When Nagaradalli Ondu Dina (A day in the city) hits 11 multiplexes across the State on Friday, it will be the culmination of five months of hard work for 36 techies from India and abroad.
They took a break from their world of computers, project deadlines and conference calls to write a story, finalise actors, select locations, set up lights, focus the camera and wield the megaphone.
The result is a 125-minute Kannada feature film, which unveils a facet of Bengaluru. Directed by Venkat Bharadwaj with assistance from his techie friends, it focuses on the plight of an honest bureaucrat while dwelling on an incident that occurs in the city.
“An incident, which I came across on Church Street, motivated me and my friends to make this film,” says Venkat.
The film was produced with a shoe-string budget by his father C.V. Shivashankar and Narayan Shankar. It is the result of week-end ‘labour’ by techies. While Venkat is the regional head of a software company, Narayan Shankar works in the United States for Oracle.
Scripting commenced in August 2013 and shooting on January 8, 2014. The film was completed on May 13, 2014. The film has 44 characters and 52 scenes.
The team did not opt for professional actors due to budget constraints. Besides this, they wanted people who could work only during weekends.
“That is why 90 per cent of the cast comprises IT professionals,” says Venkat.
The cast includes theatre activist Srinivasa G. Kappanna and noted Malayalam actor Sridharan, who died recently.
Venkat says, “ Nagaradalli Ondu Dina was shot in and around Bengaluru. Songs were shot in Bengaluru and its surroundings, apart from Mysuru and Mandya. We worked from dawn to dusk. At times, shooting progressed till midnight. It took six months for post-production work.”
The result, you can watch this Friday.
Learnt from father
Venkat did not have professional training in film making. He has directed five short films so far, including Pani Ke Rang, Polish, E Dhareyu, Save Earth and School Fees, which was nominated for the Woodpecker Film Festival.
He learnt the basics — scripting, shots, camera angles — while watching his father C.V. Shivashankar, a veteran film maker, at work. Five decades ago, Shivashankar wrote the song Beledide Noda Bengaluru Nagara for his film Mane Katti Nodu , which speaks about glory of yesteryear Bangalore.
‘Nagaradalli Ondu Dina’ is all set for release in
11 multiplexes across the State on Friday
It focusses on the plight of a bureaucrat while dwelling on an incident that occurs in the city
‘Nagaradalli Ondu Dina’ releases in 11 multiplexes across the State this Friday
