When friends support your film, the script must stand out, says Poornachandra Mysore
When it came to naming his directorial debut, Poornachandra Mysore didn’t have to look far. “The film explores truth and its far-reaching impact on people’s lives, so Mother Promise felt just right,” he says. The title, he adds, was rooted in a familiar ritual at home. “Every Monday, my mother calls to check if I’ve eaten meat — it’s of religious significance. If I say no, she believes me only when I add, ‘nin mele aaney’ (I swear on you),” smiles Poorna.
Mother Promise is a gangster comedy that brings together his long-time friends, both in front of and behind the camera. “In film school, we’re taught to go through at least nine drafts before going on floors. But when I narrated the fifth draft to Dhananjaya (actor-producer), he felt it was strong enough to begin shooting. We’ve always had each other’s backs, but I would never take it for granted that just because he’s a producer, he has to back my film. Investing three or four crores is no small thing — I have to ensure the story is worth his hard-earned money," he says.
Additionally, Poorna says, "My best friend Abhi is the associate director. He told me, ‘maga, I’ll handle everything — you just say action and cut.’ That’s the kind of support I’ve had. It’s with that same dedication that we’ve completed the shoot. Dhananjaya plays a major role in the film, alongside yet another actor and friend Nagabhushana. “We also have senior actors like Geethamma and Vinaya Prasad,” he adds.
'We need to make films that audiences will want to come and watch onscreen'
"Many dream of going pan-India or making big-budget films that travel across languages. Those are valid ambitions, but they aren’t necessarily mine. Namma cinema ondu appata Kannada kathe—ours is a rooted Kannada story, made for our people,” he says.
He is equally direct about the film industry’s concerns surrounding the lack of people watching Kannada films in the theatre. “If someone says audiences aren’t coming to theatres, I’ll ask — have you even tried making a film that brings them in? If not, you don’t really have the right to complain,"
On marketing, he remains pragmatic. “I’ve seen how something as simple as a film title written on a slate can go viral — like during Badava Rascal promotions. But that doesn’t mean it will happen every time. Nobody really knows why something clicks. All we can do is put our work out there and hope it connects," he says.
Mother Promise is a gangster comedy that brings together his long-time friends, both in front of and behind the camera. “In film school, we’re taught to go through at least nine drafts before going on floors. But when I narrated the fifth draft to Dhananjaya (actor-producer), he felt it was strong enough to begin shooting. We’ve always had each other’s backs, but I would never take it for granted that just because he’s a producer, he has to back my film. Investing three or four crores is no small thing — I have to ensure the story is worth his hard-earned money," he says.
Additionally, Poorna says, "My best friend Abhi is the associate director. He told me, ‘maga, I’ll handle everything — you just say action and cut.’ That’s the kind of support I’ve had. It’s with that same dedication that we’ve completed the shoot. Dhananjaya plays a major role in the film, alongside yet another actor and friend Nagabhushana. “We also have senior actors like Geethamma and Vinaya Prasad,” he adds.
'We need to make films that audiences will want to come and watch onscreen'
"Many dream of going pan-India or making big-budget films that travel across languages. Those are valid ambitions, but they aren’t necessarily mine. Namma cinema ondu appata Kannada kathe—ours is a rooted Kannada story, made for our people,” he says.
He is equally direct about the film industry’s concerns surrounding the lack of people watching Kannada films in the theatre. “If someone says audiences aren’t coming to theatres, I’ll ask — have you even tried making a film that brings them in? If not, you don’t really have the right to complain,"
On marketing, he remains pragmatic. “I’ve seen how something as simple as a film title written on a slate can go viral — like during Badava Rascal promotions. But that doesn’t mean it will happen every time. Nobody really knows why something clicks. All we can do is put our work out there and hope it connects," he says.
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