On my pinboard- Apurva Kasaravalli

Director Apurva Kasaravalli began his career in films by assisting his father Girish Kasaravalli. He later moved on to make ad films with director V K Prakash. One of his best known works in television is ‘Muttina Thorana’.  His notable films include ‘Kraurya’, ‘Tayi Saheba’ and ‘Kurmavatara’.

He forayed into penning dialogues and screenplay with films like ‘Dweepa’ and ‘Freaky Chakra’. His latest release is ‘Niruttara’. Apurva has started working on his next subject, which like ‘Niruttara’, is inspired by real life.    

Inspiration
Vaishali Kasaravalli 
“I have had quite a few people who have inspired and influenced me. When it comes to my life, my biggest driving force has been my mother Vaishali Kasaravalli. In cinema, there have been various people who have inspired me at various stages in my life. Apart from my father, directors Tiru and V K Prakash, Christopher Nolan, Wong Kar-wai and Kim Ki-duk have inspired me. Christopher Nolan, Wong Kar-wai and Kim Ki-duk have pushed the boundaries of storytelling and taken filmmaking to another level. I admire their works immensely.”

Author
Haruki Murakami
“Works of Haruki Murakami and Gabriel Garcia Marquez have shaped and influenced my thinking. As children, my sister Ananya and I, were always encouraged to read. We started reading at a very young age. I grew up reading short stories, ‘Hardy Boys’  and soon my preferences changed. As a filmmaker, I am open to reading all kinds of literature. Reading and filmmaking go hand in hand.”

Cinema
Girish Kasaravalli
“Cinema was a natural progression for me and my father has always been a truly great inspiration. At home I would have discussions with my father and sister Ananya and these usually revolve around cinema. We would not only talk about issues concerning films but also the process of telling a story. We used to disagree more often than agree on something. I never thought I would be a filmmaker but the desire to tell a story the way I wanted to was overwhelming.”

Music
Nat King Cole
“I can listen to Nat King Cole at any point of the day or night. My musical preferences have changed over the years. I grew up listening to Hindustani, Western Classical and Carnatic music. Then I swiftly moved onto the works of Beethoven and Mozart. There was also a phase in school when I  loved ‘Metallica’ and ‘Black Sabbath’. I never travel  without carrying my favourite music along.”

Travel
Christchurch
“I have always been an avid traveller and don’t need a reason to travel. The two places that have offered me fantastic experiences are Christchurch in New Zealand and Nagar near Manali in Himachal Pradesh. Christchurch is like an old English town which is sparsely populated and has a phenomenal feel to it. Nagar is also a calm and serene place. I always feel like I’ve been transported to a different world whenever I am there.”

Food
Steak
“I am a big foodie and always try out different cuisines. Steak would definitely top the list of my favourite food. Give me a good meat steak with the accompaniment of mushroom and pepper sauce and I am a happy man. I also like Chinese and Malnad food.

My love for dosa also knows no end. Whether a ‘masala dosa’ or a plain crispy dosa, I love both.”


(As told to Nina C George)