Brat director Shashank: The film’s target audience is the youth, but it has a universal appeal

Brat, starring Darling Krishna in the lead, is Shashank’s second consecutive collaboration with the actor. It will be in theatres on October 31.

Shashank's next is Brat with Darling Krishna yet again

Kannada filmmaker Shashank Talya’s next, Brat, is a film for impressionable youngsters. He’s clear that his target audience is the youth, but reckons that unlike his earlier Kousalya Supraja Rama (KSR), which was strictly for family audiences, Brat has a more universal appeal. Speaking to Kairam Vaashi prior to the film’s October 31 release, Shashank explained. “Brat tells the story of a youngster from a lower middle-class family, who aspires for luxuries in life. This, of course, means that he needs money. How he goes about that and the fallout thereof is what the film is about. Once you tell a story for the youth, by default it becomes universal.”

The filmmaker adds that even an older person would, at some point, have gone through a similar phase. With KSR, he reckons, youngsters would not have been able to connect to the subject, whereas with Brat, everyone can. “They’ve either been there done that, or know people in that target age group,” he says. In the film, Krishna is Kristy, a constable’s son, who uses cricket betting to make a quick buck.

Shashank on the importance of nailing the landing

The year, though, has not been very kind to Kannada cinema, barring the horror comedy Su From So and the ‘divine blockbuster Kantara Chapter 1. This, Shashank reasons is because these films fall in genres that work all the time. “Divinity and religion, ghost stories and horror and romance – these are evergreen genres. For instance, with Kantara, everyone knows that they are in it for the last 20 minutes. It also depends on how well your film lands. Often you hear of movies that begin well, but then falter along the way. Instead, if you get your ending in place at the beginning and know it has a wow factor, you can work your way backwards,” he explains.

Also read: Kousalya Supraja Rama review: Shashank’s film has its heart in the right place

Brat also stars Manisha Kandakur, Achyuth Kumar, Ramesh Indira and Dragon Manju, among others. The film has music by Arjun Janya and cinematography by Abhilash Kalathi. Brat is Krishna’s first release since 2023’s Sugar Factory.

FAQs

Q. Who is in the Kannada film Brat?

A. Brat, directed by Shashank, has Darling Krishna in the lead, along with Manisha Kandkur, Ramesh Indira and Dragon Manju.

Q. Where can one see Brat?

A. Brat will release in theatres on October 31, 2025.

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