An innocent love story set against a rural backdrop forms the crux of 'Kanasalu..', a new album song helmed by multi-talented artiste Sriram Gandharva. The song was recently launched in the presence of several young talents and members of the Kannada film industry.
Actor Rakshith Nag, who attended the event as the chief guest, congratulated the team and encouraged Sriram to continue exploring his creative side. “Sriram should not stop with this. In a time when audiences tend to forget things quickly, consistently coming up with good songs is what will help an artiste stay in their memories,” he said.
Folk singer Jogila Siddaraju also appreciated the initiative, pointing out the need for platforms that encourage local talent. He noted that albums such as this can help artistes like Sriram, who can compose and sing, showcase their abilities at a time when the Kannada music industry is increasingly featuring singers from other languages.
'Kanasalu..' revolves around a young assistant working at a tailoring shop and Meera, a customer who visits the establishment. Their interaction gradually blossoms into an innocent romance. The story is set against a village backdrop and aims to capture the simplicity of first love.
The album marks the acting debut of young actor Darshan, who plays the male lead. Gagana, who essays Meera, has previously appeared in films and web series. The makers have opted for a natural treatment to present the relationship between the two characters.
Sriram Gandharva has taken on multiple responsibilities for the project, having written, composed, sung and directed the song. Speaking about the idea behind 'Kanasalu..', he said the team wanted to tell a love story rooted in honesty and emotions that audiences could relate to. He also expressed his happiness over Anand Audio releasing the song through its platform. The event also saw the screening of the Hindi version, with lyrics by Junaid Ahmed Kabir.
Sriram is also looking to make his transition to feature filmmaking. He revealed that he is currently working on three directorial projects, including two films featuring Kishore and Ravishankar Gowda in prominent roles, as well as a Bollywood film.
Sriram's father and veteran director Gandharva was also present at the launch. Speaking about his son's first venture, he said that the album manages to convey subtle emotions that may not always be easy to express even in a feature film. He added that it was a matter of pride to see Sriram take on several responsibilities and successfully complete the project.
Produced by Richard under the Dolly Pictures banner, Kanasalu.. has Ravikumar BM handling cinematography and editing. The song was shot in two days. Producer and actor Dr Manjunath of Matte Bantu Monsoon, Telugu actor Nihal, writer Harish and several other industry personalities attended the launch and wished the team.