The 1970s film Nagarahavu was a super hit, and though movies with the same title were released twice later, their stories were different. However, a film titled Chamayya Son of Ramachari, which uses the names of the original characters, has quietly wrapped up production. As part of the initial promotions, a two-minute trailer was unveiled at the packed SRV Theatre. Under the Jolige Cinemas banner, Pallakki has handled the writing, direction, and also played a significant role in the film. Radha Krishna Pallakki has financed the movie, with Gautham Pallakki and V. Govindaraju joining as co-producers. The tagline reads Kote Nadina Nagarahavu (The Cobra of the Fort Land).
Speaking on the occasion, the director shared that during the filming of Ee Bandhana, he had met Dr. Vishnuvardhan and discussed a small thread of this story, which the veteran actor had liked. However, after Dr. Vishnuvardhan’s demise, he decided to drop the project. Later, during a visit to North Karnataka to watch a play, he was inspired by senior theatre artist Jayashree Raj’s performance, which reignited his interest in making this film.
In the climax of the original film, Ramachari dies. However, in this version, he survives and returns to his village, where he is shunned by everyone. Wrestler Basappa (played by M.P. Shankar) helps him get a job in a company-run drama troupe. There, he falls in love with a woman, and they have a son named Chamayya. The film also explores how the people of Chitradurga in those days and the present generation behave. Later, Ramachari experiences a terrible tragedy in his life, leading him to take drastic steps. Meanwhile, a crime occurs during a Hindu Mahasabha event. Some scenes that were supposed to feature Chitradurga Fort have instead been shot at other historical forts associated with great leaders, briefly touching on their histories. The film has been shot in beautiful locations like Bengaluru, Badami, Banashankari, and Aihole.
Actor Jaleel (Ambareesh) plays the role of Chhota Jaleel, a police inspector investigating a murder. Director Pallakki urged the media to promote the film. Jayashree Raj, who plays Ramachari, shared his filming experience, emphasizing that he did not imitate Sahasa Simha Vishnuvardhan’s performance but instead applied his own theatre-based approach.
Pradeep Shastri plays Chamayya, Chaitra plays his daughter, and Prakash Arasu takes on the role of the school principal (originally played by Loknath). Other actors include Prema Gowda, Vinuta, Raghavendra, Sudhakar, Suryateja, Karthik, Gurukiran, Sandeep, and professional theatre artists.
Dr. Kumar Chalya and Haito have penned ghazal-style lyrics, with music composed by San. Cinematography is handled by M.R. Seenu, and editing is by Shivakumar E. Pallakki Studios has planned to release the film to audiences in April.
