Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar is one of the most popular story and feature writers in Kannada literature. He is also a well known film director and producer of critically acclaimed and commercially successful Kannada films.
Regarded as one of the pioneers who bridged the gap between art and commercial cinema, he has also produced and directed many popular television serials.
Now, the winner of a National Award for his film America America which ran for an year, and three state awards for his writing and directing abilities, Nagathihalli is ready with his eleventh film Olave Jeevana Lekkachara for producer K Manju. His last film as a director was Mathaad Maathaad Mallige for K Manju.
Nagathihalli is the first Kannada director to promote his film Mathad Mathadu Mallige at the prestigious 2007 Cannes Film Festival.
On the eve of the release of Olave Jeevana Lekkachara on June 12, Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar spoke to R G Vijayasarathy about the film and more.
'The audience will be able to identify with some of the characters'
What are your expectations from Olave Jeevana Lekkachara?
I am just as apprehensive as any other filmmaker who is awaiting the verdict of the audience. Throughout my film career, I have faced these birth pangs, rather I have faced this agni pareeksha every time I was ready to release my film.
Frankly in these days of recession, when total disinterest about films is clearly visible among the Kannada audience, the anxiety of any filmmaker who look for different type of themes will be more.
I don't have huge expectations from a film that was made on a reasonable budget without any wastage. I have concentrated more on the writing aspect, and has ensured that the script is water tight to engage the audience. Since I have followed a different pattern of narration in this film, I am sure that the audience will be able to identify with some of the characters of the film. They are sure to have seen them in our day to day life.
The popularity of Mano Murthy's music compositions for the film has really enthused me.
'I was threatened with legal notice after I wrote the story'
How different is this film compared to your previous ten films?
As you know, I always strive to be different in each of my films. In terms of story selection, narration, technical work and the choice of artists, I have shown this difference starting from my first film Undoo Hodha Kondoo Hodha. In Olave Jeevna Lekkachara, I have deliberately returned to the satirical narration of my first Kannada film.
The first half of OJL is full of humour and the sequences are with satirical overtones. The second half of the film is a little serious, but that is mainly because I wanted a strong message to be sent to the audience.
What is the message of this film?
As you know, the film's story is based on one of the controversial short stories Bhoomi Gundagidhe that I wrote in Mayura magazine. I was threatened with legal notice after I wrote the story. The fact was that I had written about my own experiences in dealing with some people who spoil young and innocent people with their poisonous pseudo intellectual indoctrinations.
I want to tell the young this: do not get driven away by what others say. You should be in the driver's seat in the journey that is your life. It is not necessary to have influential people believe in you. Believing partly is the best way.
Rangayana Raghu plays the role of a college professor who influences his students to negate all the positive elements in them. My message is that a person has to drive his ambitions with his own work and commitment and should not be influenced by others.
'You will find the colour red throughout the film'
You have selected Radhika Pandit for a very important role in the film...
She is terrific in the film. I selected her after watching some portions of Moggina Manasu on the editing table. She was also fabulous in some of the teleserials she had acted. I think Radhika will be an astonishing talent of the future in our industry. Daisy Bopanna is also playing an important role in the film. Sreenagara Kitty has also performed very well.
In the days of Prekshaka Mushkara we have made this film and for such a scenario, the industry is responsible.
I also want to say that you will find the colour red throughout the film. Don't consider it dangerous. The colour and the train play prominent role in the film. All said and done, I am tense and nervous.
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