An Army film starring Girish Karnad, Shruti

After playing onscreen mother, actress Shruti is all set to play a grandmother. The actress is said to have set aside her apprehensions about playing an older character as she was getting to play the mother of an my officer and the grandmother of a soldier in the making.

"She felt it a matter of pride to be playing a character that belonged to the household of soldiers who guard the country," adds Renukumar who is directing Shruti in the Kannada film, Shabdamani.

The film aims at enticing the youth to join the Army. "Not just that, but through the film I also wish to stress the need for aspiring army personnel to be educated. That way they will be better equipped to handle tricky situations and move up the cadres. Education will also enable personnel to understand advance defense technologies and strategies with greater ease," says the director.

The director says the film has been inspired by a youth from Malnad region who joined the Army. "Many families in this region encourage their children to enroll themselves in the Army. While there are men who get into the army to serve the nation and out of their love for the nation, there are also those who look at the army just as any other job and join it to make a living or feel it is the right place to be because of their well built physique. Some of them are not educated beyond class 10 or 12. And they would not even realise the responsibility attached with Army personnel," he says.

"So through this film I intend to say how necessary it is to condition the minds of both the person entering the Army and that of his/her family. In the film, Shruti will be shown preparing her family and her son for his stint in the Army since he is a child. Later, despite losing her son she encourages her grandson to enter the army. At least one from each family should be sent to the Army is what I feel," adds the director.

The idea for this film also stemmed from a patriotic song that Renu was writing. "Five years ago I wrote this song Onde Mataram Onde Manavam and this is when I felt I could make a film on how the Army is pivotal to every nation and its peace," he says.

This song which is sung in 26 Indian languages will be videographed too. A sum of Rs 18 lakhs has been spent on the recording of this song alone. Singers like S P Balasubramanyama and S Janaki have lent their voices to it.

Cricketer Anil Kumble, writer Sudha Murthy and cardiologist Devi Shetty have been approached to feature in the Kannada version.

The Kannada film will also feature reputed actor, writer and director Girish Karnad. He will be seen essaying the role of a retired Army doctor.

Renu has also played the role of a Sikh soldier and he will be seen is a song. He has previously acted in several S Narayan directorials including Anjali Geetanjali as a villain. In this film apart from direction, Renu has also composed the music. He had earlier composed music for Hori and a Tulu film titled Kanchilda Bale.

But before he takes off to shooting the second schedule of the film, what does he think of the facilities given to our security forces?

"Well, like I said many of my relatives are in the Army. And following some of their deaths, their families have had a tough time getting compensation. If Shabdamani is well accepted I may consider making a film on the lackadaisical attitude of government as well," he says.

The film is due for release in April.