Emerging Filmmaker Sindhu S Murthy Discusses Her Approach to Kannada Cinema
Sindhu S Murthy, a rising filmmaker in the Kannada film industry, has shared her unique perspective on cinema, emphasizing inclusivity and exploring diverse relationships in her works.
Having grown up watching films starring Anant Nag and naming “Good Will Hunting” as one of her all-time favorite movies, Sindhu’s cinematic vision was shaped early in life. “For me, it’s all about inclusivity and exploring different relationships. Movies have to delve into more than just hero-heroine and romantic relationships. Filmmakers must make space to include newer protagonists; it can be siblings, mothers, neighbours… there are so many characters waiting to be unravelled,” she said.
This philosophy led Sindhu to direct the film “Aachar & Co,” which highlights a multitude of characters. Her upcoming project as an actor, “Family Drama,” also revolves around a family, further demonstrating her commitment to portraying diverse relationships on screen.
Sindhu’s next film is directed by newcomer Akarsh HP. Speaking about her choice to work on this project, she said, “I’ve had many offers come to me after ‘Aachar & Co,’ but I said ‘sorry, it’s not a match.’ The reason why I instantly liked this script was because it deals with family: a mother and her kids and each has their own backstory. An artiste like Rekha Kudligi plays our mother and she isn’t the stereotypical mother. Instead, she leads the pack and is a character with a great sense of humour.”
She further added, “This film took me back to those times and I completely identified with the role I am playing.”
Sindhu believes in the importance of well-written roles for actors and the scope to develop beyond the regular. “I wouldn’t mind playing a romantic lead. I have recently done a Telugu film in which I play the female protagonist and it’s a romantic film. But at the same time, it’s a survival drama, so one gets to do a lot more than being a typical heroine,” she shared.
Regarding the portrayal of female characters in films, Sindhu commented, “The best examples for this would be Toby and Swathi Muttina Male Haniye. Raj Shetty captured a woman’s emotions so beautifully. Anyone who writes from a personal space and sees it from the character’s point of view, can definitely understand the mind of that person. You just have to put yourself in their shoes; you don’t have to be of that gender to etch that character.”
