#1 Project Sharapanjara - The Only Way We Could Make It

Probably the only way a newcomer can make a film in the Kannada Film Industry right now.

It has been a year and a half since we began shooting Project Sharapanjara. When we look at the final product now, I honestly don’t know how we did it.

How did we actually do it?

Project Sharapanjara is not something we were wanting to make for years. It is not a “passion project”. We are not saying anything which is close to our hearts. When you watch the film, it is also not saying anything which is important. Or even something that could change anybody’s perception.

Project Sharapanjara is everything but all of the above.

You always dream of your first film in a certain way. You dream of writing a script, pitching it to you a producer, getting a wonderful team, your choice of technicians, and actors, getting a release, and hoping that audience would love the film.

But not all our dreams are aligned with reality, right?

In order to make that dream a reality, we went in search of people. Instead of getting producers or feedback, all we got is unwarranted advice.

“You should assist somebody for years and learn first.”

“If you have to make a film, at least you need 70 lakhs and a star attached to the project.”

“You are too young to make a film.”

“The audience would never watch it.”

“How many fights and songs?”

“People are not coming to the theatres.”

“Have a profession and settle down before doing your first film.”

“The script is great but we don’t think you guys can do it. Sell the script to us.”

We had a choice - what is bigger? The dream of making a film or the dream of making the film in the conditions we imagined?

Always, it was making the film.

Hence, Project Sharapanjara was born.

We worked backward.

We met Vikas Kulkarni whom we knew for years. He always wanted to make a film. We desperately wanted to make a film.

He gave us a figure. We said yes.

Then we wrote the script in a month.

The moment we knew the budget, we knew its limitations too.

Our shooting days should be as less as possible. Hence, we had a solid 2 months of pre-production.

Since the shoot was to commence in 2 months’ time, we had no time to meet the actors and hoped to strike a connection with them. Hence, we decided to work with actors whom we had previously worked with in our short films.

I made a short with Pranav called Hunters in Bangalore. Rohith had made Banni Oota Maadana. I had made Unloved with Sachin. We had made Pravana with Sneha and Pranav which was directed by Srikanth. We had met Veeresh in an audition of what was supposed to be a series. Rest everyone - Rishika, Greeshma and Suraj were new to us.

Less Budget. Less shooting days. Working with friends.

This was the only way we could make Project Sharapanjara. Against all odds. Against everything that the industry advised us to.

More about PS in the next posts.