The team behind Thimmana Mottegalu is back with yet another unique, content-driven film. Director Rakshith Thirthahalli takes a significant leap from issue-based films to value-based cinema—Moda, Male Mattu Shaila (Cloud, Rain, and Shaila) promises to make waves at the box office.
Produced under the banner of Sri Krishna Productions, this marks producer Adarsh Iyengar’s second venture. Although currently based in the USA and unable to attend the press meet, Iyengar’s involvement in the project has been deeply committed. The film’s beautifully crafted title teaser was released at Utsav Legacy, located on the top floor of GT World Mall.
Rakshith Thirthahalli and Adarsh Iyengar, who previously collaborated on the critically acclaimed Thimmana Mottegalu, have once again joined forces for this women-centric drama-thriller. The film stars two-time state award-winning actress Akshata Pandavapura in the lead role, supported by Gopalakrishna Deshpande, Sampath Maitreya, Utpal Gowda, Raghu Ramanakoppa, Balraj Wadi, and Ashwin Hassan.
Shooting for the film has already been completed, and the project is now in its final post-production stage. PRO Sudheendra Venkatesh unveiled the title teaser and extended his best wishes to the team.
Speaking at the event, director Rakshith Thirthahalli—known for films like Entha Kathe Maraya, Hombanna, and Thimmana Mottegalu—shared insights into the making of the film:
“When I narrated the story to Adarsh Iyengar, he immediately agreed, saying the content was strong. The entire movie has been shot in real rain using sync sound. Unlike my earlier films, which tackled different thematic subjects, this time I wanted to tell Shaila’s story. The film is truly an ‘actors’ film’ with stellar performances. It’s set around the Thirthahalli–Kundapura border region and belongs to the drama-thriller genre. The story idea came from incidents I witnessed and heard about back in 2012.”
Rakshith is known for his meticulous approach to filmmaking, and this film is no exception. With only 30% dialogue and the rest driven by visual storytelling, he noted the increased workload and the challenges of this unique narrative style.
Lead actress Akshata Pandavapura—who has received state awards for her roles in Pinky Elli and Pallata, and is also the author of two novels—said:
“I play the character of Shaila in this film. Coming from a theatre background, I don’t know if I’ll ever get such a role again in my career. It’s a very special project for me. The director has portrayed the story of a lone woman in the Malenadu region, and rain itself becomes a character in the film. I observed several women I encountered during the shoot to shape my performance. Despite being the only woman on set, I felt completely at ease, thanks to the professionalism of the team. Working with sync sound was challenging, but a rewarding experience.”
Supporting actor Sampath Maitreya, who plays a character closely associated with the rain, praised the director’s creativity. Utpal Gowda, who plays an officer named Girish, expressed his joy at filming in his hometown of Hulikoppa—a region known for its heavy rains. This marks his fourth film since his debut in Sodabuddi.
Ashwin Haasan recalled “Before entering films, I wanted to become a revolutionary figure after completing engineering. But I realized that path wasn’t for me. Cinema gave me the platform to express myself, and this role fulfills that dream.”
Editor Akshay Rao highlighted the technical challenges of using sync sound and the need for multiple overlapping sound layers during editing.
Kanive Vinay (columnist in a Kannada daily), Sriharsha Gobhat, and cinematographer Sagar H.G. also shared their experiences during the event. Sync sound for the film was managed by Mitra Madhyastha.