Unleashing Emotion: Rathan Gangadhar’s ‘Sees Kaddi’ Captures Life and Friendship in Every Stroke
The Kannada film Sees Kaddi, marking Rathan Gangadhar’s directorial debut, delves into children’s narratives through the poignant metaphor of a pencil. Garnering attention on the festival circuit, the film was screened at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (2023) and received accolades such as Best Direction at the 10th Noida International Film Festival (2023) and Best Children’s Film at the Bharat International Film Festival (2023). Despite this success, Rathan, 39, expresses his anxieties about public reception. “I only hope the film appeals to the audience,” he remarks, reflecting on his journey from creating advertisements to weaving stories for the silver screen.
The title Sees Kaddi, which translates to "pencil" in English, encapsulates the film’s essence as a drama aimed at younger viewers and attempts to bridge mainstream and child-centered storytelling. Rathan explains that the anthology’s narratives unfold in a unique rhythm, much like the process of using a pencil: “You write, erase, sharpen the lead, and continue.” This format eschews traditional chronology for a more fluid storytelling approach.
Born and raised in Bengaluru, Rathan’s passion for film and theatre ignited during his studies at MES College, Malleswaram. The inspiration for Sees Kaddi emerged from a paragraph in a Paulo Coelho book he read in 2016, which resonated with him profoundly. “That paragraph inspired me to create stories around those words and concepts,” he recalls. What began as a solitary inspiration blossomed into a collaborative project with friends who contributed to shaping the screenplay. Rathan emphasizes the unity of the film’s cast and crew, describing the endeavor as a labor of love created by friends for an audience he hopes will connect with them in a meaningful way.
The film prominently features a diverse array of dialects from Karnataka, including those from rural Tumakuru, Bengaluru, Havyaka, and North Karnataka. Rathan notes, “The Tumakuru dialect hasn’t really been explored in cinema.” This personal connection stems from his father’s roots in Tumakuru, highlighting Rathan’s commitment to authentic representation.
Rathan’s journey into filmmaking began in 2012 as an assistant writer, although he faced setbacks when the films he contributed to never reached the public sphere. However, those experiences, he says, were invaluable learning opportunities. Transitioning to advertising allowed him to refine his skills and gain practical experience, working on notable campaigns, including one with the late Puneeth Rajkumar. Yet, Rathan acknowledges that marketing a film brings its own challenges. “Cinema is a completely different ball game altogether,” he contends, as he navigates the terrain of promoting Sees Kaddi, produced under Grahana, a production house he co-founded in 2017 with friends Sampath Shivshankar and Krithi Nannnaiah.
Sees Kaddi was released on June 6, 2025, and showcases not only Rathan’s storytelling prowess but also a fresh perspective on children’s cinema in Karnataka. As audiences prepare to experience this innovative narrative, Rathan remains hopeful that their stories resonate, fostering companionship between friends, both on and off the screen.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/rathan-gangadhars-kannada-film-sees-kaddi-draws-from-life-and-friendship/article69464256.ece
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Publish Date: 2025-06-07 12:43:00
