Film making like sale of mirrors to the blind

S Shyam Prasad| NT

Bengaluru: Suri, known by his various epithets including ‘Duniya Suri’ and ‘Sukka Suri’ is one of the few directors with a fan following of his own.

The everinnovative director’s new film, Bad Manners, starring Abishek Amabreesh was completed after two years of shooting.

The film starring Rachita Ram, Sharath Lohitashwa and Kuri Prathap among others is releasing on November 24.

In a tête-à-tête with News Trail, he opens up about the changing landscape of film making.

Q. After 15 years and 11 films as a director, what do you aim to deliver to today's audiences?

A. The crime genre continues to be a perennial favorite among viewers, even with the rise of OTT platforms.

Today's audience craves novelty, discussing trending genres on a global scale, as well as the intricacies of screenplay. In this context, having Surendranath and Amri work on the story and screenplay of "Bad Manners" was a strategic advantage.

Dialogues play a pivotal role in this movie, and Maasti and Amri are the masterminds behind them. I ensured Maasti was responsible for dialogues related to the cop characters.

At 24 years old, Amri is in tune with what his generation wants. "Bad Manners," from its title to its narrative, delves into contemporary issues. This is a must-watch. It's an event film that everyone will talk about.

Q. How challenging is it to create films in the current landscape?

A. The process of making feature films in India is an arduous journey. It's particularly demanding to cater to the diverse preferences of the Kannada-speaking audience.

Here in Bengaluru, we compete with English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films. Even renowned filmmakers like Maniratnam and Shankar in Chennai or Sanjay Leela Bansali in Mumbai are curious about how their movies resonate with the Bengaluru audience.

Thus, crafting a Kannada film remains an enduring challenge.

Q. Kannada films seem to experience fluctuating highs and lows. What's your perspective on this?

A. This is a relentless game that requires a continuous stream of quality content. We cannot afford to take a break. The success achieved by Prashanth Neel with "KGF" and carried forward with "Kantara" was truly impressive, thanks to their blend of action and innovative elements.

"777 Charlie" introduced a unique charm, and when Shashank's family drama found success, it became evident that the audience was engaged. However, when we fail to consistently deliver excellent films, the game appears to be on the brink of disappointment.

Q. Do you believe that audience preferences have evolved?

A. This evolving taste among audiences is a positive development. The more knowledgeable the audience becomes, the more exciting it is for me as a filmmaker.

Q. How can you attract such informed audiences to theaters in a world full of distractions?

A. Modern audiences are bombarded with various stimuli in their daily lives, from enticing advertisements for shopping, travel, and fashion.

Drawing them to theaters and delivering an experience that can compete with these distractions demands exceptional talent. It's akin to selling mirrors to the blind.

This challenge forms the core premise of "Bad Manners," where the power of persuasive speech is harnessed as a key element.