New look Shivraj in 'Kanchanaganga'

Bangalore, Nov 22 (IANS): Kannada star Shivaraj Kumar, whose recent films have not done well, has reinvented his image in director S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu's new film, "Kanchanaganga".

According to the director, the film tells the story of an ordinary person who achieves fame despite facing natural and unnatural obstacles.

The film's title refers to the mountain Kanchanaganga, which the director asserts is a fascinating barrier for mountaineers.

"What I am trying to convey is that every person, known or unknown to society, will always try to achieve something in his life," Babu told IANS.

A commercial film with all the required ingredients of songs, fights and emotions, "Kanchanaganga" is also the final work of recently deceased, award-winning cameraman, Gowri Shankar.

Coming from an illustrious background that includes Vijaya Kumar and Manjula, the glamorous Sridevi, who has already made a name in Tamil and Telugu cinema, makes her Kannada debut in actor-producer Jai Jagadish's film.

Pravin Dabaf, who gave an excellent performance in "Monsoon Wedding', also plays an important role in "Kanchanaganga".

Jagadish said this film has been shot in multiple locations including Kulu-Manali, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Mysore, and Madikeri; more so than any of his previous films.

Music director S. A. Raj Kumar has remixed the old song, "Naa ninna mareyalaare". The original, from the classic "Naa Ninna Mareyalaare", was filmed on Shivaraj Kumar's father, Kannada movie icon Raj Kumar and Lakshmi ("Julie").

"Kanchanaganga" is scheduled for release around Nov 26.