After 'Kantara', two more upcoming films will feature 'Bhootaradhane', a ritual of spirit worship practised in the Tulu-speaking region.
Published Nov 09, 2023 | 6:00 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 09, 2023 | 6:00 PM
'Bhootaradhane' ritual in 'Kantara'. (Supplied)
Versatile filmmaker Rishab Shetty’s blockbuster film Kantara (2022) not only did wonders for the Kannada film industry but also highlighted “Bhootaradhane” or “Bhoota Kola” — a cultural practice of coastal Karnataka.
Worshipping of spirit in the Tulu-speaking region has its own significance and cultural history attached to it.
However, when Kantara filmmaker Rishab Shetty stirred a controversy by saying that “Bhootaradhane” is part of the Hindu religion, it led to a rebuttal by actor and activist Chetan Ahimsa who reportedly said such practices are part of Tulu Adivasi culture.
Meanwhile, with the successful featuring of such rituals of spirit worship, “Bhootaradhane” is all set to return in at least two more Kannada films shortly.
In fact, the spirit-worshipping ritual made it to the feature film in Kannada much before Kantara, which portrayed various ritual and cultural practices, including “Daivaradhane” and “Bhoota Kola“.
South First gives you a quick lowdown on those movies:
Chomana Dudi (1975), which won the National Award in 1976, was among the first films to deal with the myth of “panjurli“, a spirit worshipped in the coastal region.
During an interaction with a Kannada film journalist about the success of Kantara, Rishab Shetty mentioned that Chomana Dudi (1975) — which was based on the novel by renowned Kannada writer K Shivarama Karanth — had all the elements of such supreme powers.
Following the success of Kantara, the Karnataka government came to the rescue of “Bhootaradhane” performers in October 2022 by announcing a stipend of ₹2,000 to those who are aged above 60.
Then came the National Award-winning Koti Chennayya (2007), a historical Tulu film based on the lives of legendary Tulu twin heroes Koti and Chennayya.
Later, the Tulu movie Deyi Baidethi (2019) also showcased the culture that was based on the life of the mother of the two twins (Koti and Chennayya).
This was followed by two more National Award-winning films Gaggara (2010) and Pingara (2020) which depicted the special connection of the Tulu people with their land and their deivas (gods).
While several Tulu movies featured the cultural aspects of “Daivaraadhane” and “Bhootaradhane“, the most popular one to hit the screens in Kananda was Rangitaranga (2015), directed by Anup Bhandari.
Though the film was majorly a mystery thriller, it was set in the coastal region of Karnataka and had shades of cultural practices of worshipping the spirit god.
Sudhir Attavar’s directorial Koragajja is one of the first films to have been announced after Kantara. The movie revolves around an animist spirit or deiva (god) known as “Koragajja“, who is worshipped in Tulu Nadu.
Hollywood actor Kabir Bedi will make his debut in Kannada with this movie. He plays the role of a King.
Koragajja also features Shruthi and Bhavya in significant roles.
Satyam is yet another upcoming film that will feature the practice. A commercial venture, it casts Santhosh Balaraj and Ranjini Raghavan in the lead roles.
