PremiumExclusive! Garadi will release in 180 screens across Karnataka on November 10, with the focus on single screens, says Shrushti Patil
Shrushti, the daughter of producer-actor BC Patil, who served as executive producer on the Yogaraj Bhat directorial, says that the filmmaker’s initial collaboration plan was not for a film
Last Updated: 02.10 PM, Nov 02, 2023
Yogaraj Bhat’s Garadi is the first film that Shrushti Patil has served as executive producer from start to finish. The daughter of actor-producer-politician BC Patil, Srushti held the reins of this home production, which also marks the acting debut of her husband, Sujay Belur, in a pivotal role. Set to release in theatres on November 10, Garadi’s tale revolves around traditional wrestling. “It’s not just a sports drama, though. Wrestling forms a major part of the story, but there are elements one expects to see in a mass commercial film, like, for instance, love, action and emotions. The crux of the tale is the relationship between a coach and his disciple,” explains Shrushti, taking time out to speak to OTTplay amid finalising release plans.
Interestingly, Yogaraj’s collaboration intention with the Patil’s Kourava Productions was to launch an OTT platform for Kannada content, what with major streamers distancing themselves from the industry or picking only the odd title and that too, only after a theatrical release and a decent reception. “We were actively considering venturing into the OTT market during the pandemic, but then theatrical business picked up again and we put those plans on hold and decided to instead do a film together. Yogaraj’s initial pitch was a story between a master and his student, which became about a garadi coach and his disciples at a later stage,” explains Shrushti.
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Releasing the film as a Deepavali festive offering was not a conscious choice, she tells us. “Garadi began almost two years ago and we’ve been ready to release for at least half that time. In fact, we’d tried to bring it to theatres earlier this year, but that didn’t work out, and now, we got lucky with a festive release. We realize that Garadi is coming to theatres along with Salman Khan’s Tiger 3, but we are confident that the film will strike a chord with audiences here, as it highlights local traditions of Karnataka. The film will release in around 180 screens across Karnataka, with a limited outing in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, etc., where there are pockets of Kannada population. We are focusing on a more single-screen driven release, which is a good strategy for us,” says Shrushti.
Have the film’s satellite and digital rights been sold yet? “No, but negotiations are on. As you know, streaming platforms will talk business only after a theatrical release. So, we should know the status in a few days. Maybe we should just launch our own platform,” she signs off with a laugh.