There is no dearth of experimentation when it comes to Kannada films today. People from different walks of life are bringing in their creative perception and narration style; each trying to depict a new theme. The latest to join this bandwagon is director Arjun, whose debut film Sankashtakara Ganapathi is all set for release on July 27.
Arjun has written the script for Sankashtakara Ganapathi, which talks about the Alien Hand Syndrome (AHS). The protagonist, played by Likhith, is a cartoonist who suffers from this syndrome. AHS is a condition in which a person experiences their limbs acting seemingly on their own, without control over the actions. The person suffering from this may sometimes reach for objects and manipulate them without wanting to do so, even to the point of having to use the controllable hand to restrain the alien hand.
The film is also promoted by Shivrajkumar and Ganesh on social media platforms and the song “Moda Modalagiye” has already received enough clicks on YouTube to bring a smile to Arjun’s face, who has cast newcomers in the film, with the exception of Achyuth Kumar. The song has been shot at Gandikota, also known as the Grand Canyon of India. The other speciality of the film is that the director of photography, Uday Leela, started off as a light boy and worked his way up to become a DOP.
It also seems apt for Arjun, who gave up his nursing profession to make a film on AHS. “It all started when Likhith and I were discussing story ideas for a film. We chose AHS as we felt this would be good concept to work on. My nursing background did help. When we researched it, we discovered that AHS was used in horror films or documentaries. So, we decided to use it in a rom-com,” shares the young director, who adds, “It is terrible to suffer from it, but we wanted to make people aware of it in a light-hearted manner. So we wove the AHS around a love story. The film is made in such a way that everyone will watch, enjoy and also get to know about AHS,” says the director, who has also worked as a lecturer and was drawn to the world of films. the man who came into the industry eight years ago as an assistant director for reality shows like Kanasina Kanmani, Oggranne dabbi grew in experience and finally decided to branch out as a director.
He explains that Likhith does not play a comedian in the film, but a man who suffers from AHS. Some sequences may make you laugh, but the character is truly suffering. Can AHS be cured? Will the character overcome it or succumb to it is what will keep you engrossed, he says.
