Sandalwood’s take on Soojidara row

Hariprriya is complaining on social media about reduced screen time; Mounesh Badiger says she is just being mean and jealous. The industry believes he has a point

Soojidara, the Kannada film released on May 10, suddenly saw a dip in box office collections after its leading lady, Hariprriya, posted on social media that she had made a mistake by acting in it.

The film was about to enter the second week when it was rocked by controversy.

Whether her statement was responsible for the fall in business is hard to tell: blockbuster Telugu film ‘Maharshi’ was released around the time, and it invaded the screens in the city. Soojidara is now showing on two screens.

Why was Hariprriya upset? Because, she says, her portions were cut and her fans were unhappy. Director Mounesh Badiger has now filed a complaint against her with the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce.

Insta row
Hariprriya posted on her Instagram handle that her fans had walked out of the film after realising her role was not as long as they had imagined.

She said what was on screen was not what was narrated to her, and “they added some unwanted stuff.”

She apologised to her fans, saying, “I am extremely sorry from my end, will not repeat the mistake again.” After the controversy broke, Hariprriya has stopped taking calls from reporters.

Metrolife tried for two days to get through to her; her mother Lalitha picked up all our calls.

“Whatever she has said is true and her disappointment can be understood from her fans’ responses,” Lalitha said. On the other hand, director Badiger is talking to the media, and telling his side of the story.

“Most Kannada films are shot after a verbal agreement about the story. Hariprriya agreed to do the role wholeheartedly, and said there was no need for a contract,” he told Metrolife.

He believes Hariprriya, featured in some of the biggest productions this year, is envious of the role given to Chaithra, a newcomer, although she had no reservations about it initially. Hariprriya’s role has not been edited or downplayed, Badiger says.

“She had the bound copy of the script and it should still be with her. She was well aware of her character and other characters too. Fan response to the film has probably made her anxious and jealous,” he said.
When the first poster of the film was released, Hariprriya’s mother was upset about other women characters being featured in it, Badiger recalled. “She asked me why about it. I told her it was my creative freedom,” he said. “Hariprriya did not participate in much of the film’s promotions and the audio release.”

Hariprriya’s Instagram message
“They expected to see more of me in Soojidaara and when I wasn’t seen much they had to walk out of the theatre...!!! Frankly speaking that was not the story I was told ... they added some unwanted stuff... I was disappointed when I first watched the movie but kept quiet ... all I wanted was to support a theatre team to make a full fledged feature film... but look what happened... I am extremely sorry from my end... will not repeat the mistake again ... Will make sure I entertain you more in the coming cinemas of mine.”

The film’s storyline
A man (Yashwanth Shetty) is on the run and finds shelter in a housing colony in the fort city of Chitradurga. Many here are fighting their own battles. He accidentally lands in the house of Padma (Hariprriya), stuck in an abusive relationship. A flower seller (Chaithra Kotoor) in the colony aspires to make it big in TV serials.

Constables looking for a poet’s lost Padmashree award enter the colony, and questions about crime and identity unravel.

Sandalwood speaks
‘This issue exists everywhere’
Yogaraj Bhat, director of hits Mangaaru Male, Galipata and Panchatantra, says, “I am not aware of the pre-shoot plans or the detailed script of the film, though the team is close to me. I
saw the film and liked Hariprriya’s performance immensely. As for differences between actors and directors, they exist everywhere; the team should talk and resolve their differences in the interest of the film. How a film should turn out is the prerogative of the director.”

‘Miscommunication perhaps’
Jayathirtha directed Hariprriya in the Kannada retro comedy Bell Bottom, released in February and still going strong at the cinemas. “I don’t want to comment as both the people involved in this row are close to me. Hariprriya acted in my film while director Mounesh and I were in theatre together. Maybe all this is because of a miscommunication. I believe the theme is paramount. One cannot concentrate on just one person or character. In Bell Bottom, hero Rishabh is not the only important character. I had explained to everyone the importance of their roles.”

‘Trust director, go with flow’
Radhika Narayan, actor “I have done both small roles and full-fledged ones. Some films have rested entirely on my shoulders. A film is the director’s medium, and while I pay attention
to my character, I also remember a film has various other characters. After I sign a project, I trust the director and go with the flow. If differences crop up, I would approach the director and not discuss the problem on social media.”

‘Blaming team makes no sense’
Lohith, who directed ‘Mummy-Save Me’ and is working on ‘Devaki,’ says actors know how much of their role is in and how much is out when they dub their voices. “So blaming the team at the last minute doesn’t make any sense,” he says.

‘A good actor never dies’
Sonu Gowda, actor, says,"“If a team believes you can do justice to a role and casts you, it would never want to create problems. An actor can prove her talent through multiple films,
but for a director, it is not always like that. A good actor never dies and many big names like Jyothika, Malashree and Tara have proved this by continuing to act for decades.”

‘Give and take essential’
PC Shekar, director of ‘The Terrorist’, says, "There are two parts to a film: the writing and the direction. Writing is done with the imagination and real. Many things look beautiful when they are written but don’t necessarily have the same look and feel later. There are also details that must be chopped off. My film ‘Romeo’ had Ganesh as hero. In the second half, we had some emotional sequences in which he had performed really well. During the final edit, I snipped them off as I felt they were unnecessary. Ganesh asked me about the missing scenes. He is a mature actor. When I explained the reasons, he understood. Such give and take is necessary between artiste and director.”

The film’s storyline
A man (Yashwanth Shetty) is on the run and finds shelter in a housing colony in the fort city of Chitradurga. Many here are fighting their own battles. He accidentally lands in the house
of Padma (Hariprriya), stuck in an abusive relationship. A flower seller (Chaithra Kotoor) in the colony aspires to make it big in TV serials. Constables looking for a poet’s lost Padmashree award enter the colony, and questions about crime and identity unravel.