Diganth: I am a big critic of my own work but I felt I have done a good job in Marigold

Marigold, typically associated with vibrant blooms, takes on a new meaning in the upcoming film from director Raghavendra Naik. In his film Marigold, starring Diganth, Sangeetha Sringeri, Yash Shetty, and Cockroach Suddhi as the lead cast, the audience is drawn into a world where gold holds all the power to unravel people’s real characters. “Greed, friendship, and the intricate dynamics of human nature are all explored against the backdrop of this seemingly innocuous object,” says the director. Explaining the significance behind the title,  Raghavendra Naik says, “The word ‘Mari’ in Kannada language has multiple meanings, including ‘sell’ and ‘Devil.’ While Marigold has a floral reference, as a film, it explores desire and morality, getting into the complexities of human relationships and aspirations.”
The film produced by Raghuvardhan has cinematography by KS Chandrashekar while Raghu Niduvalli has penned the dialogues, and music by Veer Samarth. Coincidentally, producer Raghuvardhan, who himself is a director (Badri) was on the lookout for his next subject to direct, stumbled upon Raghavendra Naik’s script. “The genre—crime thriller—wasn’t exactly in my comfort zone for directing. However, the sheer brilliance of the storyline pushed me to take a leap into film production, marking my first venture,” shares Raghuvardhan.

“Every aspect of the story is made with freshness, from the characters to the plot twists in Marigold,” the director says, revealing that the film marks a significant departure for Diganth, who ventures into a role unlike any he has tackled before. “I wanted to do a different script with Diganth, but it never took off. His forte has always been love stories, but as an actor, I recognise his caliber. He’s an athlete and badminton champion; I know he’s capable of much more than just playing the lover boy,” Raghavendra continues, “I didn’t want him to be stuck in one particular type of role. I aimed to push him out of his comfort zone and showcase his versatility. In fact, he didn’t embrace the role in Marigold immediately. He was initially hesitant and had reservations about whether he could pull it off and even spent two days contemplating before finally committing to the character,” he says.

Diganth admits that Raghavendra Naik was longing to see him in a different role and he was confident that he could pull off diverse roles. “Marigold as a thriller comes with a good story. In fact, we shot this film in scorching heat. Raghavendra has been particular with his scenes and did not budge until he got the right shots, bringing variation to my character as well as others’. I am a big critic of my own work, and when I watched the film recently, I felt that I have done a good job in this film.”

Big Boss Kannada Season 10 contestant and actor, Sangeetha Sringeri, known for her portrayals of girl-next-door characters, and her role in 777 Charlie, finds her character in Marigold fresh and unique. “I’ve always wanted to take on glamorous roles, but ones that aren’t stereotypical or shallow,” she explains. In the film, she takes on the role of a dancer, a character she sees as an opportunity. “Through my character, the film showcases how far a girl will go for love. It was a risky role to take on, and I’m eager to see how audiences will react,” she admits, adding, “I understand that sooner or later, I’ll have to take on more glamorous roles. There are some bold scenes, but I made sure to approach them with a clear artistic vision,” she says, signing off.