Ajai Rao on Yuddhakaanda: Entertainment is not the primary focus of the film; it is meant to…

Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2, one of the Kannada films hitting theatres on April 18, is, according to its leading man and producer, Krishna Ajai Rao, one that everyone should watch, especially if they have daughters in the family. As father to a young daughter, Taj Mahal -actor Ajai admits that he was drawn to the subject for this reason and believes that it is the responsibility of everyone in society to take note of its pertinency.

Yuddhakaanda, according to Krishnan Love Story fame Ajai, should not be about what he and his cast and crew have set out to tell, but should be remembered for the questions and introspections it evokes in the watching audience. The film, he says, is for women and the men who stand in support of women. It also shines light on how society at large sees a woman who has been subjected to abuse, often painting her the villain than standing by the victim.

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Ajai Rao: What are we doing to prevent the abuse of girls?

“No one talks about the mental pain and suffering a victim of abuse endures. What should also become a social discourse is what can be done to prevent abuse of girls/women. For instance, our legal system is such that tells us to wear a helmet while riding a two-wheeler. Similarly, there are dime-a-dozen other precautions/deterrents to keep us safe, including fines for failing to adhere. But what are we doing to prevent the abuse of girls? That is a change that has to come in society and in the legal system,” says Ajai, speaking on the B Ganapati podcast.

If the subject is so serious, does that mean that entertainment has been put on the backburner? “Entertainment is not the primary focus of Yuddhakaanda. When it comes to cinema, irrespective of the subject, entertaining elements have to be placed here and there, so Yuddhakaanda will also have some bits. But the heart and soul of the film is a hard-hitting question; one that will leave audiences, especially parents of girl children, unsettled,” Ajai adds.