Movie: Signalman – 1971
Director: Shivarudraiah K.
Script: Prakash Belawadi
Cinematographer: Shekhar Chandru
Editor: Suresh Urs
Prakash Belawadi, Venkatesh Prasad, Rajesh Nataranga in lead roles.
Synopsis
It is December 1971.
The Indo-Pak war raging along the eastern and western borders of India. There is the threatening presence of the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet deployed to the Bay of Bengal by the Nixon administration.
Young photographer Rajashekhar is looking for photo opportunities at a remote location in the scenic Western Ghats, where he meets Balu, the Signal Man.
Over the next five days unravels the story of the signal man, whose internal struggles to come to terms with his lonely life and troubled past get compounded with mounting external pressures of the war — fear of air raids, troop movements and unscheduled army supply trains at the remote station.
Adapted from the 1866 story ‘The Signal-Man’ by Charles Dickens, the film builds into a tense and exciting narrative that is interwoven with the backstory of the Haifa War of 1918, in pre sent day Israel, involving the erstwhile Mysore Lancers.
‘Signal Man, 1971’ is a human story of inspiration, sacrifice and reconciliation.
Key People
Here is a list of some key people who made this movie possible
Hindusthan Muktha Media Entertainers
Ganesh Prabhu
Producer
‘Signal Man – 1971’ is the debut production of ‘Hindusthan Muktha Media Entertainers’, formed with the aim of producing meaningful movies in Kannada.
Hindusthan Muktha Media Entertainers is a dream come true for Ganesh Prabhu, a businessman by profession. Through this organization he intends to produce more qualitative and tasteful movies in the coming days.
Ganesh Prabhu, who owns one of India’s largest cashew processing firm Hindusthan Muktha Cashew Processing, has also established a charitable organization called Hindusthan Muktha Foundation to promote education and art.
K Shivarudraiah
Director
Film Director & Wildlife Photographer K Shivarudraiah, has made a mark in the Kannada celluloid with more than 10 movies to his credit which have been critically acclaimed.
His debutant film ‘Chaitrada Chiguru’ won the Best Director from Government of Karnataka. His movie, ‘Daatu’ went on to win Zimbabwe International Film Festival for Best Depiction of Women Award in 1999.
Shivarudraiah won the Best Director accolade again in the year, 2011 for Maagiya Kaala, from the Government of Karnataka. In the year 2015 ‘Maarikondavaru’ won second best Kannada film and ‘Mudalasemeyali’ on best social issue subject award from the Government of Karnataka. His film ‘Ramana Savari’ won second best film in 2018 from Government of Karnataka.
He is also a well-known photographer, apart from being an awarded theatre director and actor. Government of Karnataka has bestowed him with Nataka Academy Award, for his contribution in theatre. The Government of Karnataka honoured him with ‘Dr BR Ambedkar lifetime Achievement Award’ in the 2003 and in he is also honoured with the Rajyothsava State Award from Government of Karnataka in 2011.
Prakash Belawadi
Script writer
Prakash Belawadi is an Indian actor, director and writer involved in both theatre and cinema. He has directed more than 100 plays in both English and Kannada and has acted in more than 90 films of various languages.
His debut film Stumble, which he wrote and directed, won the National Award for Best Film in the English language, 2003.He was conferred ‘Pratibha Bhushan’ in 2003 by the Government of Karnataka for his contribution to culture.
He was recipient of Karnataka Nataka Academy Award (2011–12) for his contribution to English and Kannada-language theatre. He was given Helpmann Award, Australia (2019) for Best Actor, Male in the play ‘Counting and Cracking’, Belvoir St. Theatre, Sydney”.
Ouseppachan
Music Director
Mechery Louis Ouseppachan, known mononymously as Ouseppachan, is an Indian film composer and singer who primarily works in Malayalam films.
He is a recipient of National Film Award, Filmfare Award and Kerala State Film Awards for his numerous film soundtrack albums and background scores.
Ousephachan has composed music for over 120 films. He also composed songs for the non-commercial Hindi film and background scores for various other Hindi films.
His non-film songs include popular albums like Onapoothalam, Vasanthageetangal.
He got his first state award in 1987 for the movie Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam. His first national award was for ace director Shyamaprasad’s Ore Kadal in 2007. All the songs in this film are composed in Shubhapantuvarali raga but all have their identity. He received a state award for this film for Best Music Director.
Suresh Urs
Editor
Suresh Urs is an Indian film editor who works predominantly in the South Indian cinema. He has edited over 700 films and 40 documentaries and television shows.
