At a time, when Kannada films are failing to draw crowds to theatres, the film industry appears to be taking recourse to old classics -- mostly Rajkumar and Vishnuvardhan films -- which still have the capacity to attract the audience. Old films like Satya Harishchandra, Kasturi Nivasa, Raja Nanna Raja, Nanobba Kalla, Operation Diamond Rocket, Dari Tappida Maga , Babruvahana and Mayura have been re-released. There has been an overwhelming response for re-released Rajkumar films. Besides these, films like Tarka and Anubhava have seen housefull runs in recent days.
“There is a target audience for the re-release of all-time classics of Kannada, which does not miss watching them. We also have a large number of loyal fans, who ensure that such movies run successfully during their re-release time,” says Shivappa, manager of Kamakya theatre, Katriguppe.
Taking cue from the successful re-run of films, Eshwari Combines is all set to re-release its all-time classic Naagarahaavu . This immortal, colour film, which was released in 1972, will be screened at 150 screens across the State on July 20 in a brand new avatar. While previous restored and re-colourised films are re-released in 5.1 sound technology, Naagarahaavu is said to have 7.1 technology versions.
However, it is not the first time a Vishnuvardhan film is being re-released. Sahasa Simha - the 1982 super hit film, Onde Guri and Khaidi were released after three decades. Naagarahavu has a special significance, it is the debut film of Vishnuvardhan as the protagonist. Puttanna Kanagal, a prominent Kannada filmmaker, created history by directing Nagarahavu.
The film hit the screens in 1972 when the new wave cinema was at its peak with the success of Samskara based on UR Ananthamurthy’s novel and bagged eight Karnataka State Awards. The film brought star value to actors including Vishnuvardhan, Ambarish, Arathi, who ruled the Kannada film industry in later years. The film was an amalgamation of three classic novels -- Naagarahavu, Eradu Hennu Ondu Gandu and Sarpamatsara by Ta Ra Su, and it made Chitradurga a tourist destination, as the film used the place as the backdrop. The producer faced difficulty in getting permission to shoot in Chitradurga, as the Department of Archaeology objected. However, an unperturbed Puttanna impressed upon senior Congress leader SM Krishna to get the permission.
The film is remembered even today for Vishnuvardhan’s role as an angry young man. Naagarahaavu breathed fresh air in Kannada cinema, which was then stagnated, in terms of experiments in a way.
Puttanna was impressed with the way Ta Ra Su viewed right and wrong in the trilogy and wanted to present the grey shades of characters.
To realise Puttanna’s dream of making Naagarahaavu a milestone, Chittibabu (cinematographer), Bhaktavatsala, (editor) and Vijaya Bhaskar (music) too invested their creativity in the film. Every character essayed by KS Ashwath, Vishnuvardhan, Arathi, Leelavati, Ambarish and Shivaram is memorable.
Puttanna first approached his favourite actor Kalpana, who has played the lead in most of his films, for the role of Onake Obavva. When Kalpana refused, Puttanna approached Jayanthi, who did that role and stole the show in the song “Kannada Nadina Veera Ramaniya”.
The film also had many other hit songs like “Haavina Dwesha”, “Baare Baare”, “Kathe Heluve”, which are still etched in our memories. “Baare Baare” was shot for the first time in slow motion, much before Mansoor Khan shot “Pehla Nasha” for Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar.
Puttanna was particular about the locations for his film. Chittibabu was shocked when Puttanna asked him to shoot a sequence on a sloppy rock, where the cinematographer did not have any facility to place the camera. An unperturbed Puttanna asked Chittibabu to hold the camera on his shoulder and got the desired result.
Now, when Naagarahavu is re-releasing, Vishnuvardhan, Ashwath and Puttanna are not there in this world.
According to Balaji of Eshwari Productions, the new version would offer a different viewing experience. It was not an easy task for him to restore the 47-year old film. When he went searching for the negatives of the film, it was lying in a go-down at Gemini Lab in Chennai. When the technicians told him that it was a futile attempt to restore the film as the negatives were damaged, Balaji did not give up, but went ahead and gave it a shot.
It took two years for Balaji to get the film ready. Over 65 technicians worked on the restoration for more than 18 months.
For sound effect, Balaji re-recorded it using 60 musical instruments. “As the original was in nano track, it was necessary to re-do the film music on 7.1 track to suit to the present surround sound technology.”
What’s next in store for Eshwari Combines? “I plan to restore Kula Gaurava and Naa Ninna Mareyalare , starring Dr Rajkumar and Prema Loka starring my brother Ravichandran,” he says.
