Baana Kaathadi: The colourful kite
Flying kites is what every boy (and some girls) dream of during their childhood. Grown men�always recall their fondness for this special sport and that is why debutant director Badri Venkatesh's Baana Kaathadi (big kite) has triggered a lot of interest among audiences before and after its release.
The film is�special for many other reasons.�Atharva, son of yesteryear hero Murali and grandson of noted Kannada director S. Siddalingaiah, takes his first bow in front of the camera; this is chirpy Samantha's first Kollywood release as heroine�and Prasanna, the intense actor, is back in a trademark role.
Baana Kaathadi has created a lot of buzz in the industry. According to latest reports, the film is getting an overwhelming response�all over Tamil Nadu. "We are extremely happy about the kind of response that we are receiving for the past few days. The film is doing extremely well, especially in A centres," begins director Badri Venkatesh, now higher than a kite with the success of his film,�in an exclusive chat with Galatta.com.
Director Badri Venkatesh has�proved his mettle even as a student, winning a National Award for his 12-minute short film “Vidiyalai Nokki” (Awaiting the dawn) in 1997.
Baana Kaathadi is a complete and interesting entertainer with the right mix of action, romance, comedy and some foot-tapping songs (Yuvan's 'Thaakudhae kann…' is already a chart buster). The icing, of course, comes in the form of the climax, which has generated a lot of�debate among the�general public.�Above all,�who can forget the vibrant footage of the Gujarat kite festival in which the screen simply turns into a riot of colour?
About the lead cast, the director says, "We were looking for a boy who has a typical Dravidian look. The moment I�saw Atharva, my search ended.�I was also looking for a girl who can speak Tamil, so Samantha was perfect for the role. The best thing about the two protagonists is�that both attended an acting workshop for six weeks before commencing the project."
Talking about the film's climax that has already created an impact, the director says, "I am very very happy my film has generated a lot of debate among the public. I think my real victory has been�to make people talk about the film and its protagonists."
"When I first wrote the climax, I never wanted to create a drama on screen. Being real and spontaneous was my main intention. We wanted to make it�a shocker, and today, when so many people are�talking about it, I am so happy and thrilled," he smiled. But full credit, he adds, goes to the producers Sathya Jyothi Films for giving him a chance to direct�this neat entertainer.
"I am grateful to producer Thyagarajan, who is like my father, for supporting me throughout the film. I owe everything to him. His motivation and belief were my biggest strengths," he signs off.��
