Veteran actor, director, and writer Prakash Belawadi, a former journalist at the Indian Express in Bengaluru, opined that theater is better and safer than today’s Kannada cinema.
Speaking at the song launch event for the film Signal Man 1971, which was held at a private hotel in the city, he remarked that audiences are no longer coming to theaters to watch Kannada films. However, he noted that even today, their work continues to receive support in the theater, and he hoped that such an atmosphere would return to the film industry soon. The film Signal Man 1971 is set during the Indo-Bangla war and features two main characters. Belawadi emphasized that they have strived to portray the story as realistically as possible and encouraged people to watch and support the film.
Director K. Sivarudraiah mentioned that the story is based on a novel by Charles Dickens. He explained that, during the Great War, the “Mysore Lancer” team, sent by the Maharaja of Mysore to support the European army, recorded a song commemorating the victory at Haifa port. They intended to release it from the royal family in Mysore, and it was successfully released today. He expressed his happiness that it was released by the royal family. The film was shot at a railway station on the Ooty railway line, where a train used to pass by eight times a day. Each time, the camera and lights had to be moved off the track and set aside. Despite the rain and cold, they managed to complete the shoot. He urged the Kannada audience to support the film by watching it.
Maharaja and MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta released the song of Chamaraja Wodeyar and spoke about the deeds of the Maharaja of Mysore state a century ago, expressing pleasure in showcasing these through the song.
Dr. Vijayaprakash and Pallavi provided background vocals for the song Mysuru Namma Arasara Mysuru…, written by Baraguru Ramachandrappa, with music composed by Ausipachan.
The film is produced by BV Ganesh Prabhu under the banner Hindustan Mukta Media Entertainer, with theater actors Venkatesh Prasad, Rajesh Nataranga, and others in the cast.
