Real life stories have always been an integral part of movie-making, inspiring and motivating several filmmakers. Be it historical, crime, biopic or even biographies of ordinary people with an extraordinary tale to tell, bringing real incidents to reel life has been an exciting journey on celluloid. Unlike in the past, movies based on true stories have become more of a commercial venture, diluting the real essence. Recently, Sandalwood too witnessed a surge in films “strongly” based on real incidents. Bengaluru Chronicle reports on the “real to reel” trend.
“Cinema in simple words is the reflection of what happens in real life. Almost all filmmakers are inspired by life, and many web stories based on life experiences. Some make use of imagination to suit a cinematic version. Some use fantasy to tell the tale from a different perspective. As a child, most of us have imagined and believed in many tales, and these remain true till we finally realise that the tale might not have been in true in a grown up’s world in all actuality. As a child, I believed that actors really die in movies, and doctors with special powers would bring them back to life! Films based on true stories are about holding a cinematic mirror to a special story of a person or an incident/incidents. Some choose to keep it close to reality and some dramatise for more effect,” says Prashanth, a film director.
There have been several films in the past like Cyanide, which was based on the operation to hunt down the killers of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. The director AMR Ramesh went on to make Attahasa based on the slain forest brigand Veerappan. Now, he is working on yet another film based on real life, Aspota which revolves around the tale that led to the assasination of Rajiv Gandhi. There were recent films like Mynaa, Killing Veerappan, Aa Dingalu, Dandupalya, Bettanagere, Deadly Soma and others as well.
Dandupalya directed by Srinivas Raju featuring Pooja Gandhi in the lead along with a battery of talented actors. It was based on the notorious members of the Dandupalya gang, who terrorised Bengaluru and other parts of the state with heinous crimes. The sequel to Dandupalya too is ready to hit the screens. It will be followed by Dandupalya 3.
The director is also ready to make another film based on the real-life incident involving the case of Sri Kanchi Swamiji. “I had thought about making the film Acharya Arrest long ago. There were some impediments and sensing strong opposition from various quarters, who were allegedly involved in the arrest of Sri Kanchi Jayendra Swami Saraswathi, I had to delay it. With all these people no more, and having finished the shoot for the Dandupalya series, I have kick-started Acharya Arrest, which will be made in all South Indian languages, in Hindi and English too. I was eager to do my kind of film, and Acharya Arrest will be my kind of film. It will focus on the real issue, which needs to be told. Kanchi Mutt, is one of the oldest and most prominent Mutts in the country. It has been serving mankind in its own capacity. I am trying to rope in either Kamal Haasan or Anupam Kher for the Swamiji role. It will be made on a grand scale. For music, we hope to convince either AR Rahman or Ilayaraja,” says Srinivas Raju.
After his Sandalwood debut film, Ram Gopal Varma had announced that he would bring to life the reality of Muthappa Rai on the silver screen. However, the film Rai which is based on the life of Muthappa Rai is presently on hold. Varma, in the meanwhile, has announced another real tale in Telugu about the life of legendary actor NTR. The latest to hit the Kannada screens was Kolara based on the true incidents which occurred during the 90s in the city of gold — Kolar.
