New directors in Sandalwood seem to be experimenting with new ideas. Representing the new generation of film makers is Shaan, who is exploring a new concept in his debut. Son of AR Babu, a senior director in the Kannada industry, this 24-year-old has embarked on a unique journey with his film, Bassu Adhe Haley Kathe which has the tagline Kathe nimde, Chitrakathe devardu, nirdeshana nim huduga.
In one of the sequences for the movie, which is a love story, Shaan went on a live shoot. Speaking about the sequence he says, “I stood in front of various colleges in Bangalore, and even in the midst of city market with a placard stating in Kannada, ‘I am an orphan. I don’t have anybody who loves me. Will somebody love me and if possible, give me a kiss with love?’”
According to him, there were mixed responses from the girls who saw him. “Since nobody knew we were shooting, the reactions from them were hilarious. A girl asked me, ‘Don’t you have the guts to propose to a girl directly?’ while another one questioned, ‘Is there nobody who can find a bride for you?’ I just smiled and said ‘Thank you’ because I was facing the camera,” says Shaan.
Describing his film, he says, “Today’s girls have a new definition for love. And in this story, the boy is a mechanic who is scared to propose to the girl as he doesn’t want to get rejected. Instead, he writes his feelings on a placard. It was indeed an experience, as I got to know what usually runs in a girl’s mind.” With the local slang becoming the title of the film, Shaan admitted there was nothing new but the same old story told in a different way. “If you go by the various films that are coming up, we seem to be following our senior directors. There is nothing exciting in today’s love stories,” he said. Shaan has also made a trailer which he has sent to various college fests. But he has tried some ‘unique’ ways of sending across messages.
“Along with the anti-smoking message that is mandatory before screening the film, I have added a catchy dialogue. Following that is another picture, where a girl and a guy are hugging and a caption says, ‘Girls are injurious to love’. The poster of the film also has certain advice about who should watch the movie,” he said.
Apart from directing, Shaan has also written the story, screenplay, dialogues and even acted in the film.
“Shobita, who is three films old is part of the film and Kavya Vijaykumar will be introduced in the film. My story is the hero and we are just the characters,” says Shaan, who is glad that his father has been very supportive in his first venture.
Yesudas lends voice
Singer Yesudas has sung a song written by Nagendra Prasad for the movie.
“It is a song based on lost love and we were keen to have Yesudas on board. Hudigiyaru, Hudagiyaru, ege alava...is a unique song which sees the lead character scolding his girlfriend for hurting his feelings,” says Shaan.