Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Nov 29: The muhurat of upcoming Kannada film ‘Vadiraja Valaga Mandali’, produced under the banner of MNR Production, was held recently in the presence of Urwa Mariyamma.
Earlier, speaking at a press conference held at the SCDCC Bank auditorium on Thursday, film producer Dr M N Rajendra Kumar said, MNR Production, established in 2009, had earlier presented the mega-serial Jogula, directed by Vinu Balanja. The serial, which aired for around 600 episodes on Zee Kannada, received wide appreciation.
He further said that under the direction of talented filmmaker M D Sridhar, the movie ‘Galate’, featuring actor Prajwal Devaraj along with an ensemble cast, was produced by MNR Production. Much of the filming for Galate took place abroad, making it the company’s first feature film.
As MNR Production is a coastal Karnataka-based banner, the team has also taken steps to promote the Tulu language. The muhurat for the Tulu film Doctraa.. Bhathraa?, directed by Vijaykumar Kodialbail, has already been held, and the movie is slated for release next year.
Dr Rajendra Kumar said the banner is now supporting young filmmakers as well. The film Vadiraja Valaga Mandali is written and directed by emerging filmmaker Shashiraj Rao Kavoor, known for his creative contribution to songs such as Varaha Roopam and Gottilla Shivane Bhakti Daariyu from the film Kantara.
He said the movie is a full-fledged comedy built on a strong storyline and also carries a meaningful social message. The cast includes Naveen D Padil, Lakshman Kumar Malluru, Prakash Tuminadu, Deepak Rai Panaje, Pushparaj Bollur, Mime Ramdas, Shobharaj Pavoor, Tanvi Rao, Venya Rai, Chaitra Shetty, Keerthana and others.
Renowned cinematographer S Chandrashekaran, who has worked on several hit Kannada and Tamil films, will handle the camera department. Music for the film is composed by Manikanth Kadri. Jayaprakash Tumbe will serve as co-producer and actor Santosh Shetty as executive producer. Members of the Navodaya Self-Help Group will act in the ‘Mehendi’ sequence of the movie.
The movie will be shot over 40 days in a single schedule across locations in Kasargod, Mangaluru, Udupi and Kundapur. Director Shashiraj Kavoor said the film is a comedy entertainer with a good social message, featuring several artistes from the coastal region.