Tenant explores the dark side of the lockdown, says director Sridhar Shastri

Tenant is a story that takes place between 5 characters, played by Dharma Keerthiraj, Rakesh Maiyya, Sonu Gowda, Tilak Shekhar and Ugramm Manju

Dharma Keerthiraj in a still from Tenant

Debutant director Sridhar Shastri’s thriller Tenant releases in theatres on November 22. The film revolves around 5 main characters in one location and is set during the pandemic lockdown. Isn’t it a tad too late to be telling a story set during lockdown now? The pandemic is, after all, a time that left very many with bitter life experiences and everyone’s moved on since then. “The lockdown was not a pleasant time, no doubt, and yet there were attempts to trouble them further with issues like blocking hospital beds, vaccinations, exorbitant rates for ambulances, etc. Tenant is an exploration of the dark side of the lockdown,” says the filmmaker, adding that his story takes place in a house, with no other outdoor location.

Sridhar also reckons that the timing of the release is not late as far as pandemic-related stories go. “A pandemic and lockdown were things none of us had never before heard of or experienced and the main thought on everyone’s mind was survival. Making films about it was the last thing anyone could think of. But there are a lot of real instances that occurred back then, which can be told in story format to let people know about them. I have chosen one such story,” he adds.

What is Tenant about?

The film stars Dharma Keerthiraj, Rakesh Maiyya, Sonu Gowda, Tilak Shekhar and Ugramm Manju, two of who are currently in the Bigg Boss Kannada Season 11 house. “Sonu and Rakesh play a couple who own a house, wherein Dharma is their tenant. Manju plays an ambulance driver, while Tilak is the police officer investigating the crime. What is the crime that happened in the house – that is one of the major plot points, but there are a lot of other subjects we’ve touched upon in the story,” says Sridhar.

Tenant has been ready since mid 2023; the delay, though, had nothing to do with the fact that Dharma and Manju would be a part of the reality show. “It was not deliberate to release the film at this juncture and their absence for the promotions is an issue, but the duo’s current popularity could benefit Tenant.

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