When 400 Bengaluru auto-drivers joined hands to produce a Kannada film

Thanks to crowdfunding, 400 Bengaluru auto-drivers have grouped to become film producers. Each driver has invested between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2 lakh for a film. Together, they are spending Rs 2 crore on a Kannada film that stars Aru Gowda (of Muddu Manase fame). The film is directed by AR Shan (son of veteran director AR Babu). The film RGV is a dark comedy.

Director AR Shan narrated the script to ‘Auto’ Nagaraj (known in Sandalwood circles, as not just an auto driver, but a film publicist as well). That’s when Nagaraj decided to produce it. Nagaraj brought together all his auto-driver friends and in no time there were 400 of them who were ready to invest in the film,” AR Shan told The Times Of India.

For Nagaraj, it was a dream come true. “I have been an auto- driver for the last 15 years. I wanted to become an actor and so developed contacts with many film personalities I managed to get a few bit roles in films,” he said.

According to AR Shan, by the time they finish shooting, nearly 1,000 auto drivers would have joined the film as its producers. The director also said that the auto drivers are among the most professional producers he has seen. “The shooting has been so smooth that it could have been a veteran producing it. During shooting, sometimes the daily outgo varies and can go up without notice. But Auto Nagaraj and his friends have managed it professionally. A couple of my friends asked if it was a shoestring budget as auto drivers were producing it. But no, we have some of the best professionals in our technical team including music by Kaushik Harsha, cinematography by Guru Prashanth Rai, lyrics by V Nagendra Prasad and editing by KM Prakash. Apart from Aru, senior actors like Ramesh Bhat and Sudha Belawadi are also in the cast. If you look at the film, it is as good as any commercial Kannada film,” the director added.

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