Shivadwaj Shetty Aspires to Make Commercial Tulu Movie
Pics: Sphoorty Ullal 
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)

Mangalore, Jan 31: Shivadwaj Shetty, Kannada film actor and director of national award winning Tulu short film ‘Gaggara’, expressed his ambition to make a commercial movie in Tulu with the hope of winning another award.

Speaking to press persons in the city, Shetty said that the award which ‘Gaggara’ fetched has helped him understand the need for good movies in the Tulu language. 

He added that he had made ‘Gaggara’ without aiming for any award as it was intended as a short film to depict the life of a ‘Bhoothakola’ artist and the unexpected honour had increased his happiness.

“From the past several days, I have been getting appreciation from everywhere. The film is in 35 mm and it cannot be telecast in theatres easily, so we will arrange shows statewide along with two other films which got awards in the same category”, he added.

“The life of a Bhoothakola artiste is similar to cinema artists; the Bhoothakola also has songs in its own style, just as cinema has songs. Makeup and dancing is also there”, Shetty said adding, “I found that Bhoothakola artistes are also like us and the experience of viewing it, as I am from this district, encouraged me to make Gaggara”.

Replying to the query whether art films are made only for awards, he said, “I did not expect the award, but the manner of making an art film may be different from that of a commercial film, but the viewers also should be there to enjoy an art film”. 

“Art films are based on a particular message or story, but other films have some ‘masala’ alongwith the story”, Shetty said.

“Next, I will direct a Tulu film in cinemascope which will be a full commercial movie and I will impress my producers as that will get an award at the state-level”, he said. 

“We have to give a good film which is better than a Tulu drama, which are widely popular in this region with its specialty of comedy. The film should be different from dramas”, he remarked. 

“I will direct another commercial movie in Kannada as my future project and we are finalizing the story for that”, he said. 

“I decided to take up direction after I felt that chances of being a hero in Kannada films are fewer. I will do some roles but it would not be as a hero, but good characters”, informed Shetty. 

‘Gaggara’, a small budget movie with very few artistes, bagged the Rajatha Kamala Award for the best regional film when the 56th National Film Awards were announced.

Suresh Rai, cine actor and popular television star, was also with him. Both the artistes were in the city to participate in a programme.