Churning out good films consistently, can get the industry out of slump: Niveditha

After trying her hand in the television and web series arena, Niveditha Shivarajkumar, daughter of actor Shivarajkumar, and granddaughter of Dr Rajkumar, is now venturing into feature films with Firefly, starring Vamshi Krishna. Niveditha talks about comparisons with grandmoter Parvathamma Rajkumar, the current status of the Kannada film industry, her vision as a filmmaker and more:
‘I WANT TO MAKE GOOD MOVIES AND MAKE PEOPLE LOOK AT KANNADA MOVIES DIFFERENTLY’
When I had to take a call about what to do next as a career, I chose filmmaking. It was only natural. You can call it continuing the family business or even taking the family legacy forward. I have heard stories about how my grandmother, Parvathamma Rajkumar, commanded the room just by walking into one. So venturing into production was a very practical decision. Yes, it was easy for me as I come from a film family. I cannot deny that privilege. But using that as a breakthrough, I want to make a mark in the industry. I want to make good movies and make people look at Kannada movies differently. Firefly is the first step towards it. I did not want to have a clichéd start by producing a film for my dad, which is why I ventured into the web-series space. Despite trying to establish it for the last few years, there has been a lukewarm response. But, I will continue to try my hands on that platform.
‘THE FILM INDUSTRY IS ON THE CUSP OF RISING LIKE A PHOENIX AFTER HITTING ROCK BOTTOM’
I cannot deny that our industry is currently in a low phase. But like I said, it is just a phase. We are in the cusp of rising like a phoenix after hitting rock bottom! I think slowly churning out good films consistently is one way to get the industry out of a slump. There are some really great ideas if you look for them. It makes sense to invest in upcoming talent.

'I AM OFTEN COMPARED TO MY GRANDMOTHER’
There are three production houses within the family, including mine. I am often compared to my grandmother (Parvathamma Rajkumar). She had such a strong presence in the film industry at a time when it was male-dominated, and still made her place here. Even today, our sets are filled with men. But slowly and steadily, I have also been seeing a lot more girls now, in every department. While my grandmother’s success was inspiring, I look up to all the women in my family as they are all achievers in their own right. I have a long way to go.
‘FIREFLY IS NOT ABOUT SPECTACLE; IT’S ABOUT SENTIMENT’
Firefly is about showcasing a complex emotion in a lighter tone. I really liked the screenplay; it is a fairly simple story that is relatable. It is Vicky’s (the lead character) story, so either everyone will know a Vicky in their life, or is a Vicky himself. It is about what he does to grapple with loneliness, sadness and all emotions of life. The movie shows that you don’t have to portray grief in a sad way all the time. It is a character-driven film. I liked Vamshi Krishna’s (the director and lead actor) approach to story-telling, which made me want to produce the film.
‘DAD IS MY GO-TO PERSON’
Dad (Shivarajkumar) has a cute cameo in the film. The character was written during the scripting stage, and we wanted to cast a known face that people would remember. When we were contemplating who to ask, we decided to approach Appa. He happily agreed. It is a small character, and we shot it just for two days. Dad has always been my go-to person. When I was sceptical about getting into production, he was the one who gave me the push and the confidence.