JOIN USGirish Kasaravalli does Kannada filmdom proud yet again
One other trend Kasaravalli has set is that his heroines are bagging awards too. For, in a hat-trick of sorts, his film Gulabi Talkies, brought laurels for its principal protagonist — Umashree, who has won the Best Actress Award. Kasaravalli’s earlier outings Thayi Saheba and Haseena, which too won National Best Regional Film Awards, also fetched their heroines Jayamala and Tara coveted Best Actress Award for their performances.
Based on Kannada writer Vaidehi’s short story, Gulabi Talkies starkly depicts the transformation a colour television brings among people of a nondescript fishing village. Umashree plays Gulabi, an expert midwife and the proud owner of the television. However the people later seek her eviction from the village after a communal riot, as she is Muslim.
Stating that he was enthused and overwhelmed at Gulabi Talkies bagging the award, an ecstatic Kasaravalli, currently away on assignment, told Deccan Herald that what was more heartening was that Umashree has deservedly been given the award for her understated and refined performance.
Observing that deserving and meritorious films have been given due recognition, Kasaravalli, said that this time round, the jury has rightly kept the Bollywood lobby at bay. “Instead of a Bollywood sweep, films of merit have been done due justice,” he added.
Meanwhile, a thrilled Umashree said the award belongs to her fans, who have nurtured her over years. “I am happy to have won this award as a lot of hard work had gone into making this film,” she said. Stating she was a director’s actress, Umashree said that it was totally director’s imagination, with every emotion was written, and she only had to enact it. Kasaravalli, on his part, said Umashree is a wonderful actress who has given a lovable performance. “She is very humane and portrayed the emotional quotient in the character very well,” he said.
The director added that present generation must move away from more 'macchu' and 'longu' movies and take to viewing and appreciating off-beat movies. Both the actress and director will shortly be working on another film Kanasina Kudureya Benneri.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce President Jayamala said this time round, an unprecedented number of Kannada films had vied for awards. “This is indeed a moment of pride and honour for Kannada film industry,” she said adding that the chamber will felicitate the award winners on September 12. Producer Basant Kumar Patil, who has been lately producing off-beat Kannada films that have gone on to win national awards, will also be honoured, she added.
However, she said, what was noteworthy was that in the 75th Year of Kannada film industry, besides Kasaravalli, two other Kannidagas have bagged both the actor and actress awards. Prakash Raj has won the Best Actor Award for his poignant portrayal of a weaver in Priyadarshan’s Tamil film Kanchivaram.