'Ulidavaru Kandanthe has a terrific script'

Yagna Shetty made her debut in Kannada with Ondru Preethiya Kathe. She may have only a few films to her credit, but audiences have taken note of her in films such as Eddelu Manjunatha and Sugreeva.

An MBA from Manipal University, this Mangalorean says she is here to do quality films.

She talks to Rediff about her role in Rakshit Shetty’s Ulidavaru Kandanthe.

A lot of the people associated with Ulidavaru Kandanthe – Rakshit, Rishabh, Sheetal and you--are primarily from coastal Karnataka. It makes one wonder if this was a deliberate decision by the director.

(Laughs) May be you should ask Rakshit this question. Even though I come from Mangalore in coastal Karnataka, I do not eat fish and that is such a contrast to the character I portray in this film.

I play a fisherwoman and we had to shoot in the fish markets. I had to touch fish with my bare hands. I was reluctant to do that but those were the demands of the character and I had to do it.

So I don’t think coming from coastal Karnataka is the reason I am in Ulidavaru Kandante.

I got a call from Rakshit one day saying that he has this script and it will not be a run-of-the mill film that follows the mainstream pattern of storytelling.

He told me that he had watched my performance in Eddelu Manjunatha and the character in Ulidavaru Kandanthe would fit me well.

He played this beautiful number Gaatiya Ilidu and asked me if I would be part of his directorial debut.

I liked the script and agreed.

What is your role in the film?

As I said earlier, my character Sharada is a fisherwoman. She does not talk much. She expresses her emotions through her eyes and expressions.

My chapter with Kishore is a very subtle love story. We don’t even speak to each other or express ourselves in words.

If you have seen the video of the song, Gaatiya Ilidu, you will see him seated a good twenty feet away from me.

So your character does not have anything to do with the main plot or the ‘incident’ as such?

That’s right.

What was your experience of working in Ulidavaru Kandanthe?

It was fantastic. Not only because it is a terrific script, but also because it was an excellent team.

Most of us being Mangaloreans, we ended up talking in Tulu. In the film however, we talk the Udupi or Kundapur dialect of Kannada.

Also, in my humble opinion, nobody has shot coastal Karnataka and its surrounding beauty like Karm Chawla, the cinematographer, has in this film. He has done a fabulous job.

Rakshit has depicted the coastal culture so well. We are all like a gang of friends now.

The film has been shot in sync sound for the first time. That must have been a challenge, with several retakes and such.

I do not have many dialogues in the film and in most of my scenes it is all about expressions. So that is not something that was a challenge for me.

The film will release on March 28. Are you nervous?

Not at all! The online response to the trailer and the songs has been encouraging. Audiences are aware that this is not the usual Kannada film, but are looking forward to it.

I am confident that Ulidavaru Kandanthe will do well at the box office.

There are a lot of good films coming out from the Kannada film industry - an industry that is considered to be small - and audiences are lapping them up.

Newcomers should be allowed and encouraged. There is so much talent in the Kannada film industry now.