Sagar Puranik's debut Kannada feature on Dollu Kunitha, called Dollu, heads to the Dhaka Film Fest

Actor and filmmaker Sagar Puranik, whose short film Mahaan Hutatma had won a special mention at the National Awards two years ago, is making his debut as director of a feature film with Dollu, which has newcomers Karthik and Nidhi Hegde in lead roles. Produced by director Pavan Wadeyar, the film centres on the slowly-vanishing folk-dance form Dollu Kunitha.

Shot in locations across Shivamogga and Chitradurga, Dollu, according to Sagar is inspired by the tales of rapid migration from Karnataka’s rural areas to big cities like Bengaluru or Mumbai, as people seek improved standards of living, as a result of which they forget their roots, which lies in folk art forms like Dollu Kunitha. “Due to rapid urbanisation, our folk arts and village culture are vanishing, which is what we have tried to portray without adding commercial elements, but with adequate entertainment quotient,” he has been quoted as saying.

Sagar, who has not been seen onscreen since Ring Road, has not bid adieu to acting, but directing is his focus now and he’s getting pay-off for his debut, which is now heading to the festival circuit. Sagar had recently posted, “Glad to announce that our film, 'Dollu', which is also my debut feature film direction, has one of its first official selections in the very prestigious Dhaka International Film Festival in its Cinema of the World section. This year is its 20th edition and we're more than excited to be a part of the festival! We have also received positive responses from a few more festivals from a completely different continent, and hopefully we will be able to share more such news on Dollu! Thank you all for your support! I want to thank my ever-supportive producers Pavan sir and Apeksha ji for this opportunity and the entire team for their effort. This is just the beginning.”