‘Kalyani’ is a pain Indian film, Not Just a Pan-India Project the richly talented director BM Giriraj explained in the middle of his speech at the audio launch of the film. Giriraj and his 24-year-old friend Kumarswamy join hands for the film; three songs screened at Utsav Legacy on Thursday afternoon.
The film, which brings together Kannada and Hindi, explores internal conflicts, relationships and the question of who truly belongs to us. Blending action, dance and emotional layers, Kalyani aims to offer audiences a distinctive cinematic experience.
Director Giriraj, who joined Hamsalekha’s studio in 2013, is known for his unconventional approach to filmmaking. His earlier film ‘Jatta’ reflected his interest in exploring social boundaries and human relationships. With ‘Kalyani’, he continues to pursue stories that go beyond conventional commercial cinema.
The film has been made by Giriraj and his friend Kumarswamy, with whom he shares a friendship spanning 24 years. The team described ‘Kalyani’ not merely as a pain-India film but as an Indian film that seeks to connect with audiences through its themes and storytelling.
The film features three songs, each adding to its emotional and narrative appeal. Music composer Bharat BJ has incorporated folk influences and traditional instruments into the compositions, drawing on folk styles from four different regions.
The songs include Ninna Lukku Fantastikku, composed by All Okay, and team has also obtained permission to use a song associated with Da.Ra. Bendre, Gnanapith award winner from her daughter Punarvasu -Bangara Neera is beautifully sung by Bharat BJ.
Singer Prithvi Bhat has lent his voice to the project. Vijay Eshwar, an admirer of Giriraj, was also associated with the film. Gnanesh and Arju have handled the editing, while Prashanth Sagar is the cinematographer. Murali and Geetha have choreographed the songs.
Hero Samraj Shetty said Kalyani would be a film that audiences in Karnataka could proudly identify with. His character, Gowrishankar, shares a childhood and youth with his friend but struggles to understand him fully, bringing another dimension to the film’s exploration of relationships.
The film also features actors PD Satish, Samarpan, Shailender and Rahul Jaitley, a Punjabi actor who plays a prominent role.
Actress Yamuna Srinidhi plays the antagonist in the film. She said she was keen to work with a director like Giriraj and was particularly attracted to the role because it offered an opportunity to demonstrate her acting abilities.
She explained that the character required considerable preparation and practice. She also said she had delivered dialogues in Hindi for the film.
Actress Samragni, who has worked in four languages as an actor, writer and director, was among those present at the event. Navya and other members of the team also attended.
Kathyayini Steps into Her Husband’s Cinematic World – One of the interesting aspects of ‘Kalyani’ is the involvement of Kathyayini, Giriraj’s wife, who has acted in the film and contributed to costume design. Kathyayini said she had been married to Giriraj for 14 years and had often wondered why he was so deeply attached to cinema, sometimes appearing more connected to his films than to his home life.
Wanting to understand his passion and experience his creative world firsthand, she decided to enter the film industry herself. She said the experience helped her gain a deeper understanding of his work. While home remains the place she returns to, Kalyani gave her an opportunity to explore acting and costume design.
Well known director Shashank, who launched songs from the film, praised Giriraj’s distinctive approach to filmmaking. He observed that new talent was making its presence felt in towns and cities across Karnataka. According to him, Giriraj has always given importance to the story, while his films are also known for their unconventional ideas. He noted that songs are relatively rare in Giriraj’s films, making the musical elements in Kalyani particularly interesting.
With its blend of Kannada and Hindi, layered relationships, internal conflicts, action, dance and folk-inspired music, Kalyani marks the beginning of R.K. Cinema’s production journey.
