After the sports film Kabaddi which won him the state award for best film in 2009, director Indrababu is getting more adventurous and will make a movie on Kabir, the famous mystic poet and saint. And his project has received attention from none other than
Shivarajkumar, who has agreed to bring the legacy of the legendary poet to life on the silver screen.
Titled Santheyalli Nintha Kabira, the film’s muhurath will take place on Ugadi but the film will go on floors from April 20. The makers are recreating an elaborate set replicating the holy city of Kashi on the banks of the Cauvery river, near Mysuru. “We are recreating the town to resemble the seminal period of Kabir’s life, which was sometime during the mid- 15th century,” he says.
According to the director, he was influenced by Bhisham Sahni’s play Kabira Khada Bazaar Mein and adapted it to the silver screen. “The play is very popular and has been made in many languages including Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati and Bhojpuri. In fact, in 1996-97, I was part of the Kannada version of the play and even worked backstage for it. About four years ago, I discussed the idea with Shivanna and he expressed his willingness to be part of the film. He was the one who convinced the producer, P Kumaraswami about the story of Kabira,” says Indrababu.
The director also reveals that Shivarajkumar showed special interest because his father Dr Rajkumar used to love the songs of Kabir. “He used to sing them during kirtans. Even Shivarajkumar knows a lot of Kabir dohas and the family generally is well versed with Kabir’s poems,” he states.
Indrababu has ensured that the movie, which will have heavy emphasis on lyrics and music, does not lack on the best resources. He has roped in Ismail Darbar to direct the music for five songs and six dohas. “Naveen Kumar is making his entry as cinematographer and Prabhu Raghavendra will be the art director. As technicians, this is their first project. Gopala Vajpayee of Nagamandala fame is writing the dialogues and songs for the movie,” says the director. The rest of the casting for the film has also been decided with Sanusha, a heroine from the Malalayam industry, playing the lead. “We have Sharath Kumar playing King Sikander Lodi’s character. Om Puri plays Shivarajkumar’s father and Akshata Rao has been roped in to play his mother,” reveals the director.
Meanwhile, Shivarajkumar has completed his film Vajrakaya with director Harsha and is busy shooting for Shivalinga with P Vasu after which he will start Kabira.
The new Kabir
“I am very happy to play Kabir’s role. Appaji had played a similar role. But this Kabira has a different blend. This film will present the philosophical side of Kabir. It will be a classic film with a commercial element. When we approched Sahni’s daughter Kalpana, she was more happy to give the rights to us. Since it is an adaption from his play, we will stick to the main plot,” says Shivarajkumar.