Chandan Shetty with the cast in a scene from the film | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
students studentsnyare As the title suggests, it deals with student life. Director Arun Amukta says, “It is an action thriller revolving around 18-year-olds. It is a new-age masala film. From the colour scheme to the mood, music and actors, everything is full of youthfulness. I have packaged the youth and their emotions in my film.”
Arun made his debut as a film director in 2013. Lucegalu, The film, which also stars actors Sri Murali and Akul Balaji, features him as Arun Kumar. “Amuktha is my daughter’s name,” says Arun over the phone from his home in Nagarbhavi. “I changed my name from Arun Kumar to Arun Amuktha to honour her and keep her with me.”
Written and directed by Arun, the film is produced by Subramanya Kukke and Shivalinge Gowda A.C. Music is composed by Vijeth Krishna and students studentsnyare Released on 19 July under the banner of Variety Creations. Cinematography is by Kumar Gowda and Arun Suresh (lyrics). The film also stars Manoj Vivan, Manasvi, Bhavana Appu, Amar and Prashanth Sambargi.
Prashanth has been a distributor, financier and has worked in content acquisition. He is also a contestant on Bigg Boss Kannada and has been garnering a lot of attention on the Kannada news circuit by sharing his opinion on every controversial topic that is the talk of the town in the Kannada film industry today.
Arun Amukta | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“Prashanth plays a cop in the film,” says Arun, who hails from Davanagere. “I come from a small village called Chikmali, which has a population of 300. We didn’t have internet or newspapers. The village is a dead end and there is nothing beyond where we live. We come from an agricultural background. Life was tough. I had to come to a relative’s house to pursue higher education. One day I decided to come to Bangalore in search of a job.”
Arun, a literature graduate, is distributing books Students students, Arun says he is making a youth-oriented film for two reasons — the commercial aspect and because not many films are being made on teenagers.
“Films are made for three categories of audiences – mass hero fans, youth and family. Since I couldn’t cast any big star, I decided to cast Chand Shetty in the lead role. He fits the role perfectly. He is making his debut as a lead actor in this film. He may not be a mass hero, but he is a popular rapper and playback singer. From a commercial point of view, he is a good choice.”
Chandan is known for his chart-topping songs, including the film’s title track ‘Karbu’ Pogaru,’from bottom to top’ (Ganchali),’Yariwa yariwa’ (court) and winner of Bigg Boss Kannada in 2018, “There is an interesting story behind Chandan’s casting. He was cast last. The supporting cast and crew were all finalised. For the lead role, I was not getting the right fit until I met Chandan and then everything fell into place.”
Film poster | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Arun was looking for someone who was a well-known name but had no on-screen image. “I didn’t want the on-screen personality to overpower the character we had thought of for the lead character. Chandan was chosen because he met all the requirements. Though he is debuting as a lead actor, I was surprised by his acting skills. Chandan’s character has a speech impediment, he is a game designer and can change his voice.”
Arun started by working in a small canteen at the Bangalore City Railway Station. “While I was working there, I met a junior artist who came to have tea at the stall where I was working. One day we got into a conversation and he told me about the film industry and how it was a dream place to work. He said there was free food on the sets. At that time, I was struggling to get enough food and it was this dream of getting enough food that pulled me to film sets,” Arun recalls. Arun started as a set boy and gradually moved up to become an assistant director with film and television actor-director-producer Sunil Puranik.
“Sunil has always encouraged me and I have cast him in my film, he is playing the role of a politician Vidyarthi Vidyarthiniare.” Arun acted in Kannada movie Alive, SStarring Devaraj and Meghana Raj and directed by Mussanje Mahesh.
