Kannada film PUTTAKKANA HIGHWAY story

• DIRECTOR B Suresha
• ACTORS Shruti, Prakash Rai, Achyuth Kumar, Neenasam Ashwath, Srinivas Prabhu, Mandya Ramesh

Undoubtedly, it is one of the biggest challenges facing the country: the conflict between development and the subsequent displacement of people in hordes. B Suresha’s National awardwinning kannada film, based on an old story by Nagatihalli Chandrashekhar, is a take (though it does not specify) on the NICE corridor being built between Bangalore and Mysore.

Though there are characters which are happy to cruise on the new highway at 200 kmph, the kannada film is mostly about Puttakka and her struggle to save her piece of land through which the highway is proposed.

Puttakka is not alone in her struggle. The rest of the villagers also feel it is better to retain the land than pick up the compensation offered.

But one by one, they fall to the pressure and sell out. But Puttakka does not succumb to the doles, but it is a mismatch from the very beginning.

You know she will not win. So, the film becomes only a chronicle of her struggle and the effect a big project --like a highway -- has on village life. The struggle becomes a 'universal phenomenon' rather than a focused look at a problem as the filmmaker plays safe by not even mentioning the name of Bangalore.

In a bid to show that migration is universal, B Suresha makes the villagers speak in various Kannada accents. It is not as convincing as showing a Telugu-speaking labourer on the highway and Tamil-speaking vendor on a city (understood to be Bangalore) street.

The kannada film is ‘rich’ by art-house standards. Surely, it does not look like a cheap attempt aimed at minimising costs. Brilliant cinematography by Ramachandra makes it visually stunning as well.

Each character is well defined, giving space for the actors to excel. Kannada music director Hamsalekha's music and Yograj Bhat's lyrics are the highlights of the film. Though the kannada film tells every fact about the negative effects of big development projects, it does not bother to challenge the usual perceptions. It is rather a textbook effort at presenting serious questions ad answers. You know the answer and the fact that it is not the solution. A god ride, but it lacks a soul.

Kannada director Prakash Rai's new love

Kannada actor and director Prakash Rai says there’s nothing illegal about him showing off his lady love, to whom he’s also getting engaged in June.

The rest of them may play it safe by mouthing lines like ‘We’re good friends’ or ‘It’s just another link-up by the media’. But namma Prakash Rai isn’t someone who believes in playing by the clichéd rules of tinseltown. At the recent premiere of the his first kannada directorial Naanu Nanna Kanasu, the actorturned-director unabashedly showed off the woman in his life — choreographer Pony Verma, who flew down from Mumbai especially for the event. The duo, reportedly, has been together for two years now, and it’s the first time they’ve appeared together in front of the media in namma Bengaluru.

“I’m not selling opium or indulging in forbidden activities — this is purely legal,” laughed Prakash. “There’s nothing to hide. I’m divorced and am fortunate to have found love again. But I love my daughters, Meghana and Pooja, as deeply as ever,” says Prakash, who’s legally separated from wife Lalitha Kumari.

Pony, who entered the film industry in 2001, is an ace choreographer in bollywood B-town and has choreographed for films like Khatta Meetha, Guzaarish, Prince, De Dhana Dhan, Chandni Chowk 2 China and Billu, among others. We hear that Prakash, who’s thrilled with the response to his debut directorial, will be engaged to his lady in June and is expected to tie the knot later this year.

NAANU NANNA KANASU - Kannada folm review

DIRECTOR: Prakash Rai

ACTORS: Prakash Rai, Amoolya, Sitara, Achyut Kumar, Rajesh, Ramesh Aravind

This kannada film marks Prakash Rai’s debut as a director. Naanu Nanna Kanasu had created expectations also for the reason that it was the remake of the acclaimed Tamil film Abhiyum Naanum. The neatly made kannada film explores the bond between a father and his only child, his daughter. However, any self-respecting television soap director would mourn the loss of a storyline that could have been told in 250 episodes.

