#9YearsofRajaHuli: The Yash and Meghana Raj-starrer has a special place in director Guru Deshpande’s heart

Kannada Rajyotsava is special for anyone from Karnataka. But the day is even more special for filmmaker Guru Deshpade, who today marks nine years since the release of his first directorial, the 2013 hit Raja Huli. Guru reminisces about the Yash and Meghana Raj-starrer, backed by K Manju, which he calls a film that changed his career. 

Speaking to OTTplay, Guru said, “It was the best opportunity for me back then. I was a film distributor and was looking for the right script and starcast to direct. All that came together with Raja Huli.”

Talking to us about approaching Yash, who made it big nationally with KGF, Guru said, “I remember that Yash's Drama was about to release. He was shooting for Googly at a house in Bengaluru’s RR Nagar, and that’s where I met him. He was impressed with the story. Soon after, Meghana Raj came onboard as the leading lady.”

Guru adds that he was under immense pressure to cast known faces, but he wanted the film to be fresh and retain a natural feel, which is why he opted for Chikkanna, Manju Mandavya and Vasishta N Simha, who were all newcomers at the time. 

Guru remembers that Yash was extremely supportive during the shooting of Raja Huli. He recalls that during the climax shoot, which was spread over 7-8 days, Yash injured his hand on the first day itself. The pain was so immense that the Rocking Star had a fever. But despite that, he canned high-octane action sequences, in the sweltering heat and dust of Kollegal, without disturbing the schedule. 

Looking back, Guru feels that apart from the story, what also worked for the film was Hamsalekha’s music and Yash’s rustic look, which he calls, the “kadak-meesai, halli huduga look”. 

“November 1 will always be a special day for me. Raja Huli released on the day and was a blockbuster. Deepavali holidays soon followed and the movie was running to packed houses. I still remember that the film released in Mandya’s Siddhartha Theatre and one man watched 28 housefull shows over seven days, remembering almost all the dialogues by the time he was done. What makes me happy is that the film has touched people’s hearts. Even now I get calls when it is played on TV,” says a beaming Guru, signing off.