GAANA BAJANA - New Kannada film review

• DIRECTOR: Prashanth Raj
• ACTORS : Tharun Chandra, Radhika Pandit, Dilip Raj, Sharan, CR Simha, Yeshwanth Sirdeshpande


There is a superstition in the kannada film industry -if someone’s lucky for you, use them till they turn unlukcy! Looks like Prashanth, director of kannada film Gaana Bajana (Free download Gana bajana songs here), is following that dictum. He’s repeated the three main actors from his debut kannada film Love Guru. Not only that, even the characters in Gaana Bajana seems similar to Love Guru. Deja vu! However, the film scores in style. With youngsters as his target audience, Prashanth keeps the film fast-paced enough to keep them glued.

It's a simple love story. Two youngsters, Krish (Tharun) and Radhe (Radhika Pandit) fall in love and the relationship develops at the usual city hangouts. There is Dilip Raj playing a dandy who gives the film a fillip every time he is on screen. Radhe initially rejects Krish because she loves the other guy. The premise is mundane. But the stylish presentation somehow makes you want to tolerate the film, which lacks in substance. Gaana Bajana is entertaining for the sake of being entertaining.

Joshua Sridhar's music, which remains 'inspired', is the highlight of the film. Shekar's camerawork allows Prashanth what he wanted, an avant-garde Kannada production. Take a break from the serious stuff and enjoy this kannada film.

Kannada actres Radhika Pandit bags puneet's next kannada film

Crazy Star Ravichandran seems to be Puneet Raj Kumar's lucky mascot when it comes to launching his films. Right from Puneet's first film Appu to the recently released Jackie he has been the chosen one.
It was no surprise when he was invited for Puneet's new kannada film which was launched recently at Kanteerava studios, Bangalore. The movie is yet to be titled, which is a remake of hit film nadodigal. Many top signatories of the film industry including Mr.Basanth Kumar Patil President of KFCC and many leading artists attended the muhurath.

Shivaraj Kumar, brother of Puneet and Mrs Parvathamma Raj Kumar were there to bless the new project which is a remake of the trend setting Tamil film Nadodigal. Radhika Pandith, Loose Mada star Yogish, Srinagara Kitty are playing other major roles in the kannada movie.

This is the 79th film of Vajreshwari Combines, Dr. Raj's family banner. It is being directed by K Madesha, music is by V Harikrishna and Sathya Hegde is wielding the camera.

Kannada actress Radhika to star opposite Puneet Rajkumar

Everything is going right for Kannada film industry’s new sensational talent Radhika Pandit. Just last week her kannada film Krishnan Love Story completed a hundred day run establishing her as a dependable actress in the Box office.

A few days ago she won the Best actress Filmfare award for her performance in kannada film Love Guru and was nominated for the same award for the South Scope Cine award. And now the biggest feather in her cap has come about as she has been confirmed as the heroine for Puneet Raj Kumar in the Kannada remake of Tamil Hit Nadodigal which is to be produced under Power Star’s home banner Vajreshwari Combines.

Radhika Pandit has already signed Adhdhoori where she is being paired with Dhruv Sarja. The film is starting its regular shooting from October 4.

Nadodigal will be launched on October 17, Vijayadhashami day. The regular shooting of the film may start from the next day.

Kannada actress Radhika Pandit pictures

In her two years as kannada actress, Radhika Pandit has bagged a Filmfare award for Best Actress in each. Now, she’s set to host a reality show.

Interview :
Your journey from being a TV artist to an award winning star in the Kannada film industry...
I have always loved acting and to have made a debut in a television serial (Nanda Gokula) that ran for eight months was a great feeling. Then I was lucky to get an opportunity to act in Moggina Manassu, which also did very well. All thanks to my supportive parents.

You have bagged the Best kannada Actress Filmfare award for Love Guru this year. You won the same award in 2009 for Moggina Manassu. Winning twice in a row and so early in your career must be a heady feeling?

It (the award for kannada film Moggina Manassu) came to me as a surprise because at first I was a bit too bothered about how my debut movie would do and if at all the audiences would like my performance. I am not a trained actor so the awards mean a lot to me. Being nominated alone was such a high.

How challenging was it to play a girl from the slums in the kannada film Krishnan Love Story?

It was very challenging. I was clueless about the way of life in the slums and had to train to understand what was required of me for this role. I tried to speak and dress like the slumdwellers.

What about the forthcoming film Gaaja Bajaana, tell us something about that.
It’s a youth-oriented movie with a lot of humour and romance. The story revolves around a dance class where the love story takes off.

Are you hosting the second season of Pyate Hudgeer Halli Lifu (City Girls Village Life, a TV reality show where city-bred girls get a taste of rural living)?

I am the brand ambassador of Halli Haida Petege Banda (Village Boys Come to the City) and I am very excited about hosting the reality show.

Did you always want to be a filmstar?

