Kannada Hit Amruthdhare Re-Made Into Telugu. Sammir Dattani, better known as Dhyaan in Kannada Cinema Talks To Subhash K Jha About His Indelible South Connection.

Q: Amruthadhare is your third hit in Kannada, how was the Silver Jubilee function last week?
A: Yeah Amruthdhare is my third hit film and my second film to complete 25 weeks Monalisa just missed it (it ran for 150days). The function was very well –organize.

I particularly loved the making of the film that they screened at the event for the first time because it took me back to all the lovely and some extremely challenging moments that we faced during the making of the film.

All in all a great feeling, a fun function and I got a lovely momento to take back home and preserve for life!!

Q: Amruthdhare was your second film with director Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar ?
A: It is always a great feeling when a director that you have worked with repeats you. It shows your work and your work- ethics are appreciated. Nagathihalli Sir was the one to introduce me. I shall be indebted to him for this always.

We share a great comfort level. With our second film as a team also completing 25 weeks there will be added pressure when we work together again due to the mammoth expectations of the audiences and the industry.

Q: So any plans of working together again soon?
A: Yes of course the expectations are not going to stop us but make us work harder. We are already discussing our next film in Kannada together and it will happen very soon. We will be finalizing things by the end of this year.

It feels great to have family-like relations with people you work. Then you enjoy the success even better. It reminds me of Mr. Manmohan Desai and Mr. Amitabh Bachchan's winning combination of the 80's. I wish Nagathihalli sir and myself can create such milestones in Kannada...... it would be very cool!!

Q: Speaking of Mr. Bachchan, his presence Amruthdhare created quite a stir.
A: Yes of course it was a great favour done by Mr. Bachchan. It's his only non-Hindi film so far. This is one reason Amruthdhare has been dear to me from the beginning. It's not every day that you get to share screen space with a legend like Mr. Bachchan.

Whatever little I am today is thanks to my career in Kannada and the love and appreciation of the people of Karnataka. This is where I started from and have been lucky to have tasted super -success. I love the people here and I am definitely here to stay.

Irrespective of how my Hindi career shapes up, my association with Kannada will continue forever!! Bangalore is like second home to me. If it was not for my strong roots and large family in Mumbai I would have probably shifted to Bangalore by now.

Q: Then why is there a feeling among the industry and press that you're not proud of your association with Kannada ?
A: Yes people have made this false accusation against me. I would like to mention here again that I love my association with Karnataka and am proud of my work and success I have achieved there. Tell me if I was shy about my association with Kannada why would I proudly hold screenings of Amruthdhare in Mumbai and invite prominent personalities from the Hindi film fraternity?

(I have done that for three of my Kannada films). Why would I take help from my friends in the Hindi industry and convince the greatest actor of our times Mr. Amitabh Bachchan to make an appreance in my Kannada film.

Q: Ok talking about happier things, Amuthadhare was released in Telugu?
A: Yes, the rights were bought by a prominent banner in Telugu and we re – shot portions of the film for 10 - 12 days in Hyderabad. Ramya and I had lots of fun doing the film again. Old friend and new language...it was quite an experience.

It was positioned like any other mainstream Telugu film. I was keen to see the Telugu audiences' reaction to this passionate and intense love story. Since this remake was done very professionally I was confident the outcome would be positive.

Q: What other news about your Kannada career?
A: Well after the success of Amruthadhare as expected I am flooded with offers but have not started any new film yet. That's because I am busy with my Hindi commitments. Secondly I have had a fairly good track record in Kannada, 4 films in the past 5 years out of which 3 have been blockbuster hits.

So I would like to take it slowly and continue will this level of success. I will sign a film when I am totally convinced and happy about the project at all levels. I would be starting my next Kannada project around mid-year and would be comfortable talking more about it only then.

Q: What about your upcoming Kannada release "Jackpot"?
That's an out -and -out comedy film and quite a unique script. Let's see how the audiences accept it because it's very different. But it's not just my release. In fact I am playing a important part in the ensemble piece. It's a comedy film with lots of characters and mine is one important character among them. It also has Sudeep, Sunil Rao and others contributing to the story.

Q: Enough about Dhyaan let's talk about Sammir.
A: Well I am busy with three film in Hindi. I am part of the much talked about and anticipated film by Madhur Bhandarkar "Corporate". Though I am a small part of this ensemble piece it's an honour to be part of Madhur's film.

My next film is "Marathon" which is a very touching and inspiring film on sports. I have a very very challenging role to portray in this one and am very anxious about the reactions I will get. Then there is a third one titled "Mukhbir" which is directed by Mr. Mani Shanker and produced by Mr. Sudeep Rambhotla of Colorchips Entertainment.

It's an awesome spy thriller with me in an author -backed role. It's a privilege to have managed to get a film like this so early in my career. It has also given me the opportunity to work with senior actors like Om Puri, Sunil Shetty, Sushant Singh, Rahul Dev.

With this film my South connection continues. The director and producer are Hyderabad- based and most of the film too is being shot there.Maybe I was destined to be born in South India but landed up in Mumbai by mistake....