Good audience response to his debut film “Rangitaranga” has delighted Anup Bhandari, who is now busy getting shows in multiplexes and single screen theatres for the second week. Having recovered in the first week of screening most of the investment made for the film that depicts culture and ethos of Tulunadu, Mr. Bhandari hopes to get more shows in the second and third week.
This Puttur-born software professional and his younger brother Nirup Bhandari, also a software professional and the lead actor of the film, were at Cinepolis in the city where Rangitaranga has been getting a good response. Here are excerpts of an interview with Anup and Nirup Bhandari.
Q: The film has traces of a popular Kannada television serial Guddada Bhoota (directed by Sadananda Suvarna). The village in the film is Kamarottu and you have one character Angara, both of which are seen in Guddada Bhoota.
Anup: While writing this story, the popular theme song “Dennana Dennnana…” of Guddada Bhoota serial had been ringing in my mind. When I ventured to make the story into film I decided to meet Sadananda Suvarna and seek rights to use the song in the film. He readily agreed and you see it the film. As the song has reference to Kamarottu village, it is also used in the film. It’s incidental that the character “Angara” is in the film.
In which genre do you put this film? Can this be watched with family members?
Anup: I term this film as a romantic mystery thriller. It is fast moving and has a lot of twists. The climax of the film is different and you will experience it when you watch it. Definitely it is a family movie. You see a lot of children watching it.
The film Ulidavaru Kandante that also depicted culture and ethos of Tulunadu did have problems relating it with audience outside the region who do not understand Tulu. How have you addressed this?
Nirup: In this film, the lead male and female actors are from Bengaluru and they come to the village. It is in their dialogues that audience are introduced to customs such as Bhoota Koola. You see me playing a role in a Yakshagana costume in the film.
