Taking selfies and photographs with mobile telephones is now a craze. But this craze also has some negative aspects. When a person is injured in a road accident, instead of helping him, people record it and upload it on the social media. There have been incidents when some persons have died while taking selfies.
A 17-minute short Kannada film, “Koopa Mandooka”, focuses on some of the negative aspects of using mobile telephone and social media. Ajay, actor, who has donned roles in several Kannada television serials, has not just produced and directed this short Kannada film but acted in it as well.
This short film has about 10 artistes, none of them professional. All of them are from Udupi district. This film has been shot in and around Barkur, Hungarcutta fisheries jetty, Bandimatha and Othinene beach near Byndoor in the district. The film has English subtitles.
“Technology such as mobile telephones has improved the quality of our lives. At the same time, some people have been insensitive in using it for recording accident victims instead of helping them. It is deeply painful for the family members of the victims that people recorded the scene instead of helping and saving life,” said Mr. Ajay.
“Some months ago, a youth was walking on the railway track near Kundapur listening to music on the headphone and was run over by a train. All these incidents moved me to make this short film,” he said.
The film had been made at a cost of about Rs. 45,000 and has been uploaded on YouTube. Already, it has received over 2,300 views. “This has been my first shot at direction. Many have commented positively about the film,” he said.
Megha Amin, heroine of the short film, said that their effort would give a balanced view of modern gadgets to the younger generation who were hooked on it. “I only hope it will make people sensitive in instances such as accidents,” she said.
“The basic intention of the film is to create awareness among people,” said Ganeshraj Saralebettu, social worker, who has acted in it.
