Yogaraj Bhat on the one condition his Mungaru Male producer had to collaborate again after 18 years

When Kannada filmmaker Yogaraj Bhat announced that his next directorial would have him reunite with E Krishnappa, the producer of his hit film Mungaru Male, after 18 years, the buzz on social media was that he’d also cast Ganesh in the lead to well and truly make it a magical union. The Golden Star is back in form with Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi and a collaboration with the filmmakers who gave him his first major break would have been interesting, felt some netizens.

Yogaraj Bhat wants to make Gaalipata 3 with the characters he’s missed out in part 2 

But as Bhatru, as the filmmaker is referred to, revealed the title of the film, Manada Kadalu, it turned out that he’d put together a cast of relative newbies. His leading man is Sumukha, who has done a film called Physics Teacher, Anjali Anissh, was in Padavi Poorva, directed by Bhatru’s associate, and Rashika Shetty. The decision to have newcomers in their latest film came from Krishnappa, reveals the director.

Why Yogaraj Bhat cast newbies in Manada Kadalu...

Over the last 18 years, while they’d often discussed a new collaboration, both had been busy with their own commitments – Bhat with films and Krishnappa with politics. But when they eventually got together to make a film, all that Krishnappa said that he would prefer to do it with new faces. This, of course, brought up a new set of challenges, as the filmmaker had to find actors who could hold the attention of audiences for two and a half hours. He believes he has got actors on board who are up for the task.

"Only Yogaraj Bhat sir could make a word like 'Bevarsi' sound endearing and fun," says Vasuki Vaibhav about his recent collaboration 

Yogaraj, meanwhile, has been in a bit of a slump for a while, with his recent films Karata Damanaka, Garadi, Gaalipata 2, Panchatantra, Mugulu Nage, etc., not creating the kind of magic at the box office that he had early on in his career. Netizens are hopeful of getting ‘vintage’ Bhatru with the film.