Book revisits iconic film locations across Karnataka

Entertainment writer explores the landscape of Karnataka through the lens of Sandalwood

The Karnataka tourism tagline is ‘One state. Many worlds.’ So it seems fitting that delving into the many worlds that Sandalwood has created is a great way to explore the state.

The state government, in collaboration with the Lonely Planet, has brought out a guide compiling filmy escapes.

Researched and authored by entertainment journalist Shruti Indira Lakshminarayana, the book features spots from Belgaum to Mangaluru and everything in between.

“I’ve been writing about films for around six years now and I was called on board due to my experience in the field,” she says.

The book features multiple timelines of Kannada cinema and took Shruti two months to research.

She was guided by Kumar Pushkar, the managing director of the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of senior journalists, people in the industry, people living near the film locations and, of course, my own knowledge of cinema,” she says.

She explains that Puttanna Kanagal was the one who introduced the concept of outdoor shooting in Kannada cinema as his films are nature-based. She has spoken to people who worked closely with him.

“Speaking to those who have been closely associated with finding the perfect location is as good as travelling to these places,” Shruti says.

She adds film locations carry a rich history with them, especially for movie buffs.

“Janumada Jodi (1996) was set in Mahadevpura near Mysuru. People in the area said that the success of the film made the area like a lucky charm for filmmakers,” she says.

Shruti says the journey helped her discover the people behind the larger-than-life personalities.

She says that she heard stories of Rajkumar from people across the state.

“There was an old lady near the Shivanasamudra Falls who recalls the actor fondly. Rajkumar used to buy from her bonda-bajji stall every time he was around,” she says.

She says she has collected so much information during her research that she has enough for another
book.

“We have a really vast history of cinema and it was a fabulous journey for me as a writer,” she concludes.

The book called ‘Filmi Escapes in Karnataka’ can be found in the e-brochure section of the Karnataka Tourism website.