National Award winner and veteran Kannada film director, B. Suresh visited Dayananda Sagar University (DSU) recently. He spoke at length after the screening his most recent National Award winning film Puttakkana Highway for the students of the School of Journalism & Mass Communication, DSU.

Asked about his inspiration to make the film, he recalled how the story exploits the darker side of land acquisition currently underway across rural Karnataka. Puttakkana Highway is set in a remote village where people make their living through farming. Following acquisition of their land with the promise of rehabilitation, it is inspired by the story of a Dhaba owner who had to shift closer to a promised highway to run his business. However, following lobbying by interest groups, the highway was shifted far away from his Dhaba. “There are many whose lands have been taken away, families have been uprooted and livelihoods affected due to the roads and development underway,” Mr.Suresha said.

He also spoke about his own idea of ‘Touring Talkies’ where he was able to screen his films in most of the remote villages in Karnataka.

The screening drew wide appreciation and discussion. It was a good opportunity for the students to interact directly with the film’s director himself.