Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Sep 11: Shooting for 'Gurbi', a Kannada art film which proposes to use colloquial Kannada, began at Devarabalu near Hallihole in the taluk, which is known to be Naxal-infested. This film plans to bring before the people glimpses of rural life, and the extent of exploitation a community that is basically rural-centric and socially sidelined, experiences.

Shooting for this film began officially on August 30 this year at Kamalashile. The filming unit is now busy with the shooting after a hut was pitched for the shooting at Devarabalu village.

'Gurbi', which literally means a grown-up girl, centres around the story of a tribal family living in a very backward village set up. The movie traverses through the life experiences of the girl's father, elder brother, and her family. The film revolves around communities which are deprived of basic facilities, a community which fails to make its problems heard, and the minds of the family that are unable to openly confess what problems and experiences they are going through.

This film is being directed by Krishnappa Uppoor, a well-known director of art films who has matured through the theatre and earned state award for his very first art film, 'Kanchilda Bale'. 'Gurbi', which is being made with a budget of around Rs 50 lac, will, introduce several new faces to Kannada cinema. Ashwita, a second PU student from Hiriyadka, who is an accomplished Yakshagana artiste, will be donning the role of leading character of the film, Gurbi. Renowned dramatist, Jeevanram Sullia, will be seen in the role of her father, while cine actor and theatre personality, Mandya Ramesh, is acting as the Shervegar, who holds the entire family in his firm grip. Sunil Rao, a lecturer from Bangalore and native of Bantwal, will be seen in the role of the leading man.

The role of villain landlord has been entrusted to cine actor, Keertiraj. About 16 newcomers including Sudha Kota and Manjunath Guddeangady will foray into the world of films through this movie. This film will have one song, which has been penned by writer, Katyayini Kunjibettu, has music direction by Vivek Chakravarty.

Shooting for the film will continue till September 23. On Thursday, shooting is scheduled to be held in the house of former MP, K Jayaprakash Hegde, at Ballur village, which will be depicted as the home of the landlord in the movie. Majority of the shooting will be held in Derabalu area, and for the people of this backward region, the opportunity provided by the film unit to watch shooting on a daily basis has given rise to a sense of excitement and festival-like atmosphere.

Meera K Uppoor, wife of Krishnappa Uppoor, is the producer of this film. Venus Murty, who has exhibited his talent through 25 films, will be the cinematographer for this movie. This incidentally is the first ever art film for Murty.

64-year-old Krishnappa Uppoor's first art film, 'Kanchilda Bale', had got state award for being the film with social concern, and gold medal. This film, which competed in panorama section, narrowly missed the award as it tied for the top slot with another film. His other film, 'Mahanadi' also is expecting to bag awards.

'My top priority is to spread social concern. Along with achieving this aim, I also want to introduce new talents picked from rural, poor background, for whom getting into the world of films appears like a mirage. I am producing and directing this film, backed by the desire to give good message to the society through art films and also to experience the earthly life in a hamlet like Devarablu,' Krishnappa says.