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.