Kasaravalli almost done with his new film

Bangalore, Nov 24 (IANS): Pioneering director Girish Kasaravalli, who has won the National Award four times, is busy completing his new film "Achala" based on a novel by well known Kannada writer Bhanu Musthak.

The man behind films like "Ghatashradhdha", "Tabarana Kathe", "Mane" and "Dweepa" is now focussing on the exploitation of Muslim women in the coastal areas of Karnataka. Though the theme is explosive and the publication of the story did attract some protests, Kasaravalli has tried to keep "Achala" non-controversial by concentrating on the emotional aspects of the story.

Tara, who has won the best-actress award from the Karnataka government twice, plays the lead role and is also producing the film. Bhaskar wields the camera.

Kasaravalli has not divulged many details about the film, but it has attracted media attention for different reasons.

The film's shooting started in October in Mangalore and surrounding areas. The recent shooting in Madikeri was obstructed by Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists, who objected to the unit members using Islamic images in the Madikeri Fort. However, the government had already given the unit permission to shoot in the fort.

Though Kasaravalli has touched on issues like consumerism, bureaucratic indifference, degradation of environment and corruption, he has never dealt with communalism or fundamentalism in his films.

He is renowned for period films where the minute details have been worked out. According to sources, he has worked hard to realistically portray Muslim family life in a semi-urban area in "Achala".

The film features a blind girl from the Ramana Maharshi Blind School in Bangalore in an important role. Two other child artistes have major roles in the film, which has many actors drafted from theatre in Mangalore and Sagar.