In a first for Kannada cinema, we’ve blended sci-fi elements with mythology: Director Girish

I have always been amazed by stories on morality and technology, which is why I wanted to explore the intersection of both these concepts through cinema,” says director and actor Girish G, speaking about his upcoming Kannada sci-fi movie, Shalivahana Shake, which has the concept of time loop incorporated into a rural story. “This theme has so far been unexplored territory in Kannada cinema,” Girish, who plays the role of Ranga in the film, adds. The film also sees actors Chillar Manja, Supritha Sathyanarayan and Dayananda Sagar in lead roles.

Speaking further about the film’s concept, the director adds, “The movie is set in a fictional village, Shalivahana. There are not many movies in Kannada that touch upon space — still an abstract concept — which made me take up this movie that brings out the morals of Panchatantra. It is tough for a layperson to understand the outer space, so we have tried to simplify the theme by blending Indian mythological elements and characters, along with a native story.”

“In the movie, we have used a conch, which is depicted to have strong power in mythology. It becomes a central character after being found inside a well by a group of friends in Shalivahana and acts like a time machine. We have tried to explore an imaginary boundary between the well and outer space. We typically show our kids Hollywood films to explain these subjects. But now, we will have a story rooted in our culture and takes place in a unique world of its own,” says Girish.
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