<p>Many ask whether I regret not having any release for three years. My last film, ‘Kirik Party,’ came out in 2016. To most people, it seems I have had no work, but let me tell you I have been working non-stop. The amount of learning I have gained over these three years is huge.</p>.<p>‘Avane Srimannarayana,’ releasing in five languages on December 27, called for extensive research. We worked on it for more than a year. Right from the scripting to the execution, ‘Avane Srimannarayana’ has offered invaluable lessons. I realised that writing the script and scouting for locations go hand-in-hand. Being involved in post-production also gave me new insights into filmmaking.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Quality over quantity</span></strong></p>.<p>People have great expectations from me after ‘Ulidavaru Kandante’, ‘Godhi Banna Sadharana Maikattu’ and ‘Kirik Party.’ I was asked if I felt the pressure to deliver. I didn’t feel any pressure because I take it slow. I want to enjoy the process of making a film. I don’t work on something if I don’t connect to it. I wanted to give the audience a film that was better than ‘Kirik...’ and that required a lot of planning.</p>.<p>I have always chosen quality over quantity. I am choosy about my projects because I believe money, though important, is not the first priority. I want to work on projects that offer new perspectives and inspire me to work harder. </p>.<p>Coming to ‘Avane Srimannarayana’, you will love the lead character. When I started writing the film, I wanted the character to have traits similar to Anil Kapoor’s in ‘Ram Lakhan.’ He played a fun-loving and intelligent guy. He was flexible with his emotions. I wanted to bring that trait into Srimannarayana. I was also inspired by Jack Sparrow in ‘The Pirates of the Caribbean.’ I had secretly nursed a dream to play such a character someday. I have added some of his characteristics to Srimannarayana. The swagger and coolness come from there.</p>.<p>This film requires Srimannarayana to switch emotions quickly. He doesn’t really have the time to stand and stare. He has to think on his feet. Since I wrote the character, I knew exactly where to make the switch. I took about three days to slip into the character. And that, it was a cakewalk. </p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Big moment for me </span></strong></p>.<p>It has been a long-cherished dream to take Kannada cinema to a global audience and make a film that caters to the whole world. ‘Avane Srimannarayana’ has taken me closer to achieving that dream.</p>.<p>My next project ‘Punyakoti’ is vast and ambitious. I can’t wait to start shooting for it. The film is set in ancient India. It is a fictional narrative that touches on present-day politics.</p>.<p><em>(Rakshit is an actor, director and scriptwriter) </em><br />(As told to Nina C George)</p>
<p>Many ask whether I regret not having any release for three years. My last film, ‘Kirik Party,’ came out in 2016. To most people, it seems I have had no work, but let me tell you I have been working non-stop. The amount of learning I have gained over these three years is huge.</p>.<p>‘Avane Srimannarayana,’ releasing in five languages on December 27, called for extensive research. We worked on it for more than a year. Right from the scripting to the execution, ‘Avane Srimannarayana’ has offered invaluable lessons. I realised that writing the script and scouting for locations go hand-in-hand. Being involved in post-production also gave me new insights into filmmaking.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Quality over quantity</span></strong></p>.<p>People have great expectations from me after ‘Ulidavaru Kandante’, ‘Godhi Banna Sadharana Maikattu’ and ‘Kirik Party.’ I was asked if I felt the pressure to deliver. I didn’t feel any pressure because I take it slow. I want to enjoy the process of making a film. I don’t work on something if I don’t connect to it. I wanted to give the audience a film that was better than ‘Kirik...’ and that required a lot of planning.</p>.<p>I have always chosen quality over quantity. I am choosy about my projects because I believe money, though important, is not the first priority. I want to work on projects that offer new perspectives and inspire me to work harder. </p>.<p>Coming to ‘Avane Srimannarayana’, you will love the lead character. When I started writing the film, I wanted the character to have traits similar to Anil Kapoor’s in ‘Ram Lakhan.’ He played a fun-loving and intelligent guy. He was flexible with his emotions. I wanted to bring that trait into Srimannarayana. I was also inspired by Jack Sparrow in ‘The Pirates of the Caribbean.’ I had secretly nursed a dream to play such a character someday. I have added some of his characteristics to Srimannarayana. The swagger and coolness come from there.</p>.<p>This film requires Srimannarayana to switch emotions quickly. He doesn’t really have the time to stand and stare. He has to think on his feet. Since I wrote the character, I knew exactly where to make the switch. I took about three days to slip into the character. And that, it was a cakewalk. </p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Big moment for me </span></strong></p>.<p>It has been a long-cherished dream to take Kannada cinema to a global audience and make a film that caters to the whole world. ‘Avane Srimannarayana’ has taken me closer to achieving that dream.</p>.<p>My next project ‘Punyakoti’ is vast and ambitious. I can’t wait to start shooting for it. The film is set in ancient India. It is a fictional narrative that touches on present-day politics.</p>.<p><em>(Rakshit is an actor, director and scriptwriter) </em><br />(As told to Nina C George)</p>