BAGHEERA, the barking star
With stringent laws governing the interest of animals, filmmakers these days rarely take a chance when it comes to featuring real animals in their ventures. While most prefer using computer generated techniques, some still like to cast the real ones for reel’s sake.
However, it is always a real challenge to make the animals ‘act’ as it needs a lot of patience and especially when they are vital part of the script like the one in Kaanadante Mayavadenu being directed by Ravikiran Vikas of Jayammana Maga fame, it definitely needs a special one. Meet Sidda, a four-year-old chocolate colour Labrador Retriever, who makes his acting debut. Its owner, B N Nithin shares the experience on behalf of Sidda, who stars as Bagheera in his debut film.
“The director was in search of a ferocious looking dog which had a sharp eye. Ravikiran Vikas had searched everywhere and even visited K9 Gurukul which trains specially breed dogs. When they kept searching for the right dog for almost a month, they finally came across Sidda’s photo, our labrador. As the film is about horror and is also laced with a bit of humour, they found Sidda apt for their film. And, thus Sidda became Bagheera on the silver screen,” says Nithin, the dog’s owner.
However, even before agreeing on Sidda being part of the horror-comedy, Nithin had one request. “Though I was happy I was skeptical about Sidda, as he had no such training to act in films. I requested the director that the hero who will be acting along with Sidda to visit his home a few days before the shoot, to befriend Sidda. The hero would promptly come to my house as early as 6.30 in the morning and would accompany me and the dog for the walk and he would also feed the dog. It was only when Sidda got close to the hero, we went further with the shoot,” he adds. The four-year-old Sidda, plays the role of a pet as Bagheera in the film. Since many believe that dogs have a unique ability to sense the presence of restless souls, Bagheera, traces the hero and helps him avenge his death.
“For the first few days, I would wake him up and take him in our own car to the shooting spot but later it was Sidda who would get up and start barking to go out for the shoot while standing near my car,” he smiles.
After Uday, the main antagonist in the film passed away in the tragic incident along with Anil during the shoot of Maasthi Gudi, the film crew is re-shooting some of the scenes. “Sidda has acted for more than 15 days and the director needs to be appreciated for his patience even when most of the times Sidda would show little interest during the shoot. He even befriended Achyuth Kumar sir, who also plays a major role in the film,” he says.
When not shooting, Sidda would roam around freely having a gala of time being the movie star eating his favourite pedigree, the owner shares.”The film team went through a lot to take the permission from the animal board and I am glad that Sidda has acted in a film. Even before signing off, the owner hopes if he could show Sidda his film in theatres on the day it releases.