Kataka

In 2017, Ravi Basrur made his directorial debut with "Kataka," a Kannada horror film inspired by true incidents in the coastal region of Karnataka. The film, translated as "Crab" or "Cancer," delves into the cultural aspects of coastal India. Notably, it became the first Kannada film to be dubbed into English and has been translated into 15 languages.

The narrative revolves around Kumar, portrayed by Ashok Raj, who, tired of city life, returns to his native village with his wife Vandhana (Spandana Prasad) and their daughter Kavya (Shlagha Saligrama). Despite leaving at the age of four due to his mother's demise, Kumar harbors a deep love for his village and its culture. Eager to contribute, he, along with his uncle and childhood friend, plans to establish a school for the village children.

However, the plot takes a supernatural turn when an ancient curse befalls Kumar's family after his daughter inadvertently touches an enchanted object. As Kumar strives to overcome the ensuing challenges and obstacles, the film meticulously unfolds his struggles against multiplying adversaries. The cast includes notable actors such as Bala Rajwadi, Madhav Karkada, Ugramm Manju, Om Guru, and Vijay Basrur, each contributing to the portrayal of characters intricately connected to Kumar's predicament.

"Kataka," with a runtime of 107 minutes, features cinematography by Sachin Basrur and is produced by N. S. Rajkumar under the banner of Omkar Movies. Distributed by KRG Studios, the film was released on October 13, 2017, and remains a significant cinematic exploration of supernatural elements within the cultural context of coastal India.