JOIN USSandalwood actor Suraj Gowda is excited about how his upcoming movie ‘Pradesha Samachara’ is progressing. From fresh faces to the unique script, he says the movie has everything that will make heads turn. The excited actor chats with Tini Sara Anien about his role in the movie and how its shaping up.
How much have you advanced as an actor?
I gained a lot of confidence with ‘Maduveya Mamatheya Kareyole’ (MMK). The movie was a proper school of acting for me — it taught me a lot of things. It was the best platform to learn specifics of acting and technical details. I’m a better actor after every shot. Working regularly has polished me into performing better.
Your experience with ‘Pradesha Samachara’...
We are done with almost 50% of the movie and I’m excited about how the story is falling into the shape. It’s a lot easier to work with new people. A lot of one’s ideas can be put in and it’s always easier to work with youngsters. They are so excited and enthusiastic; they want to give everything their best shot at the first time itself. They are also trying to take inspiration from Hollywood. Youngsters in the industry today are not just aiming to make their films great, but also add to the growth of the Kannada film industry.
Where is the story set?
I play someone who works at a call centre. The story is shot in Bengaluru and will showcase places like Jayanagar, Nagarbhavi and Vijayanagar. Being from Mysuru, Bengaluru is the city of dreams. It’s amazing to see the city I have been a part of for the last year on camera and work here.
Striking features from the movie...
The movie is based on incidents that happen in one night, which makes it stand out from any other script. The film has all the elements required for a mass audience.
Challenges faced during the shoot.
The biggest challenge is to stay awake at night, since we were shooting till dawn. The schedule was from 10 pm till 6 am. Redbull kept me awake. It has been tiring but exciting. Work has progressed fast as there are not many people outside at those times.
The other challenge is when we stop shoot and have to resume shoot after a few days — the looks have to match in the scenes in the minutest details. I can’t have droopy or tired eyes too, so a lot of eyedrop is involved.
When will the shoot be done?
We intend to finish the shoot by June. The song sequences are left, which might be shot outside Karnataka.
What adjustments did you make for the shoot?
I have been planning to sleep in the mornings, but it doesn’t happen for some reason. Due to other story narrations and prior commitments, I have been sleeping only for 4 to 5 hours. But the team has been extremely supportive and gives me a break every 3 days of shoot.
What did the project teach you?
Work keeps me happy and that experience is the only way one can better one’s art. I have understood that the more I work, the better I get.
Fun moments on the set.
The best part was when we were shooting near Nagarbhavi and there were some lorry drivers who waited to click some photographs with me, till my shot got done. This resulted in a traffic jam! People here have been very supportive and I feel overwhelmed with emotion.