Dhruva Sarja’s upcoming film, Martin, which has been long in the making, is all set for a worldwide theatrical release in multiple languages on October 11. Ahead of the release, the makers released the trailer in the presence of Indian and International press at a grand event in Mumbai, which was attended by the cast and crew of the film including the lead actor Dhruva, director AP Arjun, female leads Vaibhavi Shandilya and Anveshi Jain, and Arjun.
Following the trailer launch, the cast and crew answered questions from Indian and international journalists. One of the key aspects of the film is the action sequences that steal the spotlight. Notably, Martin has several of these action-heavy sequences including multiple car-chase scenes. Breaking down the work that went behind the camera, action choreographer Ravi Varma said, “There are two main action scenes in the film which require guts and he has delivered exactly what was needed for the screen which is why people call him ‘action prince’. For all the stunts, Arjun sir and I sat down and made storyboards, approved the budget and only then it went on floors. Everyone across the world will enjoy the film.”
With Martin, Dhruva Sarja is returning to the big screen three years after Pogaru. Taking to the stage, he said, “I am just four movies old. With the love and support of my family, fans and people of Karnataka, I have come to the place where I am. This is my fifth film, but this is the first film which is being released worldwide.” The film is set to be released worldwide in not just Indian languages, but also globally in 13 languages including Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Korean and Spanish. “Indian cinema has universal appeal and it is time that the world sees the incredible stories we tell. It is also about showcasing our talent on a global stage. As an actor, I want to get established,” he added, noting that he chose the script as it had intense action scenes, a gripping story, unique screenplay and characters with depth.
Actor Arjun, who has written the story and screenplay for Martin, said, “I would like to call Dhruva my son rather than my sister's son. He is very close to me and has a very big fan base. Dhruva calls his fans VIPs. People are expecting so much from him. We were breaking our heads as to what to write for him and then Martin happened.” The actor-director also confirmed that he is not making a cameo in Martin and heaped praise on Dhruva for his efforts. “I trained his brother Chiranjeevi Sarja in gymnastics, acting, and more. For Dhruva, I didn't have to do anything. He is like Ekalavya who learnt everything by himself. His biceps that you see on screen are not VFX. He worked very hard for two to three months to achieve this. Although he's young, I too learnt a few things from him.”
Vaibhavi Shandilya, who plays a key role, elaborated on her character in the film. “I play the character Preethi in the movie. She is a small-town girl who embodies confidence and bravery.” Sharing her experience working in the film, she said, “I have been in the industry since I was seven. Although I have worked in Tamil, Telugu, and other languages, I consider Martin as the biggest film in my career. Kannada is not my mother tongue. Language was the only difficult part for me. Even then I would ensure to perform my lines well.”
Just like Vaibhavi, Anveshi Jain also plays a pivotal role as a gangster. Calling her role as a ‘dream come true’, she pointed out the difficulty in performing for her scenes in the film. “I had to do a lot of workouts. I had a very severe injury and then had to take a break. The whole set was very cooperative during the time. I had no clue that I was part of a huge film. The Kannada industry is becoming an inspiration for Bollywood and Hollywood.” She also appreciated the director for his meticulous work and attention to detail.
Martin is also a significant film in director AP Arjun’s career as it is his highest-budget movie to date. With this film, Dhruva Sarja and Arjun are reuniting after 12 years since Dhruva's debut in Addhuri. “Both my first film Ambari and Dhruva’s Addhuri were hits. Martin is my three-year-long dream. Although it started as every other Kannada movie, after 20 days, we looked at the visuals and thought it would be great to release it across India. It was Dhruva’s vision to make it pan-world. All of the action sequences were rehearsed extensively for more than a month. I've enjoyed making this film every day. After looking at the output, all the hardships that I faced vanished away,” he said.
Along with action, the film also imbues themes of patriotism, as Arjun Saxena (Dhruva), takes a journey from Pakistan to India. Discussing the theme, Arjun shares, “Be it Indians or Pakistanis, we are humans at the end of the day. Only the leaders are different. Being patriotic isn’t just about singing the national anthem, one should also be true to themselves and be kind to people.” When asked if Dhruva would act in Arjun Sarja’s direction, he said, “I would love to. We will definitely collaborate together in a few years.”
With Ravi Basrur scoring the music, Martin is bankrolled by Uday K Mehta. He chipped in and said, “This is a very unique script. The film took three years to release, so it was difficult to organise and bring everyone together on the same page. Without Dhruva Sarja’s support, we could not have made this project. He said that he has put in 100 per cent of his efforts, but I believe that he has put in his 200 per cent, standing by the film like a pillar.”