Before he became Mahipatidasaru, he was a man who had occupied an important position in the court of Adil Shah. His eventual turn towards spirituality, yoga and the Haridasa tradition forms the basis of Kaakhandaki Sri Mahipatidasaru, director Madhusudan Havaldar’s upcoming Kannada film.
The film traces the life of Mahipatidasaru, who came into the Haridasa tradition after Purandara Dasa and Kanaka Dasa. His spiritual transformation, influenced by Bhaskar Guruji and the Sufi saint Shanung, becomes an important part of the narrative. His connection to Kaakhandaki in Vijayapura district, where his sacred place is located, also gives the film its title.
For Havaldar, the film is another step in an ongoing attempt to take the stories of Karnataka’s Haridasas to the screen. He has previously directed films on prominent figures from the tradition, beginning with Sri Jagannathadasaru. Kaakhandaki Sri Mahipatidasaru becomes his fifth film centred on a Haridasa, but this time he has taken on an additional responsibility by composing the music himself.
“Since Sri Jagannathadasaru, I have been making films on great Haridasas. This is my fifth film in the series. I have directed the film and also composed the music,” says Havaldar.
The filmmaker is keen to approach Mahipatidasaru not merely as a historical figure, but as a man whose life underwent a dramatic change. The contrast between his position in the Adil Shah court and his later spiritual pursuit gives the story a natural dramatic arc, while his association with both Bhaskar Guruji and the Sufi saint Shanung adds another dimension to his transformation.
Vijayanand Nayak plays Mahipatidasaru. The story and dialogues have been written by Dr Krishna Kolhar Kulkarni, with the screenplay credited to J M Prahlad and Havaldar. The film is produced by Matambuja Movies.
The team has already shown the film to a select group of people familiar with history, culture and the subject. For Havaldar, this was less about presenting a finished product and more about making sure that a film based on a historical personality stays on the right track.
“Whenever a film is made about a historical figure or a spiritual personality, it is important to show it to people who understand the subject. If there are any changes needed, they can still be made. But the appreciation we received after showing the film has given me a lot of satisfaction,” he says.
Kaakhandaki Sri Mahipatidasaru is now ready for release and is expected to arrive in theatres in October. At a time when the lives of saints and spiritual figures are often confined to books and devotional spaces, Havaldar is attempting to give Mahipatidasaru a cinematic life and introduce his story to a new generation.
