Udupi: 'Mahanadi' Kannada Movie Captures a Sea of Feminine Emotions

Special Correspondent
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Jul 16: Cine goers will once again get an opportunity to feast on the picturesque natural beauty of coastal Karnataka and also get peek into the vibrant culture of the fisher folks of this area in the Kannada movie “Mahanadi”, the shooting of which is underway in Udupi.

Shooting of the film began in May in Keni Village in Ankola and surrounding areas of Udupi. It is woman oriented film in which Kannada’s sizzling actress Sanjana of “Ganda Hendthi” fame, will essay the role of fisherwoman Meenakshi and the entire story is revolved around her dreams, aspirations and her coming to terms with the reality. Upcoming hero Dileepraj has been paired opposite Sanjana. The movie is slated for release in November this year.

The movie is extensively shot in Ankola beach where an entire village Keni was used for shooting with the active cooperation and participation of the locals as part of the two-month long shooting schedule. Apart from Ankola, shooting is scheduled to be held in Udupi in Bengre, Baikady, Ajekar and in Manipal, Murdeshwar and Mumbai. Now the team has camped in Udupi where indoor shooting is being done for the last few days.

The movie is directed by well known director of Tulu movies “Maaribale” and “Kanchilda Bale” fame Krishnappa Uppor, who is also the story and script writer of “Mahanadi”. The movie is produced by Udupi-based J J Cine Productions, which belongs to Vincent Jerry Dias of Mandavi Builders. This is the first move from the house of J J Cine Productions, which is investing 4 to 5 crores in the movie.

Daijiworld team made a surprise visit to the indoor shooting area at Sugunendra Teertha Kallyana Mantapa, Udupi, to find the entire team was bubbling with activity despite heavy downpour outside. It was lunchtime where we reached there and we slowly drew the director, producer and heroine to talk above the movie in their different capacities.

Talking to daijiworld.com on the sidelines of the shooting Krishnappa Uppor said “these days there aren’t many producers or directors who want to take the risk of producing women-centric Kannada movies probably because there are no takers. There was a time when Legendary Kannada film directors like Puttanna Kanagal and K V Jayaram used to make strong women-centric films bringing out strong feminine sentiments in them. I want to fill this vacuum and decided to come up with this film”.

Further he says “there are so many sensitive and finer aspects of a woman’s life which have not been projected in the right perspective in the movies. It goes beyond the typical portrayal of her ‘taali’ or of her being a good wife. A woman is like a river which flows absorbing everything in the process - the good, bad, the pain, suffering, miseries, delight, elation and emotions and finally joins the sea. All through her life a woman plays the different roles of being a daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother … etc., with aplomb. I want to portray these finer and delicate aspects of a woman’s life”.

Krishnappa Uppor said when he approached Jerry Vincent Dias with the script he readily agreed to be the producer and we immediately chalked out further plans to go ahead. Producer Jerry’s son Glen Dias said “this is our first movie venture and we are eager to see how the movie is shaping up. We are happy to be part of the movie which showcases the culture of South Canara and that of the fisher folks of this area”.

Sanjana who looked radiant in a red saree and matching paraphernalia was ecstatic about her role in the movie. For Sanjana who has acted in 15 films, 8 of them in Kannada, this is the first film where he is carrying the entire burden of the film. “I know the responsibility I have on my shoulders. If everything goes right I will credit but I will get brickbats in equal measure if nothing works out”, she says as a matter of fact, fully aware of what it is being to be in a woman-centric film. “My role in this film is basically on how this fisherwoman who is determined to marry only a Mumbai boy, gets evolved over a period of time and what exactly happens to her once this dream of her gets fulfilled”, she states.

Sanjana says she has taken up the challenge of playing this role in the right spirit. She was in Keni village four days prior to the shooting to get acquainted with the way of life of the fisher women, which she says helped her to portray her role more naturally and realistically. Sanjana also said she is looking forward to her back to back Kannada releases – ‘Sagar’ opposite Prajwal, “Ondu Kshanadalli” with Tanuchandran and either “Rebel” with Adithya or Mahanadi, whichever gets released first.

About 70% of the shooting is completed and remaining 30% of the shooting will be held in Mumbai. Apart from Sanjana and Dileepraj Rangayana Raghu, Dileep Raj, Shobhraj, Sathyajith, Loknath and lot of local talents have been cast in the film. N M Neel is the music director and veteran Chinni Prakash is the choreographer. Purushotham Adve is making his debut the art director. Another highlight of the movie is that local hero Sundernath Suvarna, one of the well-known and senior most cameramen of the Kannada film industry, is roped in as the cameraman of the film “Mahanadi”.

The movie has 5 songs and one song each has been sung by Shreya Goshal and Kailash Kher. Local talent Kathyayani Kunjibettu has written the lyrics of one of the songs of the movie.

Come November and one hopes Mahanadi will enthrall cine goers with its riveting woman-centric theme and tantalize their senses with the coastal picturesque milieu captured in camera. Let us hope the movie is going to be a ‘maha’ hit.