Dubai, Feb 7: “Nirel” is the upcoming ambitious project in the Tulu film industry. The complete movie is produced in Dubai and producer of the movie is Shodhan Prasad, NewsKarnataka’s NRI Executive Kiran Floyd did a candid interview with him.
Excerpts:
What inspired you to produce movie Nirel?
First of all ‘Tulu’ our mother tongue, secondly a chance to take Tulu into international status, finally the spark in the eyes of our Director Ranjit Bajpe while he was narrating me the story and the plans of their friends San Poojary, Rajneesh Amin and Sachin Padil.
What were the initial preparations for this movie, also what procedures you followed during the selection of artists for this movie?
In fact I gave a free hand to the team without involving my pressure on them so that they will do all the procedures in ease. I am glad that they as a team have gone through a real procedure of calling auditions through media and fair selection with the expertise of their technical team. We had received 175 applications out of which everybody was called for an audition. Around 57 people were selected for acting skills also for other categories such as Singers, Technical Team etc., were selected with pure audition without any exterior influence. Interesting part of this selection is that we got people of all communities of Mangalore so that we lead and show to the world that we could be united with ‘sarvadharma’ co-operation in whatever we do.
Besides, mention us what were the challenges that you faced regarding the making of this movie?
To be frank, first of all making a movie with all new faces itself is a challenge. To say the truth all the artistes are amateur including the technical team whose expertise in movie making is limited. Needless to say, for everyone this is a dream project and they have put all cautious effort in the making correcting the mistakes as much as possible in every step to create a quality movie.
A few years ago, no one was interested to produce Tulu movies and now-a-days we can see lot of movies in coastal wood. What is the reason behind this?
Yes, for more than 45 years only 19 movies were released (I am not sure of the numbers exactly) but now there are 42 movies just in recent 2 years lined up for release. I may not be correct to say that everyone want to make movies.
But one thing should be true that film making is much easier now than before. Technically the world has excelled with the technologies that many things are handy than before. It used to take years to make a movie but now there is a record in Mangalore that one film was done in a day’s time. I can say technology has favoured our people to think of making more movies in an experimental basis.
What vision you have with this movie?
My first vision is that long live Tulu and I am fortunate enough that I got a bit to do in promoting my mother tongue. I am happy that with this I could set a record in making the first International Tulu Movie. I would like to see many more following this and take this forward so that one day our Tulu movie will be equal to Bollywood in terms of movie making. You know that so many Tuluvas are in Bollywood reigning in that industry but they should come down and support their own mother tongue in taking her into new heights. This would be a proud moment.
Your vision is to produce only a Nirel movie or you have any further plans to associate with the film industry as a producer or in any other form?
This was just a start; you will never know where the interest takes further. It all depends on various factors as you know I am not a business man who can promptly say yes without the monetary support. I am a working class person who has to think hundred times before commenting on this. If God wishes we can surely put our plans forward in film industry. When I say ‘we’ it is a team effort.
How is the response to Nirel in UAE and Coastal Karnataka?
The response in UAE is fantastic. People of UAE have really patience to wait for one long year to see NIREL release. They supported us a lot and gave us lot of inspiration in the making for which I will be ever grateful to them. In coastal Karnataka NIREL has made news but people are in guess. We have not yet started our promotions there in Mangalore and currently are concentrating on release in UAE. But surely I am confident that our people are with us when we do the release in Mangalore.
When Nirel will be available on big screens for audience? What plans you have for its release?
NIREL is a youth oriented love story. So what is better than Valentine’s Day! We have scheduled the release on February 14, 2015 in UAE theatres. Later we will release in other Gulf States and then in India.
Bollywood captures largest ratio of audience. How do you see the future of regional films such as Tulu movies and etc? Will such movies have bright future?
Of course nothing can beat Bollywood but surely we can be close to it someday if all our Mangaloreans in Bollywood take interest in Tulu Movies. Let us think positively and say yes, we have a bright future. See the number of Tulu films lined up for release this year which is self explanatory.
What is your message for News Karnataka readers?
Respect your mother tongue Tulu as how you respect your mother and save it for the future.
