The trailer of Bhavantara, inspired by real-life incidents, was released on October 24. Written and directed by Karthik Sharma, who has also composed the music and plays a lead role, the film combines a triangular love story with an exploration of the lives, emotions and struggles of the transgender community.
The trailer offers a glimpse into the emotional world of the film, bringing together love, identity and relationships against the backdrop of the community's experiences. While the interactions between the central characters hint at a complicated love story, the narrative also explores customs and traditions that remain unfamiliar to many.
Speaking about the film, Karthik Sharma said the story took shape from a unique village festival he had heard about several years ago. According to him, the film explores lesser-known practices and realities associated with the transgender community, which he believes nearly 80 per cent of people are unaware of. He describes the project as a creative challenge, having taken on multiple responsibilities as a writer, director, actor and music composer.
The film features Tanvi Rao as Radhe, a pivotal character in the story. Known for her dancing and theatre background, she brings her performance experience to the role. Pranav Sridhar, who has appeared in popular television serials, including Shani, plays Abhimanyu. Karthik appears in the distinctive roles of Madhav and Madhavi, with the interactions between these characters forming the triangular love story. The cast also includes Sri Vaishnav as Battery and Veda Rao as Triveni.
Bhavantara is jointly produced by Karthik Sharma, Pratap Krishna and Manoj Kumar. The cinematography is handled by Sagar Athadkar, Karthik's school friend, who studied cinematography in Canada and has worked on Marathi films and advertisements. The film was shot across Udupi, Bengaluru and parts of Tamil Nadu.
Hombale Music has acquired the film's audio rights, providing a boost to the independent album at a time when films featuring newcomers often face challenges in the music market. The film features five songs composed by Karthik.
With its focus on a lesser-explored subject and relationships shaped by identity and social realities, Bhavantara is gearing up for its theatrical release.
