Sandeep Sunkad, hailing from Shivamogga, is not your typical film director. An engineering graduate who initially pursued a career as an electronic engineer took a dive into the film industry in 2016. Since then, he’s explored various facets of the industry, from working on government documentaries to corporate films, to even trying his hand in the hotel business. Today, his technical background has come in handy to aid his artistic expression in his directorial debut, Shakhahaari.

“My experiences while travelling for work and my avid reading have helped me understand storytelling. The time that I spent in the industry has also honed my craft,” Sandeep shares.  Shakhahaari delves into the reactions of ordinary people when faced with unexpected circumstances and challenges, in the heat of the moment. “It is an emotional crime thriller,” Sandeep explains, setting the stage for a gripping narrative. “The entire film is set against the backdrop of a remote village in Thirthahalli, revolving around a hotel as its central theme,” he says.

For an engineer-turned-director, there is a constant curiosity around fresh perspectives that a newcomer brings with them. “New stories always reveal fresh layers, but they often have a familiar hook, drawing from what we observe in our surroundings. The freshness lies in the approach and perspective,” Sandeep muses. One of the film’s highlights is the presence of veteran actor Rangayana Raghu, whose intense portrayal adds depth to the storyline. “Rangayana Raghu’s involvement was pivotal. His character speaks little, but his presence is immensely impactful,” Sandeep reveals, and further emphasises, “I needed a face that didn’t carry a predefined image. Age was also a factor, but more importantly, I sought someone with the strength to pull off this character, and Rangayana Raghu fit the bill perfectly.”

The film comes with a strong ensemble cast, including Gopal Krishna Deshpande, Sujay Shashty, Harini Shrikanth, Nidhi Hegde, Shreeharsha Gobhat, and Parthima Nayak in pivotal roles.  Shakhahaari, produced by Keelambi Media, has Vishwajith Rao behind the camera, Shashank Narayan in the editing room, and Mayur Ambekallu composing the music.