‘Love doesn’t exists in politics’

As Karnataka goes to polls shortly, director and cinematographer Ashok Cashyap is jumping on the election bandwagon with his upcoming political thriller Dhwaja, slated for release this week. “Call it intention, but the film coming out now is definitely for a good reason,” says the director, whose film is a remake of the Tamil hit, Kodi.

“Dhwaja is a film both for those in power and the common man. The latter will especially be reminded of the advantages and the disadvantages the aam aadmi goes through during elections,” he adds.

With Priyamani and newcomer Ravi as leads, Ashok says that Dhwaja also works as a love story. “A love story between two political leaders definitely makes for an interesting subject that comes with a message ‘Love doesn’t exists in politics’. As a woman politician, she goes to any extent to be at the top,” says, the director who is thrilled to have got Priyamani for the role, which he feels she was apt for.  

As for the newcomer Ravi, Ashok says that his association with the actor goes back to a time when the latter worked as an assistant director in Uppi 2. “As a cinematographer, I used to interact with a lot of assistants. When I learnt about his intention to enter the industry, I decided to cast him for my film,” he says.

Dhwaja is Ashok’s fourth project as a director, while he has 50 films to his credit as cinematographer. For this film, he has taken on both roles. “Working as director and cinematographer was a double advantage. I got to call the shots from both ends,” he laughs. But he’s quick to add that the process has also been very painful. “I don’t advise doing both jobs at the same time. Unless you want to lose a couple of kilos and turn a shade duskier like I have,” he chuckles.

The film, which also features Divya Uruduga, TN Seetharam, Tabala Nani, and Veena Sundar, has music by Santhosh Narayanan and Chinna.