Director Sumana Kittur is currently busy selecting the star cast for her dream venture — Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu — the landmark novel by KP Purnachandra Tejaswi. Stating that she is very particular about the casting, given the profound nature of the story, Sumana is leaving no theatre artiste ‘unauditioned’ for her film.
“Since it is a story based on a strong subject and many people are familiar with it, the character selection was very important. We have roped in Shwetha Srivatsav, who plays the main character of Daanamma. I had to build the rest of the supporting cast around her,” says the director.
On choosing Shwetha to play the pivotal role in her film, Sumana states that right when she decided to make Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu into a movie, she only had Shwetha in her mind. “She has not been exposed to too many films. So, I thought that she would appear fresh in this particular role. Also, she had already read the novel, when I approached her and all she asked me was whether she would be playing the character of Daanamma,” she says.
According to the director, Shwetha’s mother is equally excited to see her daughter in this role. “Her mother is a stage artiste and is keen to see how her daughter shapes up in this role. Her mother is quite familiar with the novel and she understands the importance of Shwetha’s role as Daanamma. They have got so involved in the character that they have even started collecting old sarees for the right look,” says Sumana.
The director has planned three schedules and will soon go on a location hunt before she starts shooting from May. She has also sought help from Agni Sridhar for the screenplay and dialogues. “I took up this subject after consulting Sridhar because I am aware of his thorough knowledge on such subjects. He will definitely bring his vast experience to the film,” she says.
Produced by filmmaker Suri, other members of the cast include Kishore, Achyuth Kumar, Sharath Lohitashwa, Sonu and Skrutha Wagale. “I will also have Yogesh playing an important character. Since I could connect these actors to the characters in the book and with each other, their casting was a coup. The film can’t be completed with even one of these characters missing,” she says.
Sumana has also finalised Manohar Joshi as the camera person, the music will be composed by Purnachandra Tejaswi, while Hadappa has been chosen as the art director.