Hamsalekha, known as a senior figure in the Kannada film industry as a music director and writer, has now taken up the role of director. He is directing a film titled ‘OK’. The launch event and press meet of the film was held yesterday at a private hotel in Bengaluru. Actor Ravichandran was present as the special guest at the event.
Speaking at the event, Ravichandran said, “I cancelled my shoot today and rushed from Kanakapura to attend this event. I don’t know where to start speaking. You are Raju (Hamsalekha), but it was you who made me appear like a king on screen. If I earned fame on screen, the credit goes to you and your songs. People keep saying that films are not running well, but every week there is a success meet happening. That itself has become an issue. We started giving hits back in 1986—that was real success. Not even once did we rest on that success because as soon as one film was done, another project would begin. Hamsalekha came into my life due to fate. Our friendship had no calculations. I don’t know calculations; I only know filmmaking. Even today if someone asks how much profit films like Premaloka or Ranadheera made, I don’t know. N.S. Rao introduced Hamsalekha to me. Our friendship was without blemish. We never walked with our arms on each other’s shoulders, never sat together in a bar. We only made films together,” he said.
Hamsalekha said, “I had met Ravichandran to invite him to this event. We spoke for two and a half hours about the film industry and various developments. He asked why people are not making films like Ramachari, Halli Mestru, Rajahuli these days. He questioned why they are not being made. If he loses 10 kg, he will be a divine-looking actor. A handsome actor. A person crazy about music. He can make small films. But technology has now shifted focus to Pan-India talk. Our industry too has moved in that direction. We have 150-200 directors who are all doing experiments. Experiments should be in laboratories, not in kitchens. Cinema means songs, dialogues, comedy. When these are present, the audience likes it. In villages they grow both market and home crops. Market crops like sugarcane are consumed rarely. Home crops like onion, brinjal, potato are used daily. Likewise, we must make small films rooted in our culture. I have many stories, but I decided to make this film. Five years ago, Adip Akhtar had written a story called Panjara. After reading the story, I called him, got his signature and gave him an advance. Films need stories with the soil’s flavor and such storytellers. When these come, the common audience will enjoy films regularly. If stories carry Kannada DNA, people will watch films. Through this film, we have decided to conduct a movement to bring audiences back to theatres with social, educational, and emotional responsibility,” he said.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has extended his wishes to Hamsalekha for this new venture. Nagesh Vashtaar and Suryaprakash are producing the film directed by Hamsalekha under Akanksha Productions and Aidani Entertainment banners. Aidani is Hamsalekha’s own company. The cast will be announced in the coming days.
