Ondu Motteya Kathe is just the kind of film I would have loved to make: Pawan Kumar

Director Pawan Kumar, of

Lucia

and U-Turn fame, has put his weight behind upcoming

Kannada

film

Ondu Motteya Kathe

, directed by

Raj B Shetty

, thereby marking this as the first film that he is only producing. And the only reason why this particular film was picked by the team over others has to do with what matters the most in any production — the script. We spoke to Pawan about what sets this story apart. Excerpts…

What is it about this story that made you choose this as your first ‘only’ production venture?
We started Pawan Kumar Films two years ago to produce and director U-Turn. But the intention of starting it was not just to produce our own films but also films with good stories that need not necessarily be directed by me. We have been screening scripts and ready-to-be-released films since then. I heard about Ondu Motteya Kathe when the film was already ready with its first cut.
A common friend had recommended this film and when I watched it, I knew that this was in fact just the kind of film I would have loved to make. It has a simple narrative which strikes the right chord. I organised a couple of screenings for different kinds of audiences, some of them include my friends from the IT industry, and even my gym instructor. It was absorbed well by the audience too. This team from Mangaluru had the right story and package, and it made business sense for them and us, for us to step in to take the film further in terms of releasing it here and abroad.

Your films are popular in the thriller genre, and this one seems to be out and out comedy. Which genre do you feel is more difficult to portray on screen?
My first film Lifu Ishtene would have been classified as comedy, while the other two are thrillers. I think comedy is very difficult. It is easier to get the audiences’ mind working than to get their heart involved. This film is one that many of us can relate to at many levels.

How do you relate to it?
Around two years ago, I had gone for a haircut when my hair dresser pointed out a hairless gap on my scalp — the size of a `2 coin. I was quite scared. I went to doctors, who gave me ointments. One suggested I get an injection right there on that gap. I also consulted Ayurveda, and got advice that included — don’t share a pillow with your daughter! In my anxiousness and efforts to not get bald, I was spending around `7,000 per month on medication. I would have been able to pay an entire year of my daughter’s school fee with that, and so I stopped. Over the next two months, my body took care of itself and my hair started growing again. Having said that, I don’t think any of us would really relate to the frustrations, inferiorities and struggles that a bald man would go through — especially those who are losing hair when they are just between 25 and 30.

The film has already premiered abroad. How has the response been and what’s the next plan of action?
We were part of the New York Indian Film Festival and the show ran to a packed house. While that was on invite, we also took the film to a few other cities in America. The film also premiered in Europe last weekend, for which none of us could travel. Next will be its official India release this Friday. Being backed by the makers of Lucia and U-Turn has helped the film in terms of word-of-mouth publicity. However, this film is such that I will make this the marketing pitch for my next production — from the producers of Ondu Motteya Kathe.