At Shivam’s audio launch held on Sunday, actor-director Upendra said the phrase ‘satyam shivam sundaram’ describes his film best. “Satyam stands for all the time, money and effort that has gone into making this film. Shivam is the title, and sundaram refers to the lovely audience that the film is made for,” he explained.
Directed by Srinivas Raju, the film has had its share of controversies with the title and Upendra’s attire. Opening up for the first time about the issues, Upendra said, “Some people liked the title and some did not. While discussing the matter with the director, I had said that even if one person did not like the title, it is better that we change it. Though the film does not have any references to Basavanna (the social reformer), I felt that we should not hurt the sentiments of even one person. Then Srinivas decided not to go with any title. After that, I didn’t interfere in the matter. Only recently, I got to learn that the film was named Shivam.”
However, Upendra is called Basavanna in the film. The actor appears in two distinct roles — one with a bald hairstyle and traditional attire and other in a modern, stylish avatar. The trailer released at the audio launch gives us the impression that Upendra plays characters of different shades in the film.
Not denying nor confirming the titbit, the actor says, “I would want the audience to go and watch the film to find out. I liked playing both the characters, but the one with the bald look was more interesting and new to me,” he said.
According to Uppi, Shivam is a commercial film with a message. The story begins in an ancient civilisation and comes to the present. “The film advises people to preserve our culture, and to put it across effectively, the makers have thrown in some commercial elements,” he said.
A part of Upendra’s role in Shivam reminds us of Kamal Haasan’s Dasavatharam, a Tamil film that starts in the 12 century and ends in 21st century. Upendra admitted and said, “Yes, they might be similar in some portions. But please don’t compare me to a big star like him. The problem is, as actors, we can’t exist without comparisons, but life will be easier without being compared to others.”
Upendra did not wish to comment on Minister D K Shivakumar’s (see box) words about the treatment given to politicians in the media and cinema today. Playing it safe, he said, “The talk is not connected to my film. But my opinion on the subject is, like my friend and actor Shivarajkumar says, everything can be seen as good or bad, depending on the way we look at it.”
The makers, who planned to release the film in December, took 110 days to finish the shooting. “We had high budget shots in various locations. Even my make-up took a lot of time. Like they say, fools rush in where angels fear to tread. I enter without seeing anything, only to realise how difficult it can get. Nobody will call you when you are in the herd, but once you set out on a different track, you get noticed. Right now, I enjoy everything that comes my way.”
“However, I can’t stand for everything happening in every film of mine because not all of it is in my hands. All I have learnt in the recent years is to say ‘ok’ for everything,” he says. The actor reveals that at present his mind is occupied with Uppi 2.
“I am left with two months of shooting, which will take place in December and January. I am planning for an April release. I am trying to something different in Uppi 2 and hope it is liked by the audience,” says Uppi, who signs off, saying, “All my films have had an Upendra image. But Uppi 2 will not have one.”
Cinema shows politicians as thieves: D K Shivakumar
Energy Minister D K Shivakumar launched the audio of Upendra-Ragini Dwivedi starrer Shivam at Ashoka Hotel on Sunday. The event was attended by actor Shivarajkumar, politicians Cheluvarayaswamy and Zameer Ahmed Khan, Film Federation of India president Ravi Kottarkar, KFCC president H D Gangaraj, Regional Censor Board officer M Nagendra Swamy, president of Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy S V Rajendra Singh Babu, Lahari Velu and others. It was odd that director Srinivas Raju and music director Mani Sharma did not get to speak on stage. But when D K Shivakumar took the mic, he said, “Everyone gets bored when politicians start speaking. That’s become our fate. There was a time during the Independence, when we saw several people falling at the politicians’ feet. But nowadays, in media and films, we are mostly projected as kalla (thief). All said and done, I came to this music launch to wish my friend C R Monohar good luck.”