Mangalore: Popular comedian Johnny Lever shoots for Tulu movie

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)

Mangalore, Dec 4: "I love Tulu people, hence am I making a guest appearance in the upcoming Tulu movie 'Rang'," said popular and much-loved Bollywood comedian, Johnny Lever, addressing a press meet at Sahyadri Institute campus here on Wednesday December 4.

He was in the city to shoot for a song sequence for the Tulu movie 'Rang' produced by Devdas Kumar Pandeshwar.

Speaking in Tulu, Lever said, "I had earlier done a show in Town Hall here, way back in 1979. Ever since then I have been frequently visiting Mangalore and have shared good rapport with Mangaloreans. I am very happy working in a Tulu movie. The movie crew has been working very hard and almost 70% of the shooting is already complete."

"In Mumbai, many including my neighbours are Mangaloreans, from whom I was able to learn Tulu. I have never acted in any regional movie other than Marathi and this Tulu movie. My birth place is Andhra Pradesh and my mother tongue is Telugu, but I have never acted in any Telugu movie either. As the producer of this movie Devdas is my friend, I agreed to act in the movie," he said.

"I do comedy movies only, and I am not too interested in art movies," he added.

On how he came to be known as Johnny Lever from John Prakasa Rao Janumala, he said, "My actual name is John, but as I had worked with Hindustan Lever, my name became Johny Lever. I have done nearly 400 movies in Hindi and my favorite movie is Baazigar. People started laughing looking just at my face, even in funerals also, so I do only comedy roles."

Commenting on Tulu movies he said they are quite similar to Hindi movies in terms of technique.

"I don’t want my daughter to join the industry on my recommendation; I want her to excel on her own merit," he added. His daughter Jamie J is also known for her comedy.

Speaking on the occasion, Vismay Vinayak, co-director of 'Rang' movie said, "The movie is being produced under the banner of Kateeleshwari Combines. The movie has unique story, songs and comedy. To make this movie better, we had even conducted workshops for the artistes for almost a month before the shooting. The cinematographer is also very experienced and is even a professor in his field. The music director is Manikant Kadri and the songs have also come out really very well."

He added, "Johnny Lever has played a special role in the movie by appearing in a song. We have shot the movie in Mangalore itself. Our entire team has worked hard for the success of this movie."

Arjun Kapikad and Deekshitha Acharya are playing the lead roles. Various comedy artistes including Devadas Kapikad, Naveen D Padil, Bhojaraj Vamanjoor, Satish Bandale and others have acted in the movie.

Devadas Kumar Pandeshwar, producer, his wife Pramila Devdas, Sukhpal Polali, Sanjay Bhattacharya, cinematographer, Suhan Prasad, co-director, Arjun Kapikad and Deekshitha Acharya were present.