The Tulu movie industry reached a milestone on Friday with the release of Brahmashree Narayana Guru Swamy — it was the 50th movie in the language.
Enna Thangadi, the first Tulu feature film, was released in 1971, according to Tamma Lakshmana, an art director of Tulu movies. Nirel was the 49th Tulu feature film.
Brahmashree Narayana Guru Swamy , directed and produced by actor-turned-director Rajashekar Kotian, released in five theatres across the coastal belt. “It took me three years to make this movie,” said the first time director who played the lead character of Chennaya in the national award winning Tulu film Koti-Chennaya .
The movie revolves around the social reforms of Narayana Guru. It deals with his fight against discrimination on the basis of caste, and superstitious practices, such as leaving patients with measles in forests. The movie also shows how Narayana Guru established a temple at Kudroli.
The movie features a cast that includes Venkatadri, who plays the lead role of Narayana Guru. Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Sports and Fisheries, K. Abhayachandra Jain plays Rabindranath Tagore. The former Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy president Umanath Kotian, popular comedians Arvind Bolar and Bhojaraj Vamanjoor and Kannada actor Vijay Raghavendra feature in the film. Hindustani flute exponent Praveen Godkhindi scored the music for the film.
Others in the movie are Santhosh Shetty, Bhoomika and Navya.
According to Mr. Kotian, he would consider releasing Brahmashree Narayana Guru Swamy in Mumbai and other places where Tulu-speaking people reside.
