It is not every day that one hears about a Tulu film.
Tulu, the language spoken in the south-west region of Karnataka can barely boast of five to six films a year. This 45-year-old film industry kicked off with the film Enna Thangadi in 1971. Now, with slow strides, it’s making its presence felt today.
Tulu film Dombarata, directed by debutant Ranjith Suvarna, is releasing in the UAE on September 22.
Suvarna, after working as deputy director in fourteen films, goes solo with this comedy caper that features Ammit Rao (more popular known as the villain of Agni Sakshi, a TV series) in the lead.
“It’s his first as a hero,” says Suvarna. He plays a double role. One character is that of Govinda, a school teacher, and the other is Gopala, an unemployed young man in love. Rao is paired opposite three heroines, Pooja Shetty, Bhavya and Neema.
“This is a total comedy that the family audience will love,” assures Suvarna, who has also written the story. The supporting cast includes comedians Aravind Bolar and Umesh Mijar, as well as Raghu Pandeshwar, Shareth Kadri, Ranjan Bolour, Prathima Nayak and Ranjitha Seth. Music has been scored by Prakash, Madhura and L. N. Shashtri.
Dombarata has a couple of firsts to its credit. It’s the first Tulu film with a song sequence with 1,000 artists. And, for the first time, Kannada actors Upendra and Ugramshree Murali have sung a song in the film.
Suvarna adds this is the first time a Tulu film has been released in more than 100 theatres.
Dombarata is produced by Rajesh Brahmavar, choreographer of several Kannada films.
