Maya Sharma/NDTV

Bangalore, Jul 17: The Kannada film Aa Dinagalu based on the life of underworld don Sridhar was an unexpected hit. Now it has raked in three Filmfare Awards - for best film, best director and best supporting actor.

It is a film based on Bangalore's underworld in the 1980's - based on the book by former underworld don Sridhar. When young director Chaitanya was offered the director's position it was a challenge.

"I come from a literary background. My parents are academics - I have nothing to do with the underworld! When Mr Sridhar offered me the film he made me meet a lot of people in the underworld. It was their attitude to violence that shocked me. They would talk about violence like it was drinking a cup of coffee. I had to get that kind of attitude into the film. But at the same time they were not demons - they had families, they played with their children," says Chaitanya.

The film relates events that lead up to the murder of don of Kotwal Ramachandra - a role that won the best supporting actor role for Sharath Lohithashwa.

"Throughout the film he tries to get a dead man's eyes. A person who has raped many women, killed many people - who has no remorse or feelings. He tried to bring that in Kotwal's eyes," said Chaitanya.

There are two more underworld films in what is planned as a trilogy - but Chaitanya, not wanting to get trapped in one format is taking a diversion - his second film will be a love story.