BSY and Sudhakar star as themselves in film on true incident

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: BSY and Sudhakar star as themselves in film on true incident A real-life incident that made headlines during the Corona pandemic has been turned into a movie in which former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar play themselves.

The trailer of the film, which was released recently, shows the two in prominent roles in the film. This is not the first time that politicians have acted in a movie in Kannada. Even then, the film made by Harish MD Halli is garnering good attention.

The film, ‘Tanuja’, chronicles the story of the girl by the same name who faced a terrible time running against time to write the NEET exams in Bengaluru. The girl from a remote village in Shivamogga was unable to properly upload details for the exam online during the pandemic.

While she was on the brink of losing out a year, a journalist highlighted her plight. Soon, the issue reached the ears of the then CM Yediyurappa and the Minister for Family Welfare Sudhakar. She managed to obtain permission to write the exams at a centre in Bengaluru. But reaching Bengaluru itself was a challenge for the poor girl.

Today, the girl is studying MBBS in a college in Belagavi. Recalling the incident after two years, Sudhakar said, “Senior journalist Vishweshwar Bhat is a close friend. I saw his Tweet about the girl and spoke to officers in Delhi to make sure Tanuja got to write the NEET exams.

The support of then CM BS Yediyurappa in this issue is immense. I had almost forgotten about the incident when Vishweshwar Bhat called me one day and introduced me to Harish. I was offered to play myself. My friendship forced me to act. I am a doctor, but these two made me an actor in this film. Tanjua succeeded in NEET exams and is studying MBBS now. I hope this film Tanuja is also successful.”

Vishweshwar Bhat recalls that Tanjua’s mother had called him seeking help. “I tweeted about her predicament tagging the Minister. In Spite of his busy and hectic schedule during the pandemic, he responded and made sure Tanuja wrote the exams. I later wrote about this in my column. Harish who read it decided to make a movie out of it. I am proud of Sudhakar and BSY’s efforts to help the original Tanuja,” he said.

Apart from BSY, Sudhakar and Vishweshwar Bhat essaying themselves in the film, the movie stars Saptha Pavoor in the title role along with Rajesh Nataranga, Chitkala Biradar, Sandhya Arekere and others.