Director Vivek Agnihotri announces his next film, 'Parva', a three-part project based on Dr Bhyrappa's famous novel of the same name.
Published Oct 21, 2023 | 4:07 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 21, 2023 | 4:29 PM
Vivek Agnihotri and team addressing the media. (Supplied)
Published in 1979, the novel “Parva” is considered one of the finest works of noted Kannada writer-novelist Dr SL Bhyrappa.
Now, the novel will finally be made into a movie by Vivek Agnihotri, the director-producer of The Kashmir Files (2022).
Dr SL Bhyrappa’s monumental work “Parva” presents the Mahabharata‘s epic tale in the form of a compelling series of soliloquies through the key characters of Kunthi, Draupadi, Bheema, and Karna.
This novel stands as the Kannada writer’s most discussed and widely celebrated literary masterpiece.
Though there were talks in the past on “Parva” being made into a feature film by several Kannada directors, including Yogaraj Bhat of Mungaru Male (2006) fame, nothing materialised till recently when Dr Bhyrappa gave his consent to Bollywood director Vivek Agnihotri.
When asked the reason, the noted Kannada writer said, “No one came to me with a request to make ‘Parva‘ into a movie. In fact, no one dared to make it into a movie since no Kannada filmmaker had ever visualised it.”
Dr Bhyrappa added, “I don’t even have to tell what kind of movies Kannada filmmakers are up to. Even if somebody had approached me, I would have questioned them as to who would direct the film. However, I never had the opportunity to even ask.”
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT:
Is Mahabharat HISTORY or MYTHOLOGY?
We, at @i_ambuddha are grateful to the almighty to be presenting Padma Bhushan Dr. SL Bhyrappa’s ‘modern classic’:
PARVA – AN EPIC TALE OF DHARMA.There is a reason why PARVA is called ‘Masterpiece of masterpieces’.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/BiRyClhT5c
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) October 21, 2023
Vivek Agnihori with Dr Bhyrappa. (Supplied)
The writer was addressing the launch of the film Parva in Bengaluru on Saturday, 21 October.
He said, “I saw Prakash Belawadi’s stage play ‘Parva‘ several times and even read his stage script. I liked the way it was done, and I was confident that it could be made into a movie when he came to me about the same. It also needed the right kind of producer to make it.”
Dr Bhyrappa also spoke about how the English theatre and director Peter Brook’s The Mahabharata (1989) was present globally.
“When Vivek came to me, he said that he would take Parva global,” the novelist added.
Team ‘Parva’. (Supplied)
Meanwhile, director Vivek Agnihotri said he intends to make Parva into a three-part movie, initially in Kannada and Hindi.
“It will be written by me and Prakash Belwadi, who has turned the novel Parva into a stage play. As of now, we have thought of primarily making it in two languages — Kannada and Hindi,” the filmmaker revealed.
He added, “However, I am thinking of adopting artificial technology which is growing rapidly. I did use the technology with some parts of it in the Tamil version of The Vaccine War (2023). I would like to use AI technology to make Parva in Spanish. Chinese and other foreign languages for greater reach. But as of now, it will be in two languages.”
On pan-India release plans, Vivek Agnihotri noted that they are currently writing the script. “We are going to shoot all parts in one go. This is a project that cannot be made with a deadline in mind.”
Dr Bhyrappa with Prakash Belawadi. (Supplied)
When asked who his favourite Kannada actor is, Vivek Agnihotri replied that he likes “Rocking Star” Yash.
“I like the way Yash performs and the way he carries himself. I want someone to send a word to Yash on my behalf,” Vivek Agnihotri added when asked if he wishes to cast Yash in Parva.
The Bollywood director clarified that he wouldn’t refer to the work (Parva) as mythological. “I call it eternal. The novel has already answered it. It is historical and about the making challenges, for any filmmaker, making a film is itself a challenge. As to Parva, considering it to be made into a film is itself the biggest challenge.”
A multifaceted personality, Prakash Belawadi revealed that the idea to make Dr Bhyrappa’s novel into a film took birth during his conversations with Vivek Agnihotri while working on The Tashkent Files (2019).
