Udupi: 'Maha Nadi' - First Kannada Movie to be Produced in District

Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (NM)

Udupi, May 9: For the first time in the history of Udupi district, people will witness the production of a Kannada movie named ‘Maha Nadi’, under the banner of J J Productions, informed Krishnappa Uppoor.

Addressing a press meet here on Tuesday May 8, Uppoor said that the movie will be made with a budget of Rs 5 crore.

"The issues related to women are not given attention in Kannada film industry. The upcoming film revolves around the story of a fisherwoman of coastal Karnataka," said Krishnappa Uppoor.

The movie will be filmed mainly in a small village called Keni, along the seashore of Ankola in Uttara Kannada district. It will also be shot in places like Udupi, Manipal, Murdeshwar, Kasargod and Mumbai. The shooting of the songs will be done in Bangkok in approximately two months time, said Uppoor.

Actress Sanjana will play the lead role of the fisherwoman. Dilip Raj will be the lead actor, playing the part of a boy from Mumbai. Rangayan Raghu, Loknath, Shobhraj, Venkatadhri, Padmini Prakash, Malathi Deshpande and Varshini form the rest of the cast.

The movie is expected to be released during Diwali, informed Uppoor.

Krishnappa Uppoor, director of Tulu films like ‘Mari Bhale’, ‘Kanchilda Balein’ will be directing the first Kannada movie of his career. He has also written the story, the script and the dialogues.

Cinematography is done Chandru Bela Mangala and music by A M Niel. The composer is Srinivas P Babu, art by Purushotham Adve and lyrics by Dr Nagendra Prasad, Kaviraj and Vijay Kumar. The title song is written by Kathyayeeni Kunji Bettu of Udupi.

Lakshmivarateertha Swamiji of Shiroor Math will give formally launch the shooting for the movie at the Sheshayaana Hall of Kediyoor Hotel on Sunday May 13.

Glen Dais, Purushotham Adve, Narasimha, Katyayini Kunjibettu and Ravi Raj among others were present at the press meet.

From construction to film industry

17 years ago, Jerry Vincent Dais stepped into the field of construction with Mandovi Developers.

He then got the opportunity to play a small role in a Tulu film under the direction of Krishnappa Uppoor. 

On those days, when the film troupe faced financial crisis, the producers approached Jerry for help, but he was not in a condition to assist them.

Hence, he planned to get into film industry, once he became successful in the field of construction. Today his dream is fulfilled, said Dais.

"The entire responsibility of producing films comes under the banner of J J Productions. Glen Dais and I are the producers," he added.