Oh no. I was good at dancing and would participate in a lot of cultural activities back in school and college. I never took the idea of me wanting to act seriously even though I had enough influences at home — my father was into theatre and has directed many plays.

What do you like about Sandalwood?
It’s a great place with versatile directors, music directors, some great technicians and amazing costume designers.

Favourite kannada actors?

Ananth Nag. As an actor, he’s multifaceted and as a person, a wonderful human being. I also admire Aamir Khan. Julia Roberts is my favourite Hollywood actor.

Any Bollywood director you would love to work with?
I love Ashutosh Gowrikar’s body of work. I cannot stop myself from watching his movies like Jodhaa Akbar, Swades and Lagaan, again and again.

So you are looking Bollywood’s way?
It’s only my second year in the movies, there’s a long way to go.

What’s the best and the worst thing about being an actress?
I love that I get to play a new character everyday. The bad part is the stress and work pressure we have to handle.

WHO'S AT home?
There’s five of us, my parents, my brother Gaurav, my uncle and I.

Who would you love to date.
Bryan Adams.

Favourite place and food?
I want to visit Australia. I love homecooked food, nothing can beat the stuff Mum prepares.

Fitness mantra.
I love to eat but I make it a point to burn those extra calories with a workout. I gym regularly.

Are you single?
Hmmm, yes!

Latest kannada film Krishnan Love Story (KLS)

When the trailers of his latest kannada film, Krishnan Love Story (KLS), were beamed on local channels, besides the storyline, there was another element that made audiences sit up and take notice. A caption that read ‘Utthama chitragalu tayaaraguvudu utthama nirdeshakarinda matra’ (quality films can only be made by good directors), along with the trailer of the film, grabbed eyeballs. It also led to much discontent among a certain section in Gandhinagar, especially the producers. And the latest, we hear, is that Shashank, who’s directed KLS, has been asked to delete the captions from the promos.

“Not true. I haven’t been asked to remove it and I haven’t. Yes, the caption did create a controversy in the industry. Some producers took offence and asked how a movie could be made without them. But they’ve misunderstood the line,” says kannada film director Shashank.

The director explains that his intention was to tell audiences to encourage good directors so that they make quality films. “Because no matter how big a star, technicians, or the biggest of budgets may be, a film can’t be good if the director has no vision. In other languages, fans watch a film for the director and not an actor or actress. Directors are brands by themselves. If the director messes up a story, even an Amitabh Bachchan or Shah Rukh Khan can’t save it. I say this not out of over-confidence, but out of passion for good films,” he tells us.

And while he accepts that there was pressure on his producer to remove the caption, they retained it because of their belief in making quality films. “It’s a director’s moral responsibility to give audiences good films, so I’m retaining it. Of course, a film is teamwork. But it’s a director who makes it work,” says Shashank.

Radhika Pandit bags Shashank's next kannada film

Winning the Filmfare for Best Actress for Moggina Manasu has changed Radhika Pandit’s life. Since the awards ceremony almost a month ago, she’s been offered a few Kannada films and even a couple of non-Kannada films. “But I haven’t confirmed anything,” the actress tells us.

But what’s pleased Radhika the most is that she’ll be teaming up with Shashank, who also won a Filmfare for Best Director for MM.

The sexy kannada star Radhika Pandit remembers “After we received the award, Shashank sir said that he had something to tell me, and as soon as we landed in Bangalore, he told me he wanted me to be a part of his next project, Krishnana Love Story,” she recalls, adding, “It was also good to know that the producers thought that only I could play this role.” But it won’t be anything like her character Chanchala in MM because the film has a “mass element”. Radhika is confident that Shashank will be able to bring out the best in her for this film as well. “I knew he took a year off to work on the script for Krishnana.... And the Best Actress and Best Director teaming up again will add to the hype,” she says. There were four actresses in MM, but Radhika’s the only one who seems to have become the director’s favourite. “I don’t know about that, but Shashank sir trusts my acting skills and that’s why he offered me this role. I want to work hard and so that I don’t let him down,” she says modestly.

The actress is making the most of the wave she’s riding. Her last release, Love Guru, has completed 50 days, and 18th Cross will release soon. She’ll also start shooting for Superman, “which was delayed because of a misunderstanding between the director and producer. That’s been sorted out now,” she tells us.

Radhika has also been offered Kaddu Mucchi by Dayal. “But nothing’s been finalised about when the film is going to start,” she says.

Kannada actress Radhika’s in denial mode

She’s recovering from a bad cold but kannada actress Radhika Pandit has just wrapped up a dubbing session. “I’ve also been busy giving lots of interviews,” she smiles. “And Moggina Manasu has just celebrated 50 days, so I’m feeling on-top-of-the world,” she gushes. There were reports recently about the actress having problems on the sets of Olave Jeevana Lekachara.

“There was absolutely no problem. I don’t know where people get such information from,” rues Radhika.