The poster of Raajakumaara took Kannada film buffs down memory lane, urging them to recall a similar poster of veteran actor, Rajkumar from the film Kasturi Nivasa. It was a milestone film in Rajkumar’s career that was later remade in Tamil as Avanthan Manithan, with Sivaji Ganesan in the lead.
Puneeth Rajkumar, the youngest son of Rajkumar now plays the lead in Raajakumara directed by Santosh Ananddram. Ananddram who made a good beginning with his first film, Mr and Mrs. Ramachari, described Raajakumaara as a story that stressed on the responsibility we owe to our parents.
In this story, Puneeth Rajkumar plays Siddharth, a businessman from Australia. Following a tragedy, Siddharth returns to India. How he becomes an instrument in cementing bonds between parents living in old age homes and their children forms the rest of the story.
Tamil actress Priya Anand makes her debut in Kannada cinema as Siddharth’s lover, Nandini, a salsa instructor in Australia. The ensemble cast includes Prakash Raj, Ananth Nag and Sarath Kumar.
Ananddram added that with three comedians, Rangayana Raghu, Chikkana and Sadhu Kokila, viewers can look forward to many laugh-out-loud moments.
Raajakumaara released in India on March 24 and Ananddram couldn’t have asked for more with the film shattering all existing records to emerge as a top grosser.
“It has been overwhelming,” he said. “People are loving it for its social message. Today parents are packed off to old age homes as we are too busy with our lives.”
Ananddram, who quit his job with Infosys to listen to his heart’s calling, found a way into the industry as a lyric writer for Kannada film Rocky in 2009.
He next assisted Kannada director Harsha with scriptwriting and direction for the film, Chingari. Subsequently, he wrote the dialogues for two Kannada films, Agraja and Gajakesari, before donning the director’s hat in 2013 for Mr and Mrs. Ramachari.
“Raajakumaara is a tribute to late Rajkumar,” said Ananddram. “Many aspects of him are reflected in Siddharth’s character.”
V. Harikrishna has scored music. Venkatesh Anguraj is the DOP.
Rajakumaara, produced by Vijay Kiragandur, releases in UAE on April 20.
