After nearly a decade, ‘dreamer’ (Kanasugara) of Kannada cinema Ravichandran is all set to entertain the audience with the much awaited Apoorva hitting screens across the State on Friday. The movie has been produced by his production house- Eshwari Productions.
Though Ravichandran has essayed various roles in films including Hathavadi, Crazy Star, Manikya and Drishaym with his signature style, this time he is appearing on screen with a completely different character and approach in Apoorva . Eshari Production’s previous film was Aham Premasmi (2005).Apoorva can be described as the birthday gift of Ravichandran to his fans. The film explores a sensitive relationship between a 61 year old man and a 19 year old girl in the backdrop of a tragedy. The actor insists there is no similarity with Nishabd, starring Amithabh Bachchan and Jiah Khan.“It is a story about the experience of a 61 year old man, who has seen much of life and the innocence of a 19 year old girl looking at the world with awe,” explains Ravichandran.
Like most of films produced under the Eshwari Banner, Apoorva is a one man show by Ravichandran, where he dons the hat of an actor, director and script writer. He has also scored the background music and edited the film. Ravichandran also claims to have created a distinct sound recording for Apoorva. “I have designed the poster and oversaw the graphics for the film,” he adds. The actor has prioritised the music, and says that it is an attempt to make the audience to watch the film through music and have a different experience. Apoorva has triggered the curiosity of the audience because of the people involved in the film and their contribution to it. State Best Actor Award winning actor -- Vijaya Raghavendra – essays the role of Ravichandran’s son in the film. His wife, Spandana Vijaya Raghavendra, has also acted in this film. Ravishankar, Sudeep, Prakash Rai, Tara, Rangayana Raghu, Sadhu Kokila have lent their voice. “While Sudeep and Ravishankar appear as characters for a few minutes, later audience can only hear their voices.”
The film which opens with a philosophical format, takes different forms as it progresses,” he explains, noting that the audience was shocked when they watched Ekangi , because of its treatment and categorised that in a ‘different’ film category. “Similarly, Apoorva is also a different film. People should come and watch it with preparation. I have broken the grammar; there is less glamour, and best flavour. It is a film aimed at an audience belonging to every age group,” adds the actor. Another interesting thing about Apporva is that most of this 138-minute film happens in a lift. Ravichandran who is known for erecting huge sets for his songs, created a lift set in his own house for shooting convenience. Besides that, he shot the film in two malls and on NICE Road.
Though he thought of completing the film early, it took two and half years to finish ! It is a re-recording that consumed most of the time, he points out. Similarly, when his friends approved the seventh version of the script, he kept on revising it, before “Okaying” the 19th draft. Attributing the delay to his intention to draw the audience in to the theatre, he says, “I did not want to repeat the mistake committed during release of Ekangi , which was understood by the audience after several shows.”
About the genesis of Apoorva , he says, “Initially I had planned to make a small budget film. Apoorva was conceived with less expenditure, less actors and a good sensitive and sensible story.”
