Regional can also be universal: Kannada star Rishab Shetty on 'Kantara: Chapter 1' success
New Delhi (PTI): Buoyed by the overwhelming box office success of "Kantara: Chapter 1", actor-director Rishab Shetty on Wednesday said the film’s triumph reinforces his belief that regional storytelling can be accepted universally.
Much like its predecessor "Kantara" (2022), which became a cultural phenomenon for its rooted storytelling, exploration of folklore and divine traditions of coastal, the new Kannada film has also earned praise for its narrative and performances.
At the global box office, "Kantara: Chapter 1" has emerged as a runaway success, grossing Rs 427.5 crore within six days of its release.
"We began the world of 'Kantara' from the first film and since then we have explored the dynamic between nature and humans. This story is rooted in our folklore from coastal Karnataka, we want to talk about the tribes, the folklore and deity worship in our film.
"Since then I have had a thought that regional can also be universal. This time with this success, that point has once again been proven that our film is being accepted globally," Shetty, who has written, directed, produced and acted in "Kantara: Chapter 1", told reporters here.
The Kannada star was speaking at a success press event along with co-stars Jayaram, Gulshan Devaiah, cinematographer Arvind S Kashyap, costume designer Pragathi Shetty, and Chaulve Gowda of production banner Hombale Films.
Set in pre-colonial Karnataka during the reign of the Kadambas from Banavasi, “Kantara: Chapter 1” depicts the conflict between the tribals of the Kantara forest and a tyrannical king.
In addition to Kannada, the movie was also released in Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Bengali, and English on October 2.
"We have tried to stick to our core this time around, and the audience has appreciated that. I think it has been even more effective than the last part I have heard in the reviews," said Shetty, who earlier won the National Film Award for Best Actor as well as Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for “Kantara”.
Shetty said the film demanded immense effort and praised his entire team for their support.
"We also don't know how we achieved this. It scared us to think about the effort that would go into making the film. As a team, we have managed to achieve this -- from the production boys that got us tea to the production house -- everyone has contributed to this film."
Producer Gowda said the team worked hard to make the film resonate not only with Kannada audiences but with viewers across the world.
"Our vision is to call our films Indian cinema. This film is not just for the Karnataka audience but for pan-Indian audience because now language is not a barrier. We are working with very talented people, so we expect it to reach all audience... The whole team of 'Kantara' has worked very hard on the film," he said.
Actors Jayaram and Devaiah recalled joining the ambitious project. It marks Devaiah's debut in Kannada cinema while it is veteran actor Jayaram's second film in the regional industry.
"This is my second Kannada movie. Three years ago I got a call from Rishab ji and I was excited, and the excitement remains... I'm always a student in each one of my films, so this time I am Rishab's student and I'm glad we got to work together," said Jayaram, known for appearing in Telugu and Tamil hits such as "Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo", "Hi Nanna" and "Ponniyin Selvan".
Devaiah said he first Shetty in 2019 and became a fan of the Kannada star.
"I didn't know much about him but (saw) the passion in him to create cinema deeply rooted in his culture. I knew he had the sincerity to tell these stories and I wanted to be a part of that," the actor said.
He also added that the film is special as he too is a "mountain boy" from Kerala and wanted his first film there to be special.
"After they told me the story I knew it would be my mistake to not do it. He gave me a lot of freedom to interpret the character and I am from Karnataka. So to come back and have this to be the first film I feature in was very special," he said.
Cinematographer Kashyap also gave credit to the entire team in weaving together a story which resonates deeply across Indian audiences.
"The main reason that people like the visuals of the movie is because of the story which has been the basis for this entire phenomenon so I want to thank our writers for giving us this story.
"There were a lot of challenges given the backdrop we shot this film in but it has been successful because of Hombale who have supported us and for our director and his energy. The sets, the costumes, everything led to the visuals so when you collaborate to this extent, this kind of film is made possible," he said.
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Ex-PM Devegowda warns opposition of electoral losses if they continue to allege 'vote chori'
New Delhi (PTI): Former Prime Minister H D Devegowda on Monday said the Opposition parties would "suffer" if they continue to raise allegations of "vote chori" and create suspicion in the minds of voters by blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
Participating in a discussion on election reforms in the Rajya Sabha, he criticised the Opposition for making a mockery about the Prime Minister "in the streets and on the public platform".
"This (India) is a very big country. A large country. Congress may be in three states. Remember my friends please, by using the words 'vote chori' you are going to suffer in the coming days. You are not going to win the battle," Devegowda said, referring to the Opposition members.
He asked what the Opposition is going to earn by "blaming Narendra Modi's leadership and creating a suspicion in the mind of the voters" through the claims of "vote chori".
"What has happened to their minds? Let them rectify," Devegowda said.
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The former prime minister said that during his over seven decades of public life, he has never raised such issues of vote theft despite facing defeat in elections.
He also cited a letter written by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru regarding inclusion of "18,000 votes" (voters) in Kerala.
"Why I am telling this (because) during the Nehru period also, there were certain lapses in the electoral system," said Devegowda, who was the prime minister between June 1, 1996 and April 21, 1997.
He said that the Congress party faced defeat in the recent Bihar elections despite raising the issues of mistakes in the electoral rolls.
"What happened after that even after so much review (of voters list). Think (for) yourself! You got six MLAs," the senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader said.
Devegowda questioned the Opposition as to why they want to make allegations against the prime minister on the issue of the voters list?
"Election Commission is there. Supreme Court is there. The Election Commission has given direction to all the state units to rectify all these things," he said.
Devegowda said people of the country have full confidence in Narendra Modi's government and it will come back to power after the next Lok Sabha elections as well.
K R Suresh Reddy, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party's Rajya Sabha member from Telangana, said that electoral reforms are the backbone for a healthy democracy.
He said a large and diverse nation like Indi needs clean electoral rolls.
Asserting that strict re-verification should not become a mechanism for exclusion, Reddy said no eligible voter should lose their right to vote simply because accessing paperwork is difficult.
He said while the concern definitely is on the voters' exclusion, "we should also be equally concerned about the percentage of voting."
"What is happening in voting today? Once the election ends, the drama begins. The biggest challenge that the Indian democracy has been facing in spite of two major Constitutional amendments has been the anti-defection. Anti-defection is the name of the game today, especially in smaller states, especially where the legislatures are small in number," Reddy said.
The senior BRS leader suggested creation of a parliamentary committee "which would constantly look into the defection" and "ways and means to cutting that".
AIADMK's M Thambidurai raised the issues related to election campaigning.
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"Election campaigns are one of the important election processes. In that, political parties must be given the proper chance to campaign," he said and cited problems faced by his party in Tamil Nadu in this regard.
Thambidurai said political parties were facing hardships in Tamil Nadu to conduct public meetings and to express their views to the public.
YSRCP's Yerram Venkata Subba Reddy stressed on bringing electoral reforms at both the state and national levels.
He also suggested replacing Electronic Voting Machines with paper ballots in all future elections.
"EVM may be efficient but can't be trusted. Paper ballot may not be efficient but can be trusted. You need trust in democracy," Reddy added.
