Shooting a film is easy, the challenge is releasing it in theatres: Team Unlock Raghava

Since January, as many as five Kannada films have hit the screens every Friday. Add to this another 10 plus films of various other languages that compete for space at cinema halls, and one only begins to understand that the biggest struggle for Kannada filmmakers at this point is to retain their movies in theatres for over a week. The team of Unlock Raghava, a Kannada film that is set to hit the screens this week, tells us that it is the confidence in craft of filmmaking and the film’s content that holds them in good stead. Excerpts:
There is a hero in every home today: Manjunatha D
Manjunatha D, the producer of Unlock Raghava, tells us that there is a lot to take into consideration before making a movie. “Social media’s influence is such that today, there is a hero or heroine in every home. As a filmmaker, I constantly ponder over what I can offer to those people so that they come to watch my movie in a theatre. And for that, I need to deliver entertaining content. As a producer, I feel there are two steps to filmmaking, the first is to make a film and the second is to release it in theaters. Today, the problem is that a lot of people only think about the first step and stumble on step two,” he says.
“Also, back in the day, theatre was our only source of entertainment and going to watch a film on the big screen was a luxury in itself. Single-screen theatres gave Kannada films a lot of prominence. They had four shows and people could pick a convenient time to watch it. Now, with multiplexes having only one or two shows, especially for a newbie’s film, a film needs the capability to survive. Today, a film’s shelf life is just three days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If it can’t sustain for these three days, that is the end of that film’s journey,” he adds.
It is a blessing to have a theatrical release, today: Rachel David
Rachel David, who plays the role of an archaeologist in the film says that shooting for a movie is the easiest part. “Getting to see yourself on the big screen is a big deal today,” she says. As an actor, Rachel believes that upskilling is what matters, not just being active on social media. “Posting pictures from a photo shoot will not fuel my existence as an actor in the industry. When I had free time, I joined acting school again. When you get some time to rest, we should make the most of it. And upskilling may come in handy sometime in the future,” she explains.
As for choosing roles, she says, “I want to look differently in each film because that is the only way I feel like I belong to that character. It is also important to have actors who complement you,” she adds.

Passionate filmmakers need an equally passionate team: Deepak Madhuvanahalli
Deepak Madhuvanahalli, the director says, “A film is a director’s vision, but it comes out well only when every cast and crew member understands the passion of the director. But, the team that worked on Unlock Raghava is exceptional. Actors Milind and Rachel fit the characters like hand-in-glove. Manjunatha is the most hands-on producer. While most producers look at films only from a business perspective, I was fortunate enough to find a team that was equally passionate about delivering quality content. Audiences’ approval is secondary. If the producer who has invested all his time and money on your film likes it, it is like a battle half won. When this doesn’t go well, the vibes are off, and it becomes extremely difficult to work on that project.”
Audiences’ tastes keep changing, we need to deliver engaging content: Milind
Milind Manjunath, whose father Manjunatha is the producer of the film, plays the lead in Unlock Raghava. “This is my second film, but my first as the lead. Yes, my father being the producer of the film gives me an edge, but on set, he is a producer, and I am an artiste. But, people try to bring you down because of this privilege. However, pain makes you stronger and over time, I’ve developed a thick skin. Now, I want to say I’m here, I have arrived, and my focus will be films,” says Milind. “Today, people have very particular expectations from movies, especially with their changing preferences. No one wants to watch a sad, emotional movie anymore. They have so much going on in their life, that they want absolute entertainment from films, Also, people don’t have the energy to go to theatres anymore; they’d rather wait for it to be released on OTT. Keeping that and my market in mind, I locked in on Unlock Raghava, a story of a talented young man who can unlock all kinds of locks. The crux of the story unfolds when greed takes over” he explains.