I don’t intend to give out any message through my film: Rakesh Adiga

Night Out will mark the directorial debut of actor Rakesh Adiga. It took Rakesh 10 years to make the transition from before the camera to behind it. “My close friends, including those from the film industry, always knew my interest in direction. In fact, I started off as an assistant director soon after I finished class 10 in 2001. It was a time when the digital medium was yet to take off in the industry,” explains Rakesh, who is ready to test the waters with Night Out this week. It was his album Urban Lads in 2007 that caught the attention of filmmakers. He was called for an audition for the film, Jhossh, and thus made his foray into acting. “This film is releasing exactly 10 years after my first film, Jhossh,” he says.  

The film, starring newcomer Bharath, Akshay Pawar, and Shruti Goradia of Sankashta Kara Ganapati-fame, is produced by Naveen Krishna, a resident of the USA, who was impressed with the film’s story. “He not only decided to invest in the film, but also gave us a free hand,” says Rakesh, who, apart from direction, has also written the story, dialogues, and screenplay for Night Out. He has even sung a bit song in the film, which has music scored by Sameer Kulkarni and cinematography by Arun Alexander, along with Vishwajith Rao.

The story revolves around two friends travelling from one place to another, and during this journey, through a flashback, a thrilling story unfolds. “Everything is based on real-life incidents, some of which I have personally witnessed. I have tried to bring the characters alive through my story. I don’t intend to give out any message through my film, which will be a pure entertainer with comedy. I also don’t have a typical hero, heroine, comedian, or villain in the film,” says the actor-turned-director. 

Rakesh’s first aim was to get into the industry and establish himself. “Acting in 13 films has given me a perspective on cinema. To hone my directing skills, I have put forth my stories to a few directors, including Jhossh-director Shivamani, and taken inputs from them,” he says, adding, “I am capable of getting work done from actors, which is an important factor. Over the years, I have learned the language of cinema, which has come in handy in Night Out.”