Director Jadesh K Hampi’s latest directorial, Landlord, starring Duniya Vijay, is releasing this week. It has the premise of oppressed villagers fighting to reclaim their dignity against an oppressive landlord. In a brief chat, he reveals how and why he chooses certain subject for his films.
Q. Guru Sishyaru, which you directed and Kaatera, for which you wrote the story, are stories of the underprivileged who have to overcome societal and historical wrongs. What makes you choose such stories.
A. As the proverb goes, “Until the Lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter.” The prey, the oppressed, the underprivileged need their own stories, storytellers and historians. They need their own movies too. There is a need for alternate narratives in every field, not just films. Your news debates need people from different spectrums to make it a whole. Similarly in art, be it films or books, every ideology needs its own space. In Kannada movies especially, we were a little lacking in brining the stories of the oppressed into the mainstream. I believe we need more writers and directors who can explore stories from the other side.
Q. How risky is it to make such movies?
A. With Kaatera, the Kannada industry showed that it was possible to make a commercially successful film with the story of an underprivileged protagonist. Guru Sishyaru, which I directed was also successful. A star like Duniya Vijay doing such roles gives it a great impetus. But we can never forget that cinema is basically an entertainment media. We cannot make documentaries and statements and expect people to pay and watch it. While being truthful to the subject, you need to cater to the paying audience. It is both risky and challenging.
Q. You’ve pulled off an exciting starcast for Landlord!
A. Powerful stories need equally powerful actors. When you have Duniya Vijay as the lead you need an equally convincing actor as the antagonist. In this case, the film itself is named after the antagonist. Raj B Shetty’s have given an amazing performance. Umashree is a living legend. The character she plays justifies her presence. When you see a deglamourised Rachita Ram, you know that she fits the role. I am glad Rithanya Vijay, the daughter of Duniya Vijay is making her mark with this film. I can promise you that a lot of care went into choosing each actor for every particular role. I am happy people are noticing the characters, not just the actors, even before the film’s release.
