Despite the sorrow over the recent death of his father, Devdas Kapikad went on stage to perform in his play.
“Such is his commitment to his art,” Kapikad’s son Arjun said. “He worships his work and has never let down his audience.”
Fondly known as Telikeda Bolli (Laughing Star), the senior Kapikad, a Tulu theatre artist, is a multi-faceted personality who writes his own plays, acts in them and also composes the music and sings.
In the last 32 years, his 52 plays have been staged at more than 10,000 shows. And this is no mean achievement in a regional language like Tulu, which is prevalent only in the coastal region of Karnataka. With a Kapikad story you can be certain of a good laugh.
Kapikad has directed three films including the recently released Are Marler (Half Cracks). It has crossed the Rs10 million (Dh573,056) mark, a first for a Tulu film, revealed Kapikad. As the title indicates, this is a story about four crazy guys. Playing the four characters are Kapikad, Arjun, Bhojraj Vamanjoor and Arvind Bolar. Newcomer Nishmitha takes her plunge into cinema and is paired opposite Arjun.
Arjun, who grew up amidst his father’s stage productions, always dreamt of being a part of them. The MBA graduate after a short stint in an acting school in Mumbai made his beginning as an actor with the film Thelikeda Bolli produced by his father.
Are Marler is his third under his father’s direction, the earlier two films being Chandi Kori and Barsa.
He plays Sekhara, who in doing a good deed for someone finds himself in trouble.
Arjun, who will be working next on his first Kannada film, promises a fun entertainer with Are Marler.
Kapikad has written the screenplay, directed and composed for the film.
Are Marler releases in UAE cinemas on September 7.
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Meet Nishmitha, the new actress on the block
“It is like a magical moment,” says Nishmitha, the leading lady of Are Marler.
This Mangalore native plays Sakshi, an engineering student.
“Sakshi is the daughter of a millionaire and a bubbly girl,” she said.
She meets Shekara, the character Arjun Kapikad plays, and he falls in love with Sakshi.
A software professional, Nishmitha’s acting dreams can be traced back to her father, the late Tulu actor Balakrishna Karkera. A call from director Devdas Kapikad’s office for an audition crystallised the dream. And with Are Marler earning her the nickname Dimple Queen among fans, she feels good about being accepted as an actor. With offers coming in from projects in Kannada and Tamil, she could very well change tracks and make a career in films.
