After the success of Tagaru Palya, director Umesh K Krupa is gearing up for his second feature. Produced by Nagesh Vastar under the Akanksha Productions banner, the yet-to-be-titled film stars Dhanush NS, known for his role as Kanti in the television serial Puttakkana Makkalu, alongside Manasvi, who is stepping into cinema from a serial background. In an exclusive conversation with CE, Umesh says, “Tagaru Palya received immense encouragement and appreciation from both audiences and critics, and I remain grateful for that support. This is my second directorial venture, and I have written the story, screenplay and dialogues myself.” A firm believer that content is king, the director adds, “For me, the story is the true hero of this film.”
Like Tagaru Palya, the new film, along with Dhanush and Manasvi, will also feature experienced actors alongside the lead pair. Umesh revealed that Rangayana Raghu has been approached for a pivotal role, while Sithara, last seen in Theertharoopa Thandeyavarige, and Gopal Krishna Deshpande are also being brought on board, with casting for other key roles still underway. Explaining the shift from his debut, Umesh says while Tagaru Palya was set against a village backdrop and centred on customs and rituals, the new film is entirely rooted in village life. “This is a story from our land, filled with love, humour and sentiment. It is designed as a wholesome family entertainer with all the ingredients audiences enjoy."
Nature itself plays a distinctive role in the film. “Rain is an important character in this story. We were waiting for the monsoon to begin before starting production,” Umesh reveals. With the filming is set to begin in June, the first phase of the shoot will be shot across locations like Thirthahalli, Agumbe, Karkala and Chikkamagaluru. The technical team includes SK Rao as cinematographer, Palani D Senapathi as music director, Madhu Thumbakere as editor, Arjun Raj as action choreographer, A Satish as art director, and H Jagadish Rao as executive producer.
For Dhanush, the film marks an important transition from serials and reality shows to cinema. Having completed his first film, Jagate Gensets, a romcom directed by Anup with a largely fresh team, the actor says he is now ready to begin work on Umesh’s film. “Cinema was always on my mind since childhood. I did not come from a film family, so I took the opportunities I got through serials. I’m thankful that people noticed me as Kanti in Puttakkana Makkalu, and now is where my cinema journey truly begins,” says Dhanush.
