Kiren S Suryaa’s entry into films is a tale of grit and determination. Starting out as a lyric writer, Kiren found his calling in cinema, inspired by the unique vision of director Upendra, especially his film A.
“I began writing lyrics while studying for my BCom,” Kiren shares. “But breaking into the industry wasn’t easy. After facing some setbacks, I took a job at a publishing house that encouraged me to keep pursuing my passion.”
Kiren was on the brink of success with a film titled Mukkanna, starring Shivarajkumar and Ramya, but the project ultimately fell apart. “It was tough; I faced a two-year struggle with depression. Yet, I never lost hope,” he reveals. “I stood outside Upendra’s house countless times, driven by my admiration for him.”
To keep his dreams alive, Kiren created a short film, Naan Sir Kiran, which helped him gain recognition. His persistence paid off when a group of producers, mostly his friends came together to support his first directorial project, Ellige Payana Yavudo Daari, which is set to release on October 25.
Apparently, Kiren did manage to work with Upendra’s films for a week, but unfortunately, that project didn’t take off. “Later, I collaborated with S Narayan and worked on a few projects, including a Telugu film. I also served as a co-director on H Lohith’s Devaki before I started my independent feature venture,” he says.
Kiren finds inspiration from real-life incidents, just like many directors. He shares a story from his neighbourhood: “I witnessed a drunk man enter a house where a single woman lived with her child. The woman was new to the area, and rumors spread like wildfire. She was middle-aged and already facing challenges. Even though she explained that the man was drunk, the other women didn’t listen. Eventually, she left everything behind and took her child with her,” Kiren says.
He goes on to add, “Later, we learned that the man entered her home despite her objections, but she was still judged harshly. This incident, along with a similar situation I saw on a YouTube channel, stuck with me, and I wanted to capture it in my film.”
The story follows a youth, who shuns the outside world. When he comes across a woman, her presence changes his perspective on life, steering him away from thoughts of suicide. The film explores human psychology, behaviour, and perception, forming the core of a thrilling plot.
When it came to casting, Kiren was looking for a non-heroic personality for the lead role. “I admired Kashinath’s work, and while scrolling through social media to wish the legendary actor a happy birthday, I saw a photo of him with his son, Abhimanyu. In that moment, I knew I had found my hero, and there was no looking back.”
The director adds, “For the role of the newcomer, Spoorthi Udimane, I auditioned around 20 candidates. One photo of her stood out, and after watching her audition video, I was convinced to bring her on board. Fortunately, I found the right actors who have truly elevated the film, says Kiren, who made special mention about the music director Pranav Rao, along with hero Abhimanyu, the composer, who brings the film to life with a powerful background score.”
Ellige Payana Yavudo Daari, produced by Nandish MC Gowda and Jatin Patel, features a cast, including Ramesh Nayak, Spandana, Ayank, Ashwini Rao, Raja Balwadi, Shobhan, and Rini Bopanna. The film has cinematography by Gowtham Manu and editing by Ganesh Nirchal.