A film doesn't need a known face; content should be the only draw: Raj B Shetty

Time of India

20-07-2025

Raj B Shetty
When the trailer for the upcoming Kannada movie
Su from So
, directed by JP Thuminad, dropped, a mysterious scene sparked speculation that Raj B Shetty might be acting in it. However, the actor-director, whose production house is making the film, confirmed that he isn't.
This decision was quite intentional. 'The whole point was not to rely on my face to bring audiences,' he revealed in an interview with
Bangalore Times
. 'In the Kannada film industry, there's this dependency on star power to draw crowds. I don't think that's a healthy trend, not for any actor, especially not for a known one. I don't call myself a star, but people do recognise me. It's hardly an achievement for recognised faces to fill theatres.
I believe that real success happens when new faces can bring people in; that's when we can truly experiment. So, for this film, I wanted to take a risk and let the content be the only draw for the audience,' he said.
Excerpts:
Our bar for content has been raised, filtered by countless excellent productions. This shift means our perception of what's good, bad, or merely acceptable is constantly evolving. Now we expect something new and fresh whenever we go to the theatre
Raj B Shetty
'This film was genuinely funny to us, and that's why we know audiences will enjoy it'
Su From So
is a Kannada supernatural comedy-drama centred on a comedy of errors, Raj explains, and adds, 'It's about the wrong people in the wrong situation doing what they believe is right, even though we, the audience, know it's wrong.
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We've all encountered such individuals, and unfortunately, we can relate because we often do the same, making assumptions and doing things we shouldn't. From a distance, that's what makes life a comedy.
The film isn't about people trying to be brave; it's about realising they're the biggest cowards.'
'The experience [of making the film] was fun. I believe if a film is genuinely funny to us, the makers, it will be genuinely funny to the audience as well,' he says.
'It's truly wonderful to see people being proud of where they come from'
Set in a village near Mangaluru, the film embodies a new wave of rooted stories coming from Kannada cinema. But Raj is quick to say that this isn't a trend; it's a fundamental shift in storytelling. 'More rooted films today signify an attitude shift. People are saying, 'No, this is who we are. These are our stories.' That's the attitude we're seeing. In the past, we often felt deeply insecure about our identities. But now, we're able to showcase who we are – our flaws and our strengths – and that's being embraced, not just across Karnataka, but nationwide.
That's because, deep down, everyone is the same. People have their unique cultures, ideas, and customs, but fundamentally, we're all human beings,' he remarks.
'We need to nurture mid-budget films'
Despite prevailing industry pessimism about the viability of mid-budget films, Raj shares that he is a staunch advocate for nurturing diverse stories and new talent. 'When I talk to people, most aren't as hopeful as I am.
They say mid-budget films are dead, and only star-driven or big-budget movies will work. The idea is that people don't want to watch films in theatres anymore. But that mindset will only lead to generic, monotonous, and repetitive films in a few years.
Then what? Where will you go? Because you haven't nurtured mid-budget films, there are no native alternatives, and no new talent is coming into cinema.'
'That's why I wanted to make a film with all new people.
Yes, it's a challenge, but it's not a true win for the industry if we don't try.' He believes that for Kannada cinema to thrive, it must offer a variety of films, moving beyond a single type of content. 'Content is the only reason [audiences come to theatres],' he says. 'And there should be a variety of cinema coming from the industry. It shouldn't be stagnant; it shouldn't be only one kind of content.
There should be commercial films like
Devil
or
Toxic
, which actually serve wider audiences. But there should also be films like
Su From So
, which will attract people who want films that engage, are fun, and still have substance.'
The monotonous tone of our storytelling will actually chase people away. A lot of promises with no deliverance has been our signature for a very long time. I think that needs to change, so we need to work together
Raj B Shetty
'We need to create content that can be celebrated in theatres as well as on OTT'
'Our bar for content has been raised, filtered by countless excellent productions. This shift means our perception of what's good, bad, or merely acceptable is constantly evolving. Now we expect something new and fresh whenever we go to the theatre,' says Raj. Addressing a common complaint among filmmakers, Raj argues that OTT platforms aren't killing cinema, but rather are forcing the industry to elevate its craft.
'Many filmmakers believe that because of OTT, cinema is dying down or that because of theatres, we don't have OTT. But, again, it all comes down to content. The shift that people are noticing is that, before, mediocre films used to sell in cinema halls. Now the filtration is so hard. Even though a filmmaker might not recognise it as mediocre, people are recognising it as mediocre and slamming it right then and there.'
'I believe that cinema can transcend borders if quality is achieved'
He addresses the 'pan-India' buzzword, asserting that true widespread appeal comes not from generic content, but from deeply rooted, high-quality storytelling.
'Kantara became pan-Indian organically – it wasn't made to be pan-India. Currently, people are watching films simply because they are good, and that's the only real 'pan-Indian' content. I really believe that cinema can transcend borders if quality is achieved.
People won't watch a film if it is not good, even in your own territory – even your family won't watch a bad film. This has been the truth always. I don't focus on making generic subjects which will slowly turn out to go pan-India. I believe in making the films which are rooted, which are authentic, whether they go pan India or not,' he says.