March 22 is designated as World Water Day by the United Nations.
Keeping that in mind, Kannada film March 22 is a story that dwells on the availability of water in the arid village of Raidurga (north Karnataka). The film has been produced by UAE businessman Harish Sherigar and his wife Sharmila Sherigar under the banner Acme Movies International.
This is director Kodlu Ramakrishna’s 27th film and features an ensemble cast including Anant Nag, Ashish Vidyarthi, Sharath Lohitashwa, Ravi Kale, Jai Jagadish, Geetha, Vinaya Prasad and Padmaja Rao. Newcomers Aryavardhan and Kiran Raj make their debut in the lead roles of Salman and Rahul.
It was the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 that sowed the seed of this story in Ramakrishna’s mind. March 22 is set in Raidurga, considered an idyllic one where people of different religions — particularly Hindus and Muslims — lived in harmony.
“Temples and mosques coexisted side by side,” Ramakrishna said.
However, since it is in an arid zone, water scarcity has been an age old problem in the village. When a visiting geologist detects a water source under a mosque, it becomes a bone of contention between the two communities and soon drives a wedge into their harmonious relationship.
There were many challenges making this period film set in the ‘90s, recalled Ramakrishna.
“Finding a dry location to depict water scarcity was foremost. Then the research on costumes, vehicles and roads that existed in that era,” he added.
One road block arose while filming inside a mosque, so a set replicating a mosque was made.
Testing the waters
Harish Sherigar, a UAE resident for the past 25 years, tested new waters as producer of March 22, which released in India last month and is hitting UAE theatres on October 6. Sherigar first met Ramakrishnan eight years ago in Mangalore, when one of the director’s projects was being filmed in his home.
They went from acquaintances to friends and often discussed films. Ramakrishnan also approached him with stories.
“But they did not appeal to me,” said Sherigar.
“The story of March 22 was different. With its unique storyline on the awareness and value of water, this was something that educated the audience besides being a good family entertainer,” he added.
Sherigar has a cameo in the film and has such a song, too.
