Gandhada Gudi: Appu’s last film is one that we should take pride in, says Amitabh Bachchan

It is very difficult to talk about Appu in the past tense, says the veteran actor, who shares a close relationship with the Rajkumar family.

Amitabh Bachchan has special words for late Puneeth's dream project

Gandhada Gudi – Journey of a True Hero, was the late Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar’s dream project. A film, the title of which bears a strong connection to his father Dr Rajkumar(who encouraged conservation of forests more than 50 years ago) and to his brother, Shivarajkumar, this Gandhada Gudi, was Puneeth’s tribute to the motherland. The docu-feature, which had Puneeth travelling across the length and breadth of the state with wildlife filmmaker Amoghavarsha, had the Power Star in a never-before-seen onscreen avatar – as himself, as he explored the rich biodiversity that Karnataka is home to.

The film got its theatrical outing on October 28, on the occasion of Puneeth’s first death anniversary and audiences have been showering it with love. It’s being called an emotional rollercoaster ride and an experience of a lifetime. Joining this chorus is veteran Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan, who’s had a long relationship with the Rajkumar family. In a special message to fans about Puneeth’s last film, he said, “I met Appu first when he was a little kid. And the one thing that was so attractive about him was that he was always smiling. Every time…. anywhere you met him, he had the most endearing smile on his face and that is what, I believe, kept him close to all of us and to his legendary fan following. Appu’s last film, GG or Gandhada Gudi, is his parting legacy. Actually, he does not play a character, but he appears as himself, exploring the rich and diverse forests and wildlife of Karnataka. So, come, take part in this epic, magical journey with Appu. In the film, Puneeth reminds people about the need to enrich our association with nature and live in harmony with it. It is a movie for our children and people to take pride in and to celebrate our rich natural heritage,” said Amitabh, wishing the team all the success and that he’s looking forward to watch Appu and keep him alive in all our memories.

Gandhada Gudi is currently in theatres at a special reduced ticket fare this week. The film’s digital rights are with Amazon Prime Video. Recently, Rocking Star Yash was snapped in a dubbing studio with Amoghavarsha, in what netizens believe is the superstar’s voice over for the Hindi and English versions of Gandhada Gudi. The makers have not confirmed or denied this yet. As of now, the docu-feature is available in Kannada with English subtitles.

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