'Dollu', which bagged the National Award for best feature film, showcased the oldest folk forms of Karnataka: 'Dollu Kunitha'.
Director-producer Pavan Wadeyar is now coming up with a love story - 'Raymo'. (Supplied)
Ever since the humongous success of Kantara, a lot has been talked about the folk cultures and traditions of Karnataka — such as “Kambala” (buffalo race) and “Bhoota Kola” — especially about the coastal region of the State.
Further, following the controversy in Head Bush, “Veeragase” and the world-famous “Karaga” also came into the picture.
However, before all of these, noted Kannada film director-turned-producer Pavan Wadeyar, under his home banner Wadeyar Movies, made an exclusive film on one of Karnataka’s oldest folk dances – “Dollu Kunitha”.
The film, Dollu, bagged the National Award for the best Kannada feature film for the year 2021.
In an exclusive interview with South First, director-producer Pavan Wadeyar talks about Dollu, his upcoming directorial venture Raymo and his Bollywood debut.
A still from ‘Dollu’ film. where artists can be seen performing ‘Dollu Kunitha’ folk dance. (Supplied)
“Though busy with back-to-back commercial ventures, I always wanted to contribute towards the rich Kannada culture and traditions. It was then that I started my production house along with my wife Apeksha Purohit,” recalls Wadeyar.
An artist and fashion designer by profession, Apeksha was looking for suitable scripts at that time.
The couple hails from the North Karnataka region where many wonderful folk cultures and traditions exist. However, “Dollu Kunitha” originates from the Shimoga district.
“For every occasion, we have the culture of incorporating ‘Dollu Kunitha’. This custom exists to date even in the film industry, at least in the South. Folk artists dancing to the rhythm of traditional drums (dollu) is a customary sight in every celebration,” he pointed out.
Director-producer Pavan Wadeyar. (Supplied)
This is when the director-producer thought of making a film on folk dance, the artists and the challenges/changes in traditions affected by the modern lifestyle.
“I met Sagar Puranik who wrote a brilliant short story. And, Dollu happened. I couldn’t have been happier as my first venture got recognised with such a coveted award. The credit goes to the entire team of Dollu and my wife who helped me in the making and the release,” Wadeyar said.
Pavan Wadeyar remade his directorial debut Govindaya Namaha (2012) in Telugu too, as Potugadu (2013). He is credited with back-to-back commercial successes: Googly with Yash, Ranavikrama with Puneeth Rajkumar, Jessi with Dhananjaya and Natasarvabhouma with Puneeth again.
Pavan Wadeyar’s upcoming film ‘Raymo’ casts Ishan and Ashika Ranganath in the lead. (Supplied)
While his next Kannada film Raymo, starring Ishan and Ashika Ranganath, is up for release on 25 November, Wadeyar is also busy with his Bollywood debut — Notary.
As regards Raymo, a musical love story, Wadeyar revealed that he did not work on a full-fledged romantic story after his most successful film Googly, starring Yash (KGF-fame) and Kriti Kharbanda who later forayed into Bollywood.
“The thought of making another love story occurred when I saw Ishan at a film award event in Dubai. And my wish to make a love story synchronised well. The film’s trailer has been getting a good response. Hope the audience will shower their love on Raymo, too,” he said.
Notary will feature Parambrata Chatterjee and Geeta Basrain as the lead actors. The film completed around 80 per cent of the shoot and is likely to be released in May/June 2023.
“Notary is a quirky, satirical drama and a new project created from scratch. It’s not a remake of any of my successful Kannada films. It is being produced under Wadeyar Movies in association with Kaash Entertainment Production and Boundless media,” the director-producer signed off.
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