The anthology style of filmmaking is not new to Kannada cinema. Right from ‘Katha Sangama’ by the legendary director S.R. Puttanna Kanagal, a few have tried and tested this approach, but the impact has often been minimal.
Now, a team of five directors and one producer, with Raj B. Shetty providing voice-over (with three objectionable words), come together to narrate stories from behind the scenes of the cinema industry. The trailer of ‘BTS’ – Behind the Scenes, is directed by Prajchal Raju, Sai Srinidhi, Kuldeep Cariappa, Rajesh N. Shankad, and Apoorva Bhardwaj. The five tales converge at one point in a two-and-a-half-hour screenplay. The excitement, highs, and lows of filmmaking are quintessentially captured in BTS.
The five directors have made a new attempt by bringing the unseen aspects of filmmaking to the forefront. The trailer release of the movie has been well-received. Wishing the team good luck, ‘Bheem’s’ producer Krishna Sarthak conveyed his best wishes to the team.
On this occasion, one of the directors, Kuldeep Cariappa, explained that his story, titled “Hero,” attempts to reveal rare insights through film.
Another director, Sai Srinidhi, of “Coffee, Cigarettes, and Lies,” said that Muruli Krishna supported his vision. “We have made an honest effort,” he said, adding that coffee, cigarettes, and lies are central to his story.
Prajwal Raj mentioned that “Banigondu Elle Ellide” is part of the story he directed. Rajesh’s debut tale is titled ‘Blockbuster.’
Director Apoorva Bhardwaj of the ‘Sumoha’ tale shared that she appeared as an actress for many years, but now she has taken on the role of director. “The concept of five directors telling five stories intrigued me, so I agreed to direct one of the stories. Mahadev Prasad and Sripriya star in my story about makeup,” she said, adding that she would dedicate the film to the makeup artist and touch-up boy.
Many directors win the hearts of producers with their stories but fail to translate them into successful films. Producer Muruli Krishna said, “BTS is a film made up of five stories by five directors. The five directors are the backbone of this film.” He expressed confidence that audiences would appreciate the film.
Actors like Vijay Krishna, Mahadev Prasad, Sripriya, Kaushik, Chandana, Vijay Krishna, and others shared their thoughts on the film.
At the “BTS” trailer launch event, directors Ramenahalli Jagannath, Vinay Pritam, Gururaj Kulkarni, Sridhar Shikaripura, Jaishankar, and dignitaries like Devanur Chandru, Chetan Keshav, Islawuddin, and others were present.