MansoRe on Doora Theera Yaana: I am targeting the 777 Charlie audience with my film

As Kannada filmmaker MansoRe prepares to bring his film Doora Theera Yaana to theatres, he knows that, right now, he is its biggest selling point. Unlike last year’s family entertainer hit Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi, he does not have a star-led film in hand. His protagonists are relative newbies. Also, MansoRe’s usual audience, who are expecting a socially-relevant story, is not the only segment he is targeting with the film. What is he going to tell other audiences to warm up to his film?

“I am not targeting the Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi audience; I want the ones who went to watch 777 Charlie. That is the audience that will resonate with a story that has an emotional journey. A fairly large chunk of the Kannada movie audience comprises this segment and this is a trend that’s been there since ages. If you look at a film like, say, Jogi, while it had action and violence, it is the mother-son sentiment that is most talked about,” explains MansoRe.

Also read: MansoRe: Doora Theera Yaana is a more ‘commercial’ film, but it will still cater to my core audience 

MansoRe: My regular audience is disappointed

The filmmaker adds that once the trailer drops on June 28 audiences will get a clear idea of what he is trying to convey with the film. “So far, my regular audiences have been disappointed with what little they have seen of Doora Theera Yaana and said that I have changed as a filmmaker. They had other expectations of me and were surprised with how the songs of Doora Theera Yaana have turned out. They felt the treatment was too commercial, which is what it is; I need to make money with this film,” he adds.

MansoRe has, however, also received feedback from audiences who have liked the freshness in storytelling and approach. “After the trailer, I will release another song, all of which will set the tone of what to expect. See, going by my previous track record, I think we can get around 6,000 people to theatres in the first three days; my target is to get that to twice that number. If that happens, my film will then travel on the strength of word-of-mouth,” he says.

The Nathicharami maker adds that as far as he knows, the Kannada movie watching audience has dwindled to about 12-13 lakh, which is what a film like Kantara got in Karnataka. “Of this, I am expecting only a minor fraction in the first three days. I am hopeful of getting my film across to these audiences,” says MansoRe.