One of the forces behind the revival of Kannada parallel cinema, Natash Hegde is ready for a milestone moment in his career. Vagchipani (Tiger’s pond), his Sophomore film, Berlin International Film Festival is the first Kannada feature for his world premiere, which runs from 13-23 February. “Berlin, Venice and Cannes are considered to be the three best festival in the world. This is a great platform to show my film, “he is excited.

Natash’s first film, Pedro, Actor-Filmekar was a festival Darling, produced by Rishha Shetty and starring Raj B. Shetty and Natash’s father, Gopal Hegde, a festival Darling, who was winning the BFI London Film Festival, Golden House and Indelisbona at Pingyo and Nentas Three Constitutions Festival. with Vagchipani, Natash has strengthened the Kannada New Wave, which has been carried forward by contemporaries like Jaishankar Aryar (Shivamma)Sumant Bhat (False)Ram Reddy (Thithi), Festive Gonavar (picture), Champa Shetty (Koli Aesru) And experienced filmmaker Prithvi Konnur (Hadinalentu).

Crime drama

Berlinley describes Vagchipani A “fast, boiling crime drama, discovery of the nefarious confluence of faith, caste and political power. The film is about a mentally challenging shepherd living in the house of a feudal businessman Prabhu, which is about a mentally challenging shepherd On the verge of winning the elections, he learns that the shepherd is pregnant, but keeps it in the film Amresh Nagadoni.

“Set in a hermetic village ruled by fear and tradition, is a game of Hegde’s film tigers and cows, a story of structured harassment and spontaneous resistance around the muted maid figures,” reads the logline of the film on the Berlinal website . Vagchipani is a pond where tigers quench their thirst. In the film, Ace filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, producer Ranjan Singh (Kennedy), And Singapore -based producer Jeremy Chua,

Natash Hegde in the film. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Kashyap, a master of crime style, calls Natash a “talented filmmaker”. “” Is his story. In Vagchipani, He has handled the sensitive parts of the story so cleverly that it makes the audience a part of it. His handling of the camera is such that it is almost invisible, ”says Kashyap. According to Ranjan, the film is “a folk story, which is told by Natash with warmth and passion.”

Get out of sage, enter Kashyap

Vagchipani Started with Kantara Actor-director Rishabh again after the producer’s role Pedro. However, Rishab, due to his busy schedule, had to stay away from the project. ,Rishab supported the film until we finished shooting. He saw that it was a big film and felt that time was needed as a producer. These types of films require a lot of nutrition. You have to go to festivals, crack business deals and secure OTT platforms. So he stepped aside, leading to the entry of the Kashayap, “Natash explains.

Also read:IFFI 2023 | Kannada films are waiting for OTT to open doors for him: Rishab Shetty

After Kashyap was impressed, he expressed interest in being associated with Natash’s next project. PedroIn a recent interview, Gangs of Waspur The director confessed that he had a lack of skills to produce a film, but he enjoyed presenting films he likes. “Anurag and I met many times and developed a bond. Production is a difficult task. You need to give time to a project daily. However, Anurag has many people around him to present a project. He has enough manpower. He is enough to lend his name for films he likes. He has been doing it for two decades now, ”says Natash.

Vagchipani A fellow piece is Pedro, As it raises rallies behind unstable people by society. “I don’t see them as an outcast, to be honest. I am related to them. For a long time, I was designed to believe that films are about some people and our lives are not enough to see on the big screen. This is why I started making films. I want to show that an ordinary person can be a hero, “he provides.

The stars of the film noted actors Dilish Pothan and Achuth Kumar. Director Dinesh behind New-Jen Malayalam, like Joji (2021)And Maheshint Pratikikram (2014), Was affected by Pedro, Revents Natash.

Gopal Hegde in ‘Vagchipani’. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“His huge physicality is one that suits him for the role. He plays the role of a malabari, and as an immigrant, he always tries to prove that he belongs to the city, but we know that he is a big misfit. This vulnerability and his personality made The Dilesh perfect for the role. As directors, we do not necessarily subscribe to the same idea of ​​filmmaking, but we meet together. His friends told him that it was one of his best performances. ,

Incidentally, Dilesh, Natash and Anurag worked as actors in Asik Abu’s recent Malayalam hit Rifle club, A wild, action-pack western set in the Western Ghats. “Dilesh urged me to do the film,” says Natash. He said, “We all projected because it was an opportunity for us to hang out.”

One of the most trusted actors in Kannada cinema, Achuth has been boxed in the role of a policeman or father for years. “It is a good Anna Or Avinash sir, I praise such actors. In the corner of my mind, I always thought that these actors were not getting such characters who do full justice to their talent. For example, commercial films have a set of shots and angles like mid shots for these actors. Nobody knows how Achuth Anna Looks from behind, or we have not seen a different angle of his face. The film was a very different experience for him, and he enjoyed it, “says Natash.

Natash also opens on his comrades with his father, Gopal Hegde, who has acted in both his feature films. “He has become a son for me. Of course, we have full faith and love. As an actor, he was always convinced. ,

Mainstream versus parallel

Natash Pedro Its mainstream has not been released yet. Such movies Shivammapicture, And HeadinalentuThere were limited dramatic runs in 2024, once again put a spotlight on the identity of parallel films in commercial cinema space. Recently, Tamil filmmaker Amir shook a controversy when he said that PS Winothraj Kottukali Theaters should not have been released in theaters as bad box office numbers can spoil the reputation of the film.

Natash is called an baseless argument. “Hum (parallel filmmaker) does not make films to double our money. My film is made for the big screen. So we rely on festivals so that people can watch our films. I can confidently say that my film is more worthy than many commercial hits. Applies to the same argument Kottukkali Or any other serious film. You cannot expect these films to make crores at the box office. It is unfair, “he explains.

Also read:‘Kottukkali’ Movie Review: Anna Ben, Sori PS Vinithraj should bring carefully prepared vision

Vagchipani WasThe 16 mm was shot on the film. “The spectral camera flows through the Netherworld, registering its rocky terrain and its unforgettable faces in its Marqui Going-On and Repturus 16 mm images,” the Berlinal website says.

When asked about the election, Natash said, “I love shooting on film stock. It seems that you are handling a living existence. It is incomplete like a human, and it is its beauty. As a filmmaker, you need to be accurate when shooting in cellulide. ,