The first part of KGF , directed by Prashanth Neel starring Yash, created history of sorts for various reasons. Touted as the costliest film ever made in Kannada, KGF was released in five languages, including Hindi, simultaneously across the country and abroad.
The film was applauded for technical excellence, besides content. It is one of the most discussed films in various forums of Biffes.
Prashanth had claimed: " KGF will be one of the most brilliant movies to be made in the longest time, and the reason for that would be my technicians — cameraman Bhuvan Gowda, music director Ravi Basrur and art director Shivakumar. They make me look good at the end of the day. My team is magnificent, the appreciation we are getting is because of those three."
The trio shared their experience of making the film during an interaction with delegates and technicians from the Kannada cinema industry.
According to Bhuvan, computer-generated imagery (CGI) accounted for only 5% of the total length of the film. He held the camera on his shoulders for 80% of shots and did not use advanced equipment because of paucity of time.
Prashanth took almost 18 months to research the subject and handled a over-600-member crew. A huge set was erected to create the KGF of the ’70s. "It was challenging because the set has to go with the feel of the ’70s. As KGF is a period movie, we took care of every detail. Cyanide hills, wind and rain were the real challenges. There are times when we have recreated the entire set after it was brought down by wind,” he said.
Basroor describes KGF as the perfect blend of sound and visuals. The larger part of the film’s music is screenplay oriented. It’s been three years of creating, updating and fine-tuning. Work on the music part is still under way, he said. This is the first film for which the theme music was created before the shooting of each shot.
S.A. Chinne Gowda, President, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, concluded the session by comparing the response to KGF with theatres putting ‘houseful’ boards for Dr. Rajkumar’s films and said, “ KGF opened a new chapter in the 85-year-old history of Kannada cinema.”
