In the upcoming Karnataka elections of 2018, looks like the battle will be taken to a new frontier: The silver screen. Former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy is all set to have a biopic released ahead of the polls. On Tuesday, Former Prime Minister and Kumaraswamy’s father, Deve Gowda, inaugurated the first look of the biopic - Bhoomiputra - at the National College Grounds in Basavanagudi.
The commercial film, directed by S Narayan and produced by Prabhu Kumar, will star south Indian actor Arjun Sarja of Mudhalvan fame, who is set to play the role of HD Kumaraswamy.
The film is based on the achievements of Kumaraswamy during his 20-month tenure as Karnataka’s Chief Minister.
“The name Bhoomiputra is apt for the story. Even today, the people of Karnataka know the impact my son made when he was the Chief Minister. Public memory is short, and this film will reinforce the work he did and will remind them that he is a true leader,” Deve Gowda told media persons.
Director S Narayan said that the film is still in the pre-production stage and did not divulge more details on the movie. A source close to the makers of the film said that the film aims to create a positive impact in the people’s minds about Kumaraswamy being the leader of the people of Karnataka.
“You will have to wait and see the film. But I would like to say that framing a script which takes into account his achievements during a 20-month period and converting into a film which lasts for a few hours is difficult. We want to make it as realistic as possible,” Narayan added.
The shooting for the film is all set to begin in June, and apart from the lead role, other actors are yet to be roped in.
“The movie is about how Kumaraswamy became Kumaranna, a person of the masses. When I was thinking about the right person to star in the film, the first one I thought of was Arjun Sarja and the role he played in Mudhalvan was spectacular,” said Producer Prabhu Kumar.
“I prefer playing roles that have a positive message to it. When I read the script for Bhoomiputra, I liked it immediately and that’s why I agreed to act in the film,” Arjun Sarja told media persons.
The film is all said to release in November, during Diwali, which is just a few months before the 2018 Assembly polls.