Who has not heard the ‘Punyakoti’ song? It can be said that there is hardly anyone who has not heard the song “Punyakoti.”
Renowned novelist, writer, agricultural scientist, and professor K.N. Ganeshaiah has recreated that iconic song and titled it “Punyakoti Shatakaruni.” Loftyland, in association with Dini Cine Creations, has produced this song as a visual poem. It is directed by Balu Chandrasekhar. The music is composed by Ajay Srinivasamurthy, while Meghana Haliyal, Chintan Vikas, and Aarav Joshi have rendered the song.
Recently, the launch event of this visual poem was held grandly at the Puneeth Rajkumar Auditorium in the A.N. Krishna Community Hall at Yediyur, Jayanagar. Rajya Sabha Member Sudha Murty and renowned actor Ramesh Aravind officially launched the visual poem. It is noteworthy that the visual poem has been made in both Kannada and English. Ramesh Aravind himself has lent his voice to the English version. Following the launch, the dignitaries and members of the team addressed the gathering.
Speaking on the occasion, highly respected Sudha Murty said that Ganeshaiah is very fond of Punyakoti, so much so that he has even named his daughter Punyakoti. “We all grew up listening to the Punyakoti song. We have always seen only Punyakoti’s sacrifice. But here, Ganeshaiah has portrayed the sacrifice of Shatakaruni (the tiger). The concluding line, ‘Lokavellavu Ekavagi Naakavaguvidi Dhare’ (May the whole world become one and turn into heaven), deeply touched me. May this visual poem reach not only Karnataka but every corner. My congratulations to the entire team,” she said.
Actor Ramesh Aravind said, “In the principal’s room of the school where I studied, there was a painting of a smiling woman in a pink saree holding a lamp. Below it was written ‘Lady with the Lamp.’ Whenever I saw that painting, I was reminded of Sudha Murty. Through her writings and charitable work, she spreads light everywhere. I thank her for releasing this visual poem.
K.N. Ganeshaiah has been giving us fascinating stories for the past three decades by blending science with history and philosophy. I have been waiting to make a film by combining his novels Kanaka Musuku and Karisiriyana into a screenplay. He has crafted this visual poem just as beautifully. The animation in this visual poem is simply outstanding.
Further Ramesh Aravind said “I have never seen a tiger riding on a cow until now. Thanks to director Balu’s imagination. By taking a story that is collectively remembered by everyone and saying that there is another story behind it, Ganeshaiah has presented something unique through this visual poem. My heartfelt thanks once again to him and the entire team.”
Speaking on the occasion, K.N. Ganeshaiah said, “We named our daughter Punyakoti. When she was about one and a half years old, my wife and I used to take her into the forest. She would often return with scratches and wounds. Seeing that, my father would scold us. He even wrote a song about it. In that song, Punyakoti was my daughter, while my wife and I were the villains. My father is no more. Now, in this song, I have killed Punyakoti. Had he seen this, I would have become a permanent villain in his eyes.
In the song written by my father, when he portrayed me as the tiger, I felt I should argue that even the tiger was a good being. That became the foundation of this story. In my version, the story ended with Punyakoti’s death. A girl named Aparna said the story was very good but suggested that it should not end there. She said, ‘You are an environmental scientist. Please add that the lineage of Punyakoti and Shatakaruni continued.’ That girl’s suggestion expanded the story.
Balu Chandrasekhar said he would make it into a film. For the English version of this visual poem, Ramesh Aravind gave his voice. The words he spoke about it and the tears that came to Sudha Murty’s eyes when I showed the visual poem at her office deeply moved me.”
Director Balu Chandrasekhar, originally an engineer, also shared information about the journey of making this animation film and thanked everyone who supported the project. Dinesh of Dini Cine Creations was also present at the event.
Though music director Ajay Srinivasamurthy is a newcomer, he has composed excellent music. A truly Kannada team has created this song in a way that the whole world can appreciate.
