Lockdown: Pain and Joy During the Pandemic
A group of fresh talents has come together to create the film Lockdown. Under the Abhinava Productions banner, Manju Mudgal has not only produced the film but has also played an important role in it. Javed Tippanahatti, who has previously worked with several directors, has handled the screenplay, lyrics, music composition, and direction for the movie. As part of the first phase of promotions, the trailer launch and audio release event of the songs, presented by Siri Music, was held grandly at Sri Renukamba Studio recently.
Vijay Vighnesh from Bengaluru plays the lead hero, while Vaanishree Srinivas from Davanagere stars as the heroine. The cast also includes Shravani, Ashwini Mudgal, Mamatha, and the popular Reels Karnataka duo Govindaraju and Vaila, among others. Cinematography is by Sharanappa Sugganahalli, while editing is handled by Shivaraj Mehu. Speaking at the event, director Javed Tippanahatti said that while the lockdown period, which shook the entire world, brought pain to many people, it also brought happiness to some. Hence, the film carries the tagline “Vishaada and Ranjane” (Sorrow and Entertainment). He added that certain bitter incidents that took place in Ballari during the lockdown have been incorporated into the storyline.
The film also portrays the love stories of young couples and middle-aged partners with a touch of humor. The situations shown are realistic, though the story itself is fictional. The film uses the North Karnataka dialect, and according to the director, it also reveals several lesser-known aspects of that period, which audiences can discover only by watching the movie.
Producer and actor Manju Mudgal shared that he had approached many people seeking acting opportunities but faced discouragement and lack of support. This inspired him to make his own film. He mentioned that the movie contains two parallel love tracks, one of which features him as an actor. He also revealed that he invested his hard-earned money into the project and requested support from the media. The film has been shot in and around villages near Koppal and Uppin Betageri. If everything goes as planned, Jayadeva Films is aiming to release the movie later this month.
