Raj B Shetty: The Kannada film industry’s weakness is that writers are not nurtured

Every time Raj B Shetty is asked about the Kannada film industry and what ails it, his response, every single time is that it’s all down to an acute lack of quality writers. And that he says is because the industry does not have a history of nurturing writers and giving them the recognition and remuneration they deserve. Raj often cites his own example, where he was asked to write something, after he’d made a name with his film Ondu Motteya Kathe, and was paid a measly Rs 25,000 for his effort.

The actor-filmmaker, who has written his upcoming film Toby, reiterated this point yet again, recently. The downfall of the Kannada industry in the last few decades, which people like him are slowly trying to rectify, is entirely due to the fact that there are very few good writers, he reasons. Sandalwood, he says, had a golden era, but it fell from grace only because of the weakness in writing and nothing else.

Raj reckons that when the writing gets better, associated fields will also benefit. He explains that when a writer comes up with an extraordinary script, if Raj, as an artiste, is not sure how to perform it, it becomes an opportunity for him to learn and improve his skillset. Similarly, if the director is unsure of how to bring this vision to the screen, it becomes an opportunity for him to figure out the best way out and allows him to adapt and become a better filmmaker. In effect, when everyone becomes the best version of themselves, the industry will grow, as a result of which, good stories will emerge and great cinema will be made, he says.

The issue, for the longest time, says Raj, is that the industry did not nurture and encourage the growth of writers, which, is slowly beginning to change.