Mangalore, June 18: Award winning director B Suresha said that he believes in the struggle in 'real-life' than the exaggeration of heroism in 'reel-life'.
He was speaking at an interaction programme after the screening of 'Puttakkana Highway', which has already bagged the national award under best regional film category. The programme was organised under the auspices of Journalists' Study Centre in the city on Saturday.
When a few participants expressed their dissatisfaction over the pessimistic ending of 'Puttakkana Haighway', the director and co-producer justified his decision saying that the gloomy ending motivates the audience to resolve for a collective movement against anti-farmer policies and vested interests.
“Unlike in few commonly appreciated films like 'Tare Zameen Par', where the glorification of a teacher (Aamir Khan) overshadows the real issue, 'Puttakkana Highway' does not allow any character to overrule the real issues of the film i.e., construction of highway acquiring the farmland and displacement of hapless people,” Mr Suresha pointed out.
“Even though prominent actors like Prakash Raj and Shruti are in the lead roles of the film, they do not highjack the 'factualism' through unrealistic heroism against the mighty enemies to give temporary pleasure to the audience,” he added.
Stating that producing and directing an art movie deserves more time and hard-work compared to a commercial cinema, he said it took almost seven years (2003 to 2011) to make 'Puttakkana Highway'.
However he said that success of the film has give him a new inspiration to further engage in such artistically perfect movies rather than giving preference to political perfection. “We have invested around Rs 1.10 crore for the movie and secured Rs 1.15 crore back,” he said adding that one cannot expect more income through an 'award winning' film.
DYFI district president Muneer Katipalla said that despite its gloomy ending and not-so-unnatural approach, the film silently motivates and inspires people to collectively fight against the onslaught of multi-national companies and monsters like Mangalore Special Economic Zone.
A cross section of local activists and representatives of various organisations took part in the programme along with the journalists. Documentary producer Natesh Ullal, theatre artist Chandrahas Ullal and Dr Richard Rego Associate Professor, Department of Mass Communication, St Aloysius College, were the special invitees. Journalist Praveen Padigar compered the programme.
About the film:
'Puttakkana Highway' is made in the backdrop of the construction of a highway that not only displaces many farmers owning small pieces of land but also shows how greedy contractors and middlemen exploit the situation to their advantage.
The story takes place in Bislahalli, a remote village where people make a living through farming. They are content, till the government announces its decision to acquire land for the proposed State Highway 108. While people like Madu (Achuth Kumar) take it positively - he opens a hotel called `Yiganeshwara Highway Hotel' - others take to the streets.
Puttakka has four acres of agricultural land, where she had buried her husband and is adamant that she won't give up the land for the highway. She goes to Bangalore to meet the chief minister, where she has a bitter experience.
Disappointed, Puttakka returns to the village only to see that a bridge has been built on her land. A shocked Puttakka gets to know the realities of development when she sees her daughter getting into prostitution.
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