Story of the film: Raj Uthappa’s (Prakash Rai) life revolves around his daughter. His love for her sometimes transcends reason like when he gets a beggar to become part of the family on her insistence. As she grows up, the film marks the changes the father undergoes and how he is made to realise the many natural turns of life.

But he still cannot digest the fact that his daughter selects a sardar for a husband and confides in her mother first about it instead of him. There is no unnecessary drama or ‘commercial elements’ and the film is a pleasant watch.

However, the film lacks intensity throughout. There are no bad scenes, only a few brilliant ones. Achyut emerges as the best actor among the lot even surpassing Prakash Rai. The latter seems to be burdened by the additional responsibility of direction. He is good but not as much as he was in the original. Amoolya does her part as finely as possible for her. But she does not add value to the film. The same is the case with kannada music director Hamsalekha. His lyrics(download songs and lyrics here) and music are complementary to the film but don’t make it better.

Kanada film Laali, by Dinesh Baboo, was one film that explored the bond between a father and daughter. So, Naanu Nanna Kanasu is not a new subject for Sandalwood. Between the two, Laali is better. This film will entertain those bred on television soaps and make them realise that a story can be told in 150 minutes instead of years.

Prakash Rai debute directorial kannada film in trouble

When Prakash Rai decided to turn director and that too on home turf, it generated huge buzz. The actor and film-maker chose to remake his hit film Abhiyum Naanum in Kannada, which will be titled "Naanu Nanna Kanasu".

Prakash had pencilled in Ramya to play the lead, which was essayed by Trisha in the original. All was going well until the day before Ramya was set to leave for Coorg, where the first schedule of the movie was supposed to be held. The crew of the film has gone ahead with the shoot without the lead actress.

Sources say that there were some budget problems because of which Prakash and Ramya parted ways. If you are thinking how much money kannada actress ramya take per film is, then the answer is approximately 30 lakh. Apparently, the makers — Prakash and B Suresh — had offered her Rs 16 lakh, which is less than half Ramya’s current market value and a friend of ramya says "She will not compromise on her remuneration because then everyone would expect her to do a film for the same amount.”

While Prakash and Suresh remained inaccessible as they’re shooting at the Kelagoor tea estate in Chickmagalur, co-producer Shailaja Nag says, “It’s a rather unfortunate development"

Now big buzz in kannada film industry is who will replace Ramya. And we fot the answer from Shailaja Nag that Amulya to step into Ramya’s shoes. Amulya's first flick "Cheluvina Chittara" was a huge hit and now she’s busy wrapping up Premism and will join the Naanu Nanna Kanasu team soon.

Kannada music director Hamsalekha again in a remake movie

After being open critics of remakes, Hamsalekha and B Suresha get together with Prakash Rai to make one of their own.

Naanu Nanna Kanasu will be the first film to be directed by national award winner actor Prakash Rai. It is a remake whose origin lies in the Tamil film Abhiyum Naanum produced by Prakash himself.

Surprisingly joining hands with him in this venture are kannada music composer Hamsalekha and kannada actor-director B Suresha, both long time friends, but more importantly, vocal critics of remade films.

Hamsalekha, who famously broke away from his ‘yejamanru’ Ravichandran over the issue of remakes, has continued to compose music for such films while still criticising them.

As for Naanu Nanna Kanasu, he says that his compositions for the film will be original. “The original had only three songs. It is left to Hamsalekha to compose six or eight or ten songs as he deems fit for the Kannada version of the film,” says Prakash defending the kannada music composer.

B Suresha, a long time friend of Prakash’s and who would jump at every opportunity to condemn makers of remakes is part of the production team of Naanu Nanna Kanasu.

“Our intention is to get a good story to Kannada. The entire design of the film has been changed. It is our passion for good cinema that is making us do this film and nothing else. Even in Tamil, the film did not make a big profit. The story was written by Prakash himself. This cannot be compared to other remakes,” Suresha says.

Prakash says that the film should not be seen as an art or commercial film and even not as an original or remake, but as a good film. Those associated with the film are beginning to say that, “(We) will give our support to someone who wants to remake Pather Panchali.’” Moral of the story being that everyone has to fall in line when money matters more than principles.