Anupama Sharadhi’s entry into Kannada cinema arrives with a rare distinction: her first feature Nadubettu Appanna, made entirely in Arebhashe, which is a less spoken dialect of Kannada and does not have a widely used written tradition. The language is a mix of Tulu, Kodava and Malayalam.
The film has already begun its journey with notable recognition. The film received a two-day screening at the Kolkata International Film Festival after being showcased at the Mysuru Dasara Film Festival, drawing strong appreciation from viewers. For a debutante in a space where women filmmakers are still few, the reception carries weight.
A singer by profession, Anupama has directed government documentaries in the past, but this film marks her first step into mainstream cinema. She writes, directs, and produces Nadubettu Appanna, shaping its story, screenplay, and dialogues with a clear, grounded intention: to bring to light the lived reality of a region often overlooked, and to do so with honesty and grit.
Set in the remote village of Dabbadka, the film follows the arc of Appanna, a man known for his stinginess and detachment. Life in Dabbadka is marked by isolation. Roads, schools, and hospitals remain distant dreams. Villagers cross the river in a coracle, a routine that has already claimed many lives. Adding to their hardship is the constant fear of elephant attacks that destroy crops and push families into uncertainty.
Appanna stays indifferent to the struggles around him until tragedy enters his own home. An elephant attack on his farmland kills his wife and son, shattering the rigid worldview he has held for years. From here, the film steers into a stirring turn. Appanna realises that his obsession with hoarding wealth has offered neither dignity nor protection. He transforms himself, forms a trust, and donates his entire property to the government to support the village he once ignored.
Nataraj Honnalli plays the titular role, joined by Sumathi, Nishanth, Jagannath, Bhavani Shankar Adtale, Adoor Balakrishna Kasaragodu, Jeevan Sullia Keremoole, and Lalithya. The film’s music is by Kumar Eschar, and cinematographers by Abhishek Anagalli and Dhanush Mysuru.