Webbed in the loka!

Backed by the Internet as new-age media has evolved, entertainment has witnessed a greater change with the audience searching for filmi gyan on their fingertips thanks to their smart devices. From public performances such as street plays, theatres, movies, television, documentaries, short stories, the latest one to enthrall the audience is the web-series. While it has garnered huge online audiences overseas with even popular movie stars starring in such ventures including a few in Hindi too, this trend is slowly picking up in Kannada too, with a flurry of web series, some currently in the making. Bengaluru Chronicle reports.

After attempts at web series earlier, for example Boo My Show, Pawan Pakkadalli, Naati Factory, Effects of Social Media, the latest ones like Hate You Romeo and Joshelay promise a new energy and verve.

“Web content driven entertainment is the new thing. While it has existed for a while now, the quality of the series’ in Kannada lacked the punch in the initial days. Things have improved a lot with a few serious makers getting involved with channels such as KEB, Smart Screen Productions, Sakkath Studio,” says filmmaker Vasanth Kumar.

Recently, Shree Muthu Cine services headed by Niveditha Shivrajkumar, the  daughter of Dr Shivrajkumar and Sakkath Studio, comprising Pradeep, Ravi and Vivek have come together to make the most-anticipated web series in Kannada titled  Hate You Romeo.

Stepping up the quality of such productions, in a first of its kind, the series is being shot in Vietnam with 90 per cent of the series shot in Hoi Ann, Da Nang and other surrounding places. “The series with seven episodes of 30 minutes each will be shot in Red Gemini and Red Epic two camera set-ups, no less than any movie,” say the directors Esham Khan and Haseen Khan who had previously written and directed the web series Loose Connection.

The latest to join the bandwagon is Vinayak Joshi, with his web venture Joshelay. “It is inspired by extraordinary lives. For the first time in Kannada, the series will also feature inspiring stories of the differently-abled. It has been a great journey with Joshelay,” Vinay said during the launch of his web series.

Actress Sindhu Lokanath who made her debut in Loose Connections says shooting the series was as good as working in a movie. “In fact, the response was so good that its success has paved the way for many more. It is great that the trend is fast picking up with the Kannada audience.”

After wrapping up his debut feature film Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja, actor Aravinnd Iyer who plays the main lead in Hate You Romeo says, “I am a huge fan of international series, I am excited about trying out a web series project in Kannada, which is planned and executed on a global level. Actors like Saif Ali khan, Madhavan in Hindi and Jagapathi Babu in Telugu have tasted success in the the digital world, and I feel that this medium helps reach more people, and is as challenging as any big screen project.”

Vickky, who started his journey as a Radio Jockey in Mysuru, and stars in Loose Connection and now in Hate You Romeo expresses that web series are a great platform to connect with the youth.