When I direct someone like Anant Nag [Sarkari Shaale], I subconsciously choose something that I can use as an actor. Similarly, when I act with someone like Raj, I wonder what he does as a director,” says Rishabh.
when not at work
- Outside of cinema, all three are as different as can be. Rakshit loves Indian mythology and is deeply spiritual. Raj is involved in cooking, cricket and volleyball, and spends time with his dogs. “I don’t discuss them when I’m not making movies,” he says, as we share recommendations about the latest Sunday parlors in town. And Rishabh is a mix of many characters played by him. “I don’t think much about what to do outside cinema. Main Hari, Main Diwakar [from the 2019 Kannada film Bell Bottom], I keep working at will. I keep everyone on their toes,” he laughs.
For Raj, the stories come from his lived experiences. So, writing is deeply cathartic. He calls himself first a writer, then a director and an actor. “Producing my own films gives me the freedom to write without worrying about selling. My friends take the tough side of production. I only lend my name. So when someone like Rakshit offers to present the film, I feel happy, because it frees me up to just be creative,” he smiles.
Rakshit considers himself the first author. “I’m constantly watching and absorbing things. And so, the writing happens very naturally. As a producer, I have the eye of a hawk – I don’t manage to be astute. As an actor I just have to come on set and be the character,” he says.
Do the three men look forward to collaborating more often? Yes, but only if the script demands it. They want to work with filmmakers from other parts of Karnataka to help others lead and tell their stories in a commercial format.
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