“Growing up, the petromax lamp represented hope and optimism for me and my film is all about that,” says director Vijaya Prasad

Director Vijaya Prasad might be only two films old but his style and sensibility have already achieved a ‘trademark’ status. Be it the witty, innuendo-filled dialogue or the strong emotional storyline that’s often told through a haphazard structure, Prasad’s filmmaking technique is as quirky as it gets. His previous release, Neer Dose, came almost six years ago but fans and Kannada cinema patrons are in for a treat this year as he brings back-to-back films to the theatres.

First up is Petromax, starring Sathish Ninasam, Harripriya, Nagabhushana, and others, which is scheduled to release on July 15 across the state. Petromax, as evidenced by the trailer, is an interesting tale of four orphans who, having grown up together, strike a chord with an older woman (Vijayalakshmi Singh) and forge an endearing relationship. The orphans, played by Sathish Ninasam, Nagabhushana, Karunya Ram, and Arun Kumar, have their own individual trysts and travails with life, and the film offers a vibrant set of characters that come along the way.

“I have always found the petromax lamp, one that used to be found in every middle-class Indian household, very interesting. The lamp always emitted a peculiar light that I can’t describe or even just the way one turns it on – I have found all these aspects really fascinating. In a way, that light represented hope and optimism to me and many others, and Petromax, the film, is a manifestation of that film. This is the story of four orphans who have stood by one another for the sake of hope and love and how life takes a new course once they encounter more people,” says Vijaya Prasad.

While the film’s subject matter seems rather dramatic and heavy on paper, Vijaya Prasad lends his quintessential dose of humor and absurdity to make things entertaining. For those who have caught glimpses of the making would attest to the fact that the entire team had a ball making the film, which was shot in just 36 days in Mysuru.

“The film has all that one expects from my film – the double meaning jokes, the irreverence, etc. Along with the strong emotional core. I like to dabble with subjects that concern humanity and relationships but without trying to be preachy about it. We all try to have a great time making the film and come out thick as friends at the end of it all,” he adds.