Natesh Hegde’s full-length Kannada feature film, ‘Vagachipani’, is one of the ’30 Films from Five Continents’ and will be selected in the Forum Main Category of the 75th International Film Festival of Berlin, popularly known as Berlinale, in February. It is the first Kannada film to be selected. 13 to 23.
‘Waghachipani’ is Hegde’s second film. His first feature film, ‘Pedro’, which was highly acclaimed at film festivals around the world, and produced by Rishabh Shetty, is yet to be released theatrically in India. Even the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) is yet to screen the film.
But it is ‘Pedro’ who helped him find his producer for ‘Waghachipani’ in Anurag Kashyap, who in turn brought in Ranjan Singh, who had produced Kashyap’s ‘Kennedy’.
“Anurag and I met at a film festival during the screening of ‘Pedro’ and we became friends. He told me that he wanted to be associated with my next project to some extent. That’s how he decided to co-produce ‘Wagachipani’. Started,” Hegde told PTI.
‘Pedro’, which was screened at several film festivals including the Busan International Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival, also introduced him to Singapore-based Jeremy Chua, the producer of ‘Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell’, which won the Camera d’Or. Had won. 77th Cannes Film Festival.
Chua was also just happy to be a co-producer of ‘Wagachipani’, Hegde said.
In a statement issued by the Berlinale’s press office, ‘Waghachipani’ has been described as “Indian cinema of stylish assurance and brevity”.
Hegde said that the way he approaches a film is what probably differentiates his films from the ‘template’ versions that are produced in dozens by the Kannada film industry.
Hegde said, “For me, it’s not just about telling the story. It’s also about what I want to convey or achieve through the film.”
He describes himself as an “alien” in the Kannada film industry.
“I come from a village (in Sirsi district of Karnataka), which you can’t even find on Google Maps. I still live there. So, I had to create my own ecosystem. A big advantage is that I I can skip the existing templates and do my own thing,” Hegde said.
Hegde also does not agree with the “assumption” that a place can define a person’s interest in art.
“It is just a perception that only if you have uninterrupted access to art, you will be an artist or a connoisseur. Someone may have the fastest internet speed, but that does not necessarily make him or her develop an interest in art. I teach.” Hegde said.
As far as he is concerned, Hegde said that even though he lived in a small village, he was always interested in films.
“I was watching everything that came my way. As most people do when they want to explore movies beyond their region and language, I also started streaming movies from those pirated movie websites. And then one day I saw the one film that made me want to do more than just watch,” Hegde said.
Hegde then said that he sought out films made by filmmakers whose idea of filmmaking he agreed with.
Hegde said, “Abbas Kiarostami, Robert Bresson, G Aravindan, Ritwik Ghatak and Kenji Mizaguchi are some of the directors whose work made me realize that I wanted to make such films.”
Hegde said that he was also fortunate that his father and mother stood by him in his quest to become a filmmaker, although he did not understand the why and how.
“They are your regular village people. They did farming like everyone else there and my father also worked as an electrician in the village,” Hegde said.
Hegde said, when Hegde became a film producer, his father also became an actor.
“I was forced to cast him for the role of Pedro and he amazed me with his acting skills. He was also nominated as ‘Best Actor’ at the Indian Festival Melbourne 2024,” Hegde said.
‘Vaghichipani’, Hegde said, is named after his neighboring village in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, which takes its name from a pond where tigers come to quench their thirst.
“I am fascinated by the secret presence of the tiger,” Hegde said.
In case you are wondering, ‘Vaghichipani’ tells the story of a mentally challenged shepherd who is a victim of patriarchy.
The film was shot on a 16mm camera by cinematographer Vikas Urs, who also did ‘Pedro’ with him, Hegde said.
Incidentally, last year Hegde’s “good friend” PS Vinothraj’s ‘Kottukkali’ had become the first Tamil film to get a world premiere at the 74th Berlinale.
(This report has been published as part of an auto-generated syndicated wire feed. Apart from the headline, there have been no edits to the copy by ABP Live.)
