The trailer of the film Veera Chandrahasa, directed by music composer Ravi Basrur, was unveiled at the Anegudde Shri Vinayaka temple in Kundapura. The event also included a ceremony to honor Yakshagana artists, marking a unique celebration of coastal Karnataka’s cultural heritage.
Ravi Basrur, known for composing music for blockbuster films like KGF, Salaar, Bhairathi Ranagal, and Ugram, has now turned director for Veera Chandrahasa, a film centered on the traditional Yakshagana art form. The film is set to release on April 18. It is produced by S.S. Rajkumar and presented by the prestigious production house Hombale Films.
Speaking at the event, Ravi Basrur said, “This has been a dream of many years. I wanted to take Yakshagana to a global platform. When I shared my vision, Nagraj Naikambli and Naveen Shetty stood firmly with me. The film features real Yakshagana artists in every role. Shithil Shetty plays Chandrahasa, and Prasanna Shettigar portrays the character of Dushtabuddhi. Their dedication to the film has been immense.”
He also shared technical insights about the film: “We’ve used between 600 and 700 music tracks for the background score and involved 400 to 500 Yakshagana artists in the shoot. Art director Prabhu Badiger exceeded our expectations with the set design. We didn’t use artificial lighting — the entire film was shot in natural light. We shot for 35 to 40 days at a set built near Hebbal, within a budget of ₹8 to ₹10 crore.”
Nagraj Naikambli mentioned that the story of Veera Chandrahasa is inspired by an episode from the Jaimini Bharata, and emphasized the intention behind the film: “This is not just made with effort but with devotion. Some social media platforms have misrepresented Yakshagana, but this film aims to showcase it with authenticity and reverence.”
Shithil Shetty, who plays the titular role, said, “Yakshagana has often remained confined to just a few districts. Ravi Basrur has taken it upon himself to bring it to the world stage. He involved those with real talent and ensured not a single detail was compromised. He would explain scenes on location and encouraged us throughout. We even learned horse riding for the role.”
Prasanna Shettigar, who plays Dushtabuddhi, stated, “Ravi Basrur has realized a 12-year-old dream. He chose me for this role, even though others had earlier portrayed it successfully. His energy from morning to evening never waned. This is a major milestone for Yakshagana.”
Lyricist Pramod Mogebettu shared that he wrote around 60 to 70 songs for the film. “None of us had imagined such a grand portrayal of Yakshagana on the silver screen. Ravi Basrur, being one of our own, has brought pride to this ancient art form. He has done what artists themselves had hoped to do — highlight their talent and culture on a big platform.”
Ravi Basrur added that the number of songs written for this single film is being submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records. He also spoke about actor Shivarajkumar’s role, describing it as a visually rich character who awards warriors of valor in a war sequence. “Despite health concerns, he arrived on time and completed his scenes. He stayed with us at the Hebbal set until evening. I never imagined I’d receive this level of support after taking the first step,” he said.
Chandan Shetty, Puneeth, and Garuda Ram also have key roles in the film. Basrur noted that for the first time, a Yakshagana-based story is being brought to the big screen, with strong backing from Hombale Films. The film is scheduled to release in over 50 theatres on April 18.
He also revealed that a Telugu producer, impressed by the film’s similarity to the cultural ethos of the Godavari region, has acquired the Telugu rights. The film has a runtime of 2 hours and 36 minutes. The songs are set in a traditional beat-based style. A request has been submitted to the Chief Minister to screen the film for students of all government schools.
“Hombale Films has given immense support in taking this film to the people,” Basrur concluded.
