Nanjangud: A farmer in Tagaduru village of Nanjangud taluk has found an unusual way to protect his banana crop from the ‘evil eye’. Instead of the traditional effigies commonly placed in agricultural fields, he has installed flex banners featuring popular Kannada film personalities along the fence surrounding his farmland.
The unusual display has become a talking point among passersby, attracting more attention than the banana plantation itself.
The farmer has put up banners featuring actresses Radhika, Rachita Ram and Sneha, along with actor Ravichandran, known for his film Malla, and actress Priyanka. The banners have been placed on the wire fencing in front of the agricultural land.
Film personalities replace traditional evil-eye effigies
Farmers often use different methods to protect their crops from what is traditionally believed to be the evil eye. Effigies, scarecrows and other symbolic objects are commonly placed in fields to discourage unwanted attention and protect the harvest.
The Tagaduru farmer, however, has chosen a distinctly different approach by using photographs of film personalities. The flex banners featuring the actors and actresses have replaced the conventional arrangements often seen along the boundaries of agricultural land.
The idea is believed to have been conceived to prevent people travelling along the nearby road from casting an envious glance at the banana crop. By putting up prominent photographs along the fence, the farmer appears to have found a creative way to divert attention from the plantation.
Banana plantation along busy village road
The farmland is located beside the main state highway connecting Madahalli and Tagaduru villages. Its location makes the plantation visible to people travelling along the road.
The farmer’s unusual arrangement has consequently caught the attention of motorists and other passersby. Rather than simply looking at the banana plants, people are now drawn to the colourful flex banners displayed along the boundary.
The photographs have turned the roadside stretch into a point of curiosity, with the unusual choice of film personalities prompting people to take a closer look.
A quirky idea becomes a local talking point
The farmer’s experiment has attracted public interest in the Tagaduru area. What was intended as a measure to ward off the evil eye has ended up creating a different kind of attraction along the road.
While traditional methods of protecting crops remain familiar in rural areas, the farmer’s choice of Kannada film personalities has given the practice a humorous and contemporary twist.
The incident also reflects the different ways in which farmers draw on local beliefs and personal creativity to protect their agricultural produce. For now, the actress and actor banners appear to have achieved one thing: they have made the banana plantation one of the most talked-about sights for people travelling between Madahalli and Tagaduru.