The long-standing intersection between politics and cinema in Karnataka continues to evolve with former minister and JD(S) leader Sa Ra Mahesh stepping into Kannada film production. Marking his debut under the banner Gowri Arts, Mahesh has quietly initiated work on his maiden project, which has a mix of fresh talent and familiar faces.
The yet-to-be-titled film will be directed by Kiran Vishwanath, who is making his directorial debut after working as an associate director in commercially successful Kannada films such as Ranna and Victory. His transition from assisting established filmmakers to independently helming a project marks a significant step in his career, and the production represents a first collaboration between a debutant director and a first-time producer. A recently released promotional teaser introduced Mahesh as a producer.
Actor Priyanka Achar has been finalised as the female lead. She gained recognition through Zee Kannada’s reality show Mahanati before appearing in the film Elumale. The identity of the male lead, however, remains undisclosed. The makers expected to announce both the film’s title and its hero in the coming weeks.
Adding nostalgic value to the project is the return of actor Sangita Madhavan, who won audiences’ admiration for her role in the 1998 film Yaare Neenu Cheluve. She later appeared in Yaare Nee Abhimani. After staying away from Kannada cinema for more than two decades, she is set to make her comeback through Mahesh’s production.
