The reach that commercial cinema has remains undisputed: Dayal Padmanaban

Kannada film director

Dayal Padmanaban

has spent the last few years experimenting with various genres in filmmaking. However, it is known that a lot of his hits in the past were under the commercial cinema genre. So here he is, back in the limelight with an out-and-out comedy caper

Satya Harishchandra

, starring his friend Sharan, and produced by yet another friend —

K Manju

. The director, who met Bangalore Times days before he entered the Bigg Boss house where he currently is, tells us about his film and what went into its making. Excerpts…

Old film title for new film
Dr Rajkumar’s Satya Harishchandra was a classic and I have loved watching it. When we decided to pick the same title for this film, there was a lot of thought that went into it. This film has nothing to do with the old film, expect for the title, but the title is one such that is apt for this story. There could not have been a better title for the story we have. As a tribute to the film with the original title, we also have recreated a song from there — Kuladalli.

Commercial vs parallel cinema
I am one among the few directors in Kannada cinema who has been working on different genres — commercial as well as parallel cinema — and both as a producer and director. Based on my experience over the years, I have found that the reach that commercial cinema has is undisputed, when compared to parallel cinema. Which is why I decided to work on a commercial venture after four long years of experiments with other genres. However, I would like to add that what I have made is a sensible commercial cinema. In fact, it is a satirical attempt towards commercial cinema, and that comes across even in the trailer.
When one works with commercial cinema, one tends to use a bankable formula –— you have your comedy, emotional connect and action all in appropriate proportions. When we put together Satya Harishchandra, everything automatically fit into right proportions effortlessly.

Sharan and I go back a long way
Sharan and I began our careers together in the beginning of 2000. I come from a science background, where I was working at IISC. In the industry, I began my career as a writer. Sharan was working as an actor in a television show for which I happened to be a co-writer. That is when our professional relationship actually began. I think we understood each other well. And we always have been keen on working together on a film like this for many years.
For Satya Harishchandra, I have taken a lot of inputs from Sharan as well. He has a good judgement over a script and knows exactly what will work and what won’t. So apart from playing the lead role, I can surely say that Sharan has contributed a lot towards the story of this film too.

The ladies: Sanchita Padukone and Bhavana
There are two heroines in Satya Harishchandra. Among them, I had approached Bhavana first. Bhavana and I go back a long way too. I had introduced her to Yogaraj Bhatt for his film Galipatta. Personally, we are not good friends, as we fight a lot. But professionally, we get along well. She believes in my work. She has proved herself as an artist. I think she is highly talented, but a bit under confident.
Sanchita Padukone and I, that way, are not friends at all — professionally or personally. I had wished her on her birthday on Facebook a couple of years back. Years later, when I put up a note about this film, she checked with me for a role in it and that’s how this signing happened. She came from a different background, she has been part of Telugu and Tamil film industries. Here, she has fit into her character perfectly.

My producer
Any director tends to have what you call a ‘hit innings’ phase. I had one too and during that time, I had directed one film called Yeshwant for my producer K Manju. Over the years, we worked together in different capacities — I have been an executive producer on a couple of his projects. While we were working on Sathu Straight Forward, Manju had asked me if I wanted to direct Satya Harishchandra. The work on this film began then. I think, what he likes about me is that whatever work I commit to, I ensure that it is done. That sort of commitment is probably the secret to my long innings in this industry too.

The story
Satya Harishchandra is a fun story about a guy who lies. And to hide one lie, he has to lie again. As a viewer, you are constantly guessing the point when the protagonist can’t help but get caught with all these piled up lies. But things change and that makes it a fun ride. Watch out for Sharan in one of his best performances till date.