His previous venture Last Bus along with his director brother S D Aravind, made a distinctive mark in the industry. After the horror-suspense, the grandson of Sandalwood’s legendary comedian Narasimharaju is on a roll with back-to-back projects, including his much awaited film Ooty, which is set for release. Avinash Narasimharaju speaks to Bengaluru Chronicle about his films, his journey so far, his plans ahead, and much more.
“It has been very good ever since the release of Last Bus. The film Ooty was in fact shot even before Last Bus. Unlike the horror-suspense, Ooty is a love story with certain thrilling elements. More uniquely, the story is set in three different states – Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with the crux of the story mainly staged in Ooty. That should explain the title,” says Avinash Narasimharaju.
His older brother, S D Aravind is in films too. He directed Jugari in which Avinash made his debut as an actor and they returned together with Last Bus.
Further, on Ooty, Avinash says that though the plot is set in the backdrop of 1992’s Cauvery agitation, it is a love story about a guy from Karnataka who falls in love with a girl from Kerala, in Tamil Nadu. “The Cauvery agitation is not the main highlight, but the story depicts the repercussion of it on the low level working class such as the labourers, their strong belief in caste and how language plays a vital role,” he adds.
Though coming from the family of Kannada’s legendary actor, Avinash and his brother worked very hard to prove themselves. “To be very honest, the name and fame of our grandfather Narasimharaju never helped us in getting any great opportunity to work with reputed banners nor any well-known producers came in search of us.
Moreover, we neither went in search of such opportunities using our grandfather’s name. We worked very hard and we ‘earned’ projects only through our abilities, and have built careers by proving ourselves. Though it was very different, it has definitely been a great journey so far,” says Avinash, whose latest venture Raja Tilaka was launched recently, after which offers have been flooding for him. He adds that he is here to do good projects and is picking them on merits.
Before signing off, Avinash reveals that he will return under his brother’s direction in 2018 with a whole new concept which will make the industry ‘think and change.’
