Kannada cinema is ready to introduce a new talent. Arun Ram Prasad, the son of experienced producer and audio entrepreneur Ashwini Ramprasad, is set to make his debut with a film, titled Gharga. Ashwini has been behind hits like Jogi and Prem’s Preeti Yeke Bhoomi Melide.
Gharga is billed to be an ambitious, multi-genre adventure that combines romance, mystery, folklore, and suspense. The makers recently released a romantic track, Neenu Nanage, written by AP Arjun and composed by RP Patnayak. This song is part of a multi-lingual rollout, featuring Yasin’s vocals in Kannada, while Sid Sriram handles the versions in other languages.
The story is set in a fictional village called Gharga. Rehana plays the female lead, and Arun portrays a writer and researcher who gets pulled into a world full of danger and intrigue. Ashwini Ramprasad says, “I have worked in the film industry for 40 years as an audio company owner and producer. Now I am launching my son. We began this project four years ago, but delays pushed it back. This film explores a different genre; the hero has three distinct looks. Director Shashidhar has done a great job with the story and screenplay. The film is ready for censor and we’re aiming for a January or February release. MN Kumar will manage the distribution.”
Director M Shashidhar, who has a master’s degree in animation, explains, “The film started a few years ago. Covid and other challenges delayed the timeline. The story is fictional but filled with adventure, horror, suspense, thrills, and action. We filmed in various locations, including Mangaluru, Chikkamagaluru, Dandeli, Agumbe, and Bengaluru. Zee acquired the rights after they saw the trailer. The film carries the tagline, The Land of Shadow. Gurukiran also collaborates with RP Patnayak to create the musical score.”
Reflecting on his debut, Arun Ram Prasad shares, “I entered the film industry after preparing myself in every possible way. The entire shoot was challenging; I had to gain and lose weight several times. My character has many layers — writer, underworld figure, and more. It’s a horror crime thriller, and all filming and post-production work is complete.”
Distributor MN Kumar, a longtime family friend, adds, “Ram Prasad is close to me; our sons are friends too. We plan to release the film in February. Karnataka has nearly 550 single screens and 76 multiplexes, totaling around 1,000 screens. Proper use of those screens is key.”
