Our limitations while shooting in black and white turned into art: Hrishikesh Sangalikar

In an era of glossy visuals, debut filmmaker Hrishikesh Sanglikar has gone the other way with Hinga Nodpa Jeevana — a black-and-white feature shot entirely in Belagavi with local theatre artists. For him, it’s about telling a story in the language and spirit of his hometown, without turning its slang into a stereotype. “I was born and brought up in Belagavi. I didn’t want to run to Bengaluru or Mumbai. I wanted to make a film here, with our theatre artists, in our own slang,” Hrishikesh says.
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The decision was both creative and practical. “My protagonist doesn’t see the world in colour — it’s his way of looking at life. Also, we couldn’t afford a cinematographer or heavy lighting, so black and white became the best option. It started as a limitation, but people said it looked stylish. Our limitation became art,” shares Hrishikesh. Shot guerrilla-style in Belagavi’s streets, the film reflects Hrishikesh’s belief that Kannada audiences are open to experimentation — as long as the trailer excites them.
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Now in Bengaluru, Hrishikesh still calls himself an outsider but sees hope. “We just need to keep making good movies, and people will come,” he says. About experimental films, he says, “For audiences, it’s simple — if the trailer clicks, they’ll give the film a chance.”