Ravi Basrur to take Yakshagana to the silver screen with ‘Veera Chandrahasa’

Team Udayavani, Aug 19, 2024, 5:52 PM IST

Bengaluru/Kundapura: Ravi Basrur, a name synonymous with musical excellence in pan-India hits like KGF and Salaar, is now venturing into uncharted territory by directing a film based entirely on Yakshagana, a traditional coastal Karnataka art form.

Known for his innovative approach in the world of music, Basrur has already made a mark with his directorial debut Gimmick, where he skillfully guided child actors to perform like adults, with Yash and Radhika lending their voices to the film. Though the movie didn’t achieve commercial success, it was widely praised, especially in the coastal regions of Karnataka.

Undeterred by the past, Basrur and his team are now taking on a bold new challenge: bringing the grandeur of Yakshagana to the silver screen in its entirety. While Yakshagana has previously appeared in films, it was typically limited to certain scenes or characters. This time, Basrur is attempting something unprecedented – creating a full-length feature film that revolves solely around Yakshagana.

The film, titled Veera Chandrahasa, is already generating buzz with the release of its teaser. The teaser showcases characters adorned in Yakshagana costumes, engaging in intense battle sequences, all firmly rooted in the traditional art form. The story of the film is centered around the character of Veera Chandrahasa, with Yakshagana being the dominant element throughout the narrative.

The filmmakers have proudly declared that this is the first time in cinematic history that an entire film will be dedicated to the Yakshagana art form. The teaser has been released, but the official release date for the film is yet to be announced. Basrur is set to take a major step by inviting audiences who have traditionally bought tickets to watch Yakshagana performances to now buy tickets to watch a Yakshagana film.

The film features a talented cast includingShithil Shetty, Nagashree G S, Prasanna Shettigar Mandarti, Uday Kadabaal, Ravindra Devadiga, Nagaraj Servegar, Gunashree M Nayak, Shridhar Kasarkodu, Shwetha Arehole, and Prajwal Kinnal.