Rupa Rao’s name is a pioneer in the predominantly male-dominated world of cinema. The handsome filmmaker is a writer, director and producer. Roopa, a project manager at Infosys, left her IT job and started her cinematic career with web-series. second love story (2016).

The show was followed by the screening of award winning Kannada film Gantumute (2019), which talks about the pressure to excel in academics. Roopa, who wrote and directed the film, also produced it along with the film’s cinematographer Sahadev Kelawadi.

Written and directed by Sahdev kenda, which is Roopa’s third project as a producer. The yet-to-be-released film was screened at the Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival in New Delhi in April and Sahdev won the Dadasaheb Phalke Best Debut Director Award.

“I’m thrilled to win Kenda,” says Roopa while handling traffic in Bengaluru. She is going to shoot a Hindi film, of which she is the executive producer. “I can’t share details but we’re five days into shooting.”

Kenda’s Rupa says, victory is a great feeling. “It’s a reassurance that we’re on the right track and telling the right stories. This award has encouraged us to make more such films.”

Roopa, who started their film journey together, says she has known Sahdev for more than a decade. “Sahdev has been telling me Kenda’s The story was in my mind ever since we first met. I knew the story in depth and I knew how he wanted to present it cinematically.”

Roopa says the partnership works because, despite being different individually, both have similar thought processes.

Roopa, who co-founded a production company called Ameyukthi Studios, says they were convinced gantumute will be his first film and kenda His second. “We worked together on the script and I was confident that her perspective was unique and sensitive. These qualities were visible on the screen as well.”

“I am proud of the way the film has been made,” says Roopa. kenda Reflects reality. “The film is a satire and slice of life. It reflects the society. The story is relevant, which everyone has faced in some form or the other.

kendaRupa says, it is about a young hooligan. “Even for rowdy behavior there is a spectrum. One are those who throw stones to create fear, and the other are those who commit murder. kenda It is about a disruptive young man who uses violence to terrorize the society.

Roopa loves working out of the box. “It seems like no one else is talking about these issues that are happening around us. Cinema is a medium of expression where stories can be told in an interesting way.”

Rupa, who grew up watching movies, says cinema has become a medium of entertainment today. “Every film I have seen has had an impact on me. I prefer watching films over reading books. Each narrative form has its own audience. People in rural areas enjoy Harikatha, There is an audience for everything, yet we spoon-feed only one section of the audience.”

Rupa says that she was pushed into films. “It came to me so powerfully that I had to make a film. I was in my 20s when I quit my job. I felt that if I didn’t give myself the opportunity to explore cinema, I would regret not following this path. It was a leap of faith and I never looked back.”

Seeing the world as one’s stage, says Roopa, one should not limit oneself to physical limitations. “If a story touches me, I would like to make a film on it and if I can’t do it, I would like to support the person who can do it.”

the winner Takes It All

Sahadev Kelwadi Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Sahadev Kelavadi, who wrote and directed kenda He says he is extremely happy that his first film has been recognized by a generous jury. “The international jury included people from different walks of life including writers, editors, directors and critics. We are thrilled that the film has been appreciated by other filmmakers, but wonder how audiences will receive the film.”

Apart from Sahdev’s first film as a director, kenda It also marks the debut of lyricist Jayant Kaikini’s son Ritwik Kaikini as a music composer. kenda It includes actors like Biwi Bharat, Pranab Sridhar, Vinod Sushila, Gopalkrishna Deshpande, Sachin Srinath, Bindu Rakshidi, Sharath Gowda and Satish Kumar.

Sahdev says that the film is currently with the Censor Board. “There cannot be too many cuts. At least that’s what I believe because we don’t think there is anything objectionable in the film.

Though it is the director who usually walks away with the accolade, Sahdev says he dedicates this award to the entire team. kenda Team. “This would not have been possible without the combined efforts of the actors, technicians and Roopa. Everyone has done their work with passion and although the crew has moved on to other projects, they will always find themselves connected to kenda,

Film poster | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Sahdev says that this award has not only boosted his confidence, but he has also received some offers. “Nothing concrete yet. I have been in the industry for over a decade and am just now making my directorial debut. This journey was not without ups and downs. We went through many ups and downs during its creation Gantumute, Nevertheless, it is this experience that has prepared me to deal with the challenges during its creation kenda,

Although awards make one feel on top of the world, Sahdev says one cannot rest on laurels. “We have to challenge ourselves every step of the way.”