Veera Chandrahasa: Ravi Basur's Journey of Bringing Yakshagana to Cinema
5 days ago | 5 Views
Veera Chandrahasa, set to premiere in theaters on April 18, is described as a dream project for Ravi Basrur. This marks his sixth directorial effort and is particularly noteworthy as it showcases Yakshagana on the big screen. The film is a historical drama that takes place in the legendary Kuntala kingdom, exploring the tale of King Chandrahasa while intertwining historical narrative with Yakshagana performances.
“For more than a decade, I have been trying to put together this dream project that will take the rich cultural tapestry of Karnataka to the world. Chandrahasa’s story is quite fascinating, going from being a beggar to becoming a king. He is also referenced in the Mahabharatha, as one of the allies of the Pandavas, who provides them with a massive army during the Kurukshetra war. The film will touch upon these aspects,” says Ravi Basrur.
Apart from the lead cast that includes Shithil Shetty, Nagashree G S, Prasanna Shettigar Mandarti, Uday Kadabaal, Ravindra Devadiga, Nagaraj Servegar, Gunashree M Nayak, Shridhar Kasarkodu, Shwetha Arehole, and Prajwal Kinnal, Ravi Basrur has also got 400-odd Yakshagana artists on board. There’s also a special appearance by Century Star Shivarajkumar as Nadaprabhu Puttaswamy. “I needed an actor of Shivanna’s stature to ensure the film gets the reach it deserves. He shot for 4 days, and in that time, he made it a point to understand the nuances of Yakshagana and then perform his role,” adds Ravi.
Although the film features an artistic approach, the composer and filmmaker asserts that it incorporates sufficient commercial aspects to attract younger viewers, particularly those from regions beyond the Karavalli area, where Yakshagana is less well-known. Ravi has decided against releasing a trailer before the film's premiere to maintain audience curiosity. He assures that Veera Chandrahasa will provide a captivating theatrical experience.
"Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!"
