BANGALORE: Peenya Gopi’s debut film as director in Sandalwood, Allide Nammane Illibande Summane, has created history as it is the first Kannada film whose major portions have been shot in the US.
Gopi, who has returned from the US after 45 successful days of shooting, said that the script of the film is based on a real-life incident. Sri Raj and Saurav Babu make their debut as heroes with the film, apart from providing finance for it.
“It motivates youth from middle-class families to face up to adverse situations in ife instead of running away from them. The story is based on incidents in the life of Babu’s friend who faced many problems in six months. The films aims at encouraging such people to take the things as they come,” said Gopi.
The talkie portion and few songs of this film were picturised at Kansas, Denver, Bracken Ridge, Rocky Mountain, St. Louis and Chicago. A 13-member team spent more than 40 days in the US for the shooting. “I think it is the first Kannada film to be shot in the US with so few people. I am grateful to director Gopi and cinematographer PHK Das for extending their cooperation for the shooting of song sequences,” said cinematographer Harini.
The film has HG Dattatreya, Padma Kumati, Sri Raj, Saurav Babu, Yagna Shetty, and Reena Mehta, a Gujarati girl settled in the US, in the cast. NRIs such as Amarnatha Gowda, Tumkur Dayanand, Yamuna Srinidhi, Dr Thanu and Shiva Shankar have also acted in the film.
Dattatreya said that all the members worked as a team to complete the shooting. “Producer Babu was seen carrying lights and supplying tea. There were no ego problems. I had been to the US twice to act in two Kannada films but I consider this my best trip to the US,’’ said Dattatreya.
Guru Kiran has composed the music while BS Kempe Raj was the editor.
maheswarareddy@expressbuzz.com