Mention his 1990 classic Udbhava to director Kodlu Ramakrishna and he recalls a line from a critic’s review that had said, ‘One of the rare films seen in Indian cinema’. The film became the talk of the town back then. After 30 years, the director is now back with Mathe Udbhava.
The political satire, starring Pramod, Milana Nagaraj, Rangayana Raghu, Avinash, and Mohan, and featuring music by V Manohar, will be among the handful of Kannada releases hitting theatres this Friday (February 7).
“As a writer and director, making Mathe Udbhava has given me double the excitement,” says Kodlu Ramakrishna. While Udbhava was a classic film that was liked by the audience, for the upcoming film the director has gone a different route. “ Mathe Udbhava is a mass entertainer, and I have gone by the taste of today’s cine-goers. It contains elements of love, action, and emotions,” he says.
The director reveals that five years of research went into the script of Mathe Udbhava. “I have mirrored today’s society in my film, which also highlights the present political scenario and a few incidents that have taken place over the last five years,” says Kodlu Ramakrishna. “Making this film has brought me the utmost satisfaction. Expect a climax that nobody would have imagined,” he adds.
Pramod: ‘Blessed to play an updated version of legendary actor Anant Nag in Mathe Udbhava’
Actor Pramod considers Udbhava, starring Anant Nag, a masterpiece, and feels blessed to be getting to play an updated version of the legendary actor's role in the sequel. “I was looking for a role that would bring me out of the innocence I showed in Premier Padmini and was searching for an energetic character. It came to me through Mathe Udbhava. Going by the director’s previous work, I was initially sceptical about whether I should take it up, thinking that Kodlu Ramakrishna might still go by the old school of thought. But surprisingly, the director, while keeping alive the essence of Udbhava, has incorporated elements for mass appeal, including comedy,” he says.
Milana Nagaraj: ‘I was bowled over by Kodlu Ramakrishna’s energy’
Working with Kodlu Ramakrishna was a whole new experience for Milana Nagaraj, who was not even born when the director’s film, Udbhava, was released. She thus wanted to approach it with a fresh mindset. “The director’s narration changed my perception of the film. I was bowled over by Kodlu Ramakrishna’s energy, and that’s one of the reasons I accepted the project,” says Milana Nagaraj, who gets to play two shades — an actress and a politician — in the film.
“Another advantage of working with a director like Kodlu Ramakrishna is that he gives space to his actors. Even though he is a senior director, he doesn’t have any ego issues and brings in a lot of good vibes,” she adds.