A new angle to cinema

Four budding filmmakers share the story of their journey

8th Bengaluru International Film Festival was a great opportunity to showcase their work, they said.

On the last day of the 8th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes), we spoke to four Kannada filmmakers who showed their films at the event. They were unanimous that lack of a ‘market’ meant they weren’t talking business at the fest, but insisted it was a great opportunity to showcase their work and get the word out on social media.

Creative angst of getting a film right

Filmmaker: Umashankar Swami

Film: Saalada Magu

I made this film based on Kuvempu's story. It's set in the 1940s and deals with bonded labour. I started as a documentary, as a series of three of Kuvempu's stories. But I was unhappy with the way it was shaping up. When each story started growing by itself, I decided to present at least one story well.

After shooting in 2013 in the Malnad region, I was dissatisfied with the way it had turned out. Also, my imagination of how I wanted to present the story kept changing and my budget kept escalating. I shot another full schedule in 2014 till I was satisfied. But I felt it was complete when I dedicated the film to Kailash Satyarthi.

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Weekend moviemaker shows films in-flight

Filmmaker: Venkat Bharadwaj

Film: Nagaradalli Ondu Dina

I work in the IT industry and make films over the weekend. I had great memories of drawing water from a well as a child, and knew that water scarcity in urban areas will be a serious issue in the future. My story is about what happens when there is no water in a city for an entire day.

While casting, I picked IT people with a theatre background. Some friends pooled in about Rs. 3 lakh each. I scripted for six months and shot the film over five months with Rs. 18 lakh. During release, the cost went up by another Rs. 8 lakh. Yet, I'm happy I broke even.

Releasing this film was a big challenge. I approached multiplexes, private theatres and airlines. Because of the contemporary and urban content, I managed to get 21 screens in multiplexes. Right now, British Airways, China Air and Emirates are screening it. Another 18 airways have agreed to start screening it. I am also planning a video-on-demand release online.

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Cinema is not just about budget

Filmmaker: Naganatha Joshi

Film: Chiguru

This is my third film, and the reason I made this one, was the extreme loss I underwent with my last two movies. I had given up hope about a future in the film industry when friend and writer Ravindra Kanagal gave me his story and encouraged me to switch to the digital medium.

The story deals with untouchability and centres around a Dalit cobbler couple who want to educate their child.

I strongly reject the perception that cinema is just about budget. For me, story is important.

I have launched an exclusive Kannada film festival where I will take films to the district and taluk levels as two-day events, screening three films each day.

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Co-operative filmmaking works wonders

Filmmaker: Srinath Vasistha

Film: Salila

I have followed filmmaker P. Sheshadri's co-operative method. 10 technicians from the film industry have come together to make the film. None of us took a fee. We had a producer who invested a few lakhs.

The story follows a group of children from the village and city who get together under strange circumstances to shut down a polluting factory in the village.

We are taking this film to schools so that children are aware of what is happening around them. We had 250 shows in schools in Bengaluru and Mysuru and will be taking the film to schools across the State.