The word “Anna” is very important. With this quintessential topic, director Islahuddin, in his second film, presents a touching tale of a young boy surrounded by various cultural dimensions. This film is based on a short story collection by writer Hanur Chennappa.
The songs are beautifully composed and sung, and the teaser release of this film was created by director Yograj Bhatt.
The director of this film, N. S. Islahuddin, originally from Mysore, was trained in Rangayana, participated in camps, and directed plays. He won four gold medals in his academic days and received film-making training in England. He has worked in TV channels and directed some advertisements. In 2009, the idea of directing a movie arose. Today’s star actors Dhananjaya, Nagabhushan, and Purnachandra are from his camps. He then started a movie called “Nodi Swami Navirode Heege,” which is now on the Zee TV platform.
For this film “Anna,” music director Nagesh Kandigala shared insights about the story. After learning about the Kannada Sahitya Akademi Award-winning short story “Anna” by Hanur Chennappa, he began working on this project. This story is set in the 1980s. Kandigala mentioned his familiarity with rice through ration cards and noted that in some villages, rice was only prepared on festival days. The film revolves around the significance of rice and tells the story of a boy from a poor family who goes missing at a fair, raising awareness about the importance of rice. The film, screened at the Bangalore International Film Festival, received emotional reactions and high praise. It was also discussed in an assembly session, and a special screening was arranged for the minister under the leadership of UT Khader. The film is now ready to be released on September 6.
The film, set in the 1980s, is based on a story written by Hanur Chennappa in 2004 and is being presented on the silver screen in 2024. The story “Anna” was a 22-page part of a seven-story anthology. Chennappa, from Chamarajanagar, was inspired by a real-life incident involving a boy who disappeared six months prior. The story explores the impact of seeing rice, usually a festival treat, becoming a daily sight. This inspiration led to the rice story in the film. Chennappa expressed satisfaction with the film adaptation and emphasized the importance of spreading the culture of their land, language, and traditions.
Basavaraj, the producer of the film, shared that it was made in 2021 with a limited budget. Nagesh Kandegala, the music director, along with the director and some friends, worked hard on this project. There are five songs in the film, each fitting the situations in the story. They particularly used a folk song about Madeshwara Swamy. The film, set around Chamarajanagar, emphasizes the importance of rice and the need to avoid wasting it. Kandegala also worked as an executive producer for the film.
Master Nandan, who played the role of Mahadev, shared that the director taught him a lot during the filming. He credited his father for the acting opportunity, which he got through his mobile reels. The movie’s message is about respecting and not wasting rice. Nandan mentioned that he has two or three more films lined up while he continues his schooling.
Padma Shri, trained in Rangayana and NSD in Mysore, and engaged in theater activities in Delhi, praised the language, plot, and basic purpose of the story. She played the role of Nandan’s mother in the film. Another actress, Dr. Bhubaneswari, a Bharatanatyam dancer, described the film as very different, combining themes of food, hunger, mother, and son, and expressed her happiness in being part of the team.
Siddu Prasanna, Sampath Maithriya, Bala Rajwadi, Ramesh Siddiyanapura, Nagashree, and other local talents were also trained and featured in the film.
Madhu Sagata handled cinematography, N. Maheshwar managed art direction, and B.N. Siddu Prasanna wrote the dialogues and shared his experiences. This film, which conveys the importance of rice along with the beauty of rural areas, will soon hit the silver screens.
