The tension is palpable on Sunilkumar Desai's face. Yet, you feel a quiet sense of pride beneath the battle-weary exterior. For, this director who gave us path-breaking films including "Nishkarsha, Tarka" and the unusual 'Beladingala Bale' the release of 'Kshana Kshana', a suspense-thriller, means a lot. Here is the story of the making of 'Kshana Kshana' in his own words...
On why and how the film came to be made...
It has been more than 10 years since we had a film in this genre. There were films of other kinds — comedy, love, sentiment, political satire, etc. I felt it was the right time to fill the void. 'Marma' which I made about four years back, was a psychological thriller. 'Kshana Kshana' is a suspense thriller.
The film is based on a real life incident, when a well-known actress began to be blackmailed and sought protection some years back. Those incidents were reported in the papers then – enough to perk my interest in the subject. I decided to add some fictional elements as well. Producer Tirumalai, a good friend of mine, offered to produce the film.
On his cast...
I wanted to cast Sudeep earlier, but things did not work out. Now, I have cast Kiran Rathod as the actress and Audithya as her bodyguard. Prema plays her secretary. Vishnuvardhan, with whom I share a special equation, plays a DCP in the film. Then there are Sridevika, Dileep Raj and Ashutosh Rana as well. Most importantly, each actor has turned in a performance contrary to his/her image. The audience will be surprised. They come across as characters and not stars and I’m satisfied with that.
About music in Kshana Kshana...
I have included some glamour and songs in the film mainly because a film minus these elements may lose out on audiences. It also deprives the filmmaker a chance to tell the story to all the people. In Bollywood, films like 'Gupt, Humraaz' have all combined these elements with some serious storytelling and have achieved success. I have presented 'Kshana Kshana' in the same format. My film relies on screenplay and background score also becomes important here. R P Patnaik has done a neat job here. Same with editor Kemparaj.
Special moments from the film...
Kshana Kshana is not in the mould of your usual thrillers. No one can say this is a Kannada film by the look of it.. I have given it an 'international' look.
And the risks...
We have taken risks. While shooting a sequence on the ropeway at Grandle Valley in Switzerland, there was very little space to keep the camera and we all squeezed in to get a particular shot. But when the trolley came, it was so close that we were thrown back. Luckily, we managed to regain our balance as a step backwards would have meant a fall into a 500 ft abyss! Even the climax involved fire. We had to continually hose the actors down with water after each take. It was scary.
On your platter next...
Well, a film on chimpanzees perhaps and their relationship with us humans!
The countdown to 'Kshana Kshana' has begun...