The team behind Maryade Prashne is overjoyed with the overwhelming response from audiences, especially as the film, released on November 22, continues its successful run into the second week. Debutant director Nagaraja Somayaji, who also wrote the film's story, is particularly proud of how it captures the essence of middle-class life in Bengaluru. The film explores the joys and struggles of this lifestyle, bringing to life the vibrant neighbourhoods of the city. One theme that stands out for Nagaraja is the issue of road rage, which has become an all too common problem in Bengaluru.
"A topic like road rage, which often dominates news and crime reports, takes on a different dimension when portrayed on the big screen. In a typical crime story, the focus is on the incident itself, the people involved, and how the police solve the case. But in cinema, it’s about the characters—their emotions, reactions, and the layers of consequences they face," Nagaraja explains.
He’s grateful that the audience has connected with the middle-class life in Chamrajpet, a South Bengaluru neighbourhood. "People found it relatable, and the reactions from family audiences have been encouraging," says Nagaraja. He believes the strength of the film lies in its writing. "When it came to dialogue writing, I knew I had to take the lead. I wanted to describe key situations in just one or two lines, capturing the essence without overcomplicating things. Since I developed the story, the dialogue had to align with it—authentic, simple, and grounded."
Nagaraja adds, "When my mother brought me to Bengaluru at 24, she said, 'Look at how this city will grow.' Bengaluru has certainly evolved, as have its people. My own experiences in the city helped me tell this story in a more genuine way."
The ensemble cast of Maryade Prashne has been another standout element, with performances by Rakesh Adiga, Sunil Raoh, Poornachandra Mysore, Teju Belawadi, Prabhu Mundkur, Rekha Kudligi, and Shine Shetty all receiving praise. According to Nagaraja, the casting was spot on, thanks to Sunayana Suresh, a journalist turned casting director.
"I was involved from the beginning of the film," says Sunayana. "Nagaraja and Pradeep shared the story with me, and we knew we needed actors who could represent both the affluent and working-class communities of Bengaluru. The challenge was ensuring that each character felt authentic. With the positive reviews about the casting, I’m proud to see it paying off. Every actor, from Teju Belawadi to Shine Shetty, brought something special to the film. I’m also happy that Rekha Kudligi and Nagendra Shaji have won the family audience’s hearts."
Sunayana also highlighted the growing importance of casting in Kannada cinema: "Pradeep's Sakkath Studio has shown how crucial casting is, and it's time for other film teams to prioritise it as well."
For producer Pradeepa, and his team Maryade Prashne has been a complete learning experience. "For us as a production house when it comes to release. What we have seen is that there is an audience for content rich films in Kannada. We have seen families and offices come in hordes to watch Maryade Prashne. Unfortunately, what is lacking is the support system to keep this space flourishing. The decision makers for most of the multiplex chains are all centrally located and people don't know the regional differences. For instance, the average Kannada viewer doesn't immediately rush to the cinema halls on the first day or even the first weekend. These people are discerning and wait for multiple validations before watching a film. But the system is so cutthroat that a film is taken out of a particular multiplex within a day if found with less numbers. The best examples of Kannada films becoming cult hits have all been cases of films that picked up after the second or third week, like Mungaru Male and Love Mocktail. This is why we need more informed minds in scheduling in the multiplex chains."
