Niranjan Sudhindra, post the bilingual drama, Seetha Payanam, is now gearing up for his next release, Spark, which is set to hit theatres on September 25. Directed by Mahanthesh Handral, Spark features Niranjan as a journalist fighting for justice. Recently, at an event the makers unveiled the film's first single, 'Shaka Laka'. But the event quickly shifted focus to actor Prem's endorsement of the film's leading man and his call for the Kannada industry to invest in emerging talent.
Prem, who plays the antagonist in Spark, said Niranjan is among the industry's promising young actors and urged producers to recognise his potential before other film industries do. "Before other industries take notice of him, our producers should stand behind him," he said. Praising producers Garima and Avinash Vasishta, Prem added that despite having the vision and resources to mount much larger productions, they chose to place their faith in a young Kannada actor. "That deserves appreciation," he said.
Niranjan recalled showing the single to his uncle, Upendra, before its release. "He told me this was the kind of song usually reserved for a big star and that I was fortunate to have it. I consider that a huge compliment," he said. The actor also credited composer Sachin Basrur for the music and described Spark as one of the fastest productions of his career, attributing the smooth schedule to its corporate-backed production.
Rachana Inder, who stars opposite Niranjan, said the film gave her the opportunity to perform her first commercial dance number and present a more glamorous screen image.
For director Mahanthesh Handral, Spark is the culmination of a year's work. He said Prem's decision to take on a negative role strengthened the team's confidence in the project.
Sachin Basrur, who has composed all four songs in the film, revealed that Prem also has a song in Spark. Lyricist Pramod Maravante, who has written both the Kannada and Hindi versions, said the lyrics draw from the flavour of the North Karnataka dialect.
Producer Avinash Vasishta, who has already watched the film's first copy, expressed confidence in the final product.
While Dharmana Kadur plays a key role as journalist, the film technical team includes art director Hosmane Murthy, editor Madhu, and cinematographer Swamy J Gowda.
