Critically acclaimed directors Natesh Hegde and Ganesh Hegde join hands for a mystery crime drama

Director of such internationally acclaimed films as ‘Pedro’ and ‘Vagachipani’, Natesh Hegde will now be seen in front of the camera in Ganesh Hegde’s directorial Kurka. Ganesh had earlier directed ‘Neeli Hakki’ which won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Debut Film of a Director.

The film, a mystery crime drama, is being produced under the banner Fox and Friends, a film production venture by Natesh and Ganesh. “The motive of the production house is to support young and talented filmmakers with a genuine interest in cinema,” Natesh tells Showtime. 

Aghor Motion Pictures, established by businessman and philanthropist Revanna has also collaborated as the producer of the film. 

With Kurka, both Natesh and Ganesh aim to take a leap from critical appreciation to gathering the masses. Kurka is scheduled for a theatrical release in the latter half of the year. 

Natesh who plays the lead in the film says, before he began his venture with feature films, he acted in a couple of shorts. He eventually lost interest in acting until he heard about Munna’s character from Ganesh, who was his associate director for ‘Vagachipani’. Natesh was also seen in ‘Rifle Club’ and will be seen in an upcoming Hindi film directed by Anurag Kashyap.

Kurka follows Munna who is the rebellious son of an ex-soldier turned-quarry worker. As he grapples with personal loss from the past, Munna is trapped in local power politics. In his quest to overcome it, he goes through the “test of truth and surreal transformation”. 

“Crime dramas need not necessarily be violent,” says Ganesh. He says his film is about humanity and survival. 

“I have explored the basic human qualities that are grey — rage, equality, helplessness, and power. These are the very qualities that make us human in the end,” he adds.

Ganesh who hails from Honnavara, has always wanted to tell stories from his hometown. His debut film ‘Neeli Hakki’ too was set in the Uttara Kannada district and revolved around the life of a young boy who has to move from the wilderness to a city in search of a better life. “The landscape and transition of seasons in my hometown are one of my biggest inspirations,” says Ganesh who also helms the film’s cinematography. Kurka was completely shot in Honnavara. 

‘Kurka’ also stars actors Avinash, Vijay Raghavendra and Anupama Gowda in prominent roles. The film in its post-production stage has Charan Raj as the music direction and Natesh on the edit table.

Earlier this year, ‘Vagachipani’ became the first Kannada film to premiere at the Berlin Film Festival, where it opened to critical appreciation.