Suresh Urs is well known for his association with directors like Girish Karnad, Mani Ratnam, Shankar Nag, T. S. Nagabharana, Girish Kasaravalli, P. Vasu, Bala, Saran and Baraguru Ramachandrappa.
He was awarded the National Film Award for Best Editing for his work in Bombay (1995), he is also a recipient of five Karnataka State Film Awards and two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. He was also honored to win the Karnataa State Rajyotsava Prashasti. Lifetime Achievement Vishnuvardhan Award from Karnataka Government in 2014.
Shekhar Chandru
Cinematographer
Shekhar Chandru, known for his work as Cinematographer in the Kannada film industry, he is also the writer of the movie Aramane.
Shekar Chandru started his career in 2007 with the movie Krishna, and since then he has proven to be one of the best that the Kannada film industry has seen. He has been the DOP for more than 40 films and is specially known for his skilful work in shooting nature and songs.
Some of the prominent films he has worked on are Harikathe Alla Girikathe, Kotigobba 3, Amma I Love You, Dhairyam, Bachchan, Circus, Aramane, Sangama, Brahma, Crazy Boy, Thayige Thakka Maga. First Rank Raju
Venkatesh Prasad
Actor, Executive Producer
Venkatesh Prasad is a theatre actor and director, from Bangalore and has been actively involved in theatre for last 20 years and has acted and Directed many plays in Kannada.
He has not limited himself to acting and direction, and has worked in different capacities in Theatre as translator, production manager, Stage manager etc. and is also the founder member and Artistic director of the team, Bangalore Theatre Collective.
He has acted in feature films, ‘Daatu’, ‘Bhagavati Kaadu’ based on Kum. Vee’s story, ‘Maagiya Kaala’ based on a story by Eshwara Chandra, directed by Shivarudriah and ‘Wind Seed’ directed by Babu Eshwar Prasad. He has played leading roles in tele-serials like Muktha- Muktha, Chitra leka, Maha Parva etc.
Rajesh Nataranga
Actor
Rajesh Nataranga has made a name for himself in the silver screen as well as the big screen for his diverse skills in playing varied roles.
Rajesh, who had gone to Delhi for some time after graduation, later came back and worked as the production manager of the serial ‘Smashana Kurukshetra’. Later, he worked as a producer for the television channel Udaya TV and started acting in serials.
Rajesh is known for the diverse roles in tele-serials like `Mayamriga’, `Mukta’, `Baduku’, `Shakti’, `Gupta Gamini’. From doing character roles in television shows to becoming a name to reckon with in films, Rajesh Nataranga has come a long way.
He is also a script writer and is known for his works in more than 100 Kannada cinemas like Just Maath Maathalli, Kaddipudi, Kraanthiveera Sangolli Raayanna and Kendasampige.
Cast and Credits
On Screen
Ganesh Prabhu, Shivarudraiah K, Prakash Belawadi, Venkatesh Prasad, Dimpy Fadia, Malathesh H. V., Gowri Prabhu, Chikka Rangaswamy.
Producer: B V Ganesh Prabhu
Story: Prakash Belawadi
Direction: Shivarudraiah K.
Executive Producer: Venkatesh Prasad
Direction Team: Srinivas, Arun D T, Shilpa Shetty
Production Design: Malathesh H V
Cinematography: Shekhar Chandra | Editor: Suresh Urs
Sound Design: Shreyank Nanjappa | Sync Sound: Suresh Bagali
Art: Santhosh Panchal | Still Photography: Suresh Babu
Make up: Ramakrishna, Ujwala Rao | Costumes: Sushma
Lyrics: Baragur Ramachandrappa | Music Direction: Ousepachan
Singers: Vijay Prakash, M.D. Pallavi | Puppeteers: Gundu Rao & Team
DI (Colour Grading): Tom Jose | Graphics : Srinivas Kallal
Poster Design: Shrikanth Patil | Title card Design: Sanjeev Das
Speacial thanks to Southern Railways, Chennai | Miraya Greens, Bangalore | Principal, Sheshadripuram First Grade College, Bangalore
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Press / Media
Zee Kannada News Feature –Click Here
Asianet News Kannada Featured – Click here
Cineloka Kannada Featured – Click here
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Reach us through
- Venkatesh Prasad Executive producer, Hindusthan Muktha Media Entertainers, National park road, Bannerughatta, Bangalore - 560 083
- PH : 09900182400
- Email - Venkyprasad@gmail.com