Ekangi

Ekangi (Kannada: ಏಕಾಂಗಿ) is a 2002 Indian Kannada language film written, directed by and starring Ravichandran. He also wrote film's screenplay and composed the music. The film features Ramya Krishna and Prakash Rai in pivotal roles, and Vanitha Vasu, Sridhar, Ramesh Bhat and Sadhu Kokila who appear in supporting roles. With the film, Ravichandran's reputation as an experimenter grew, having erected a house of ₹ 80 lakh exclusively for the film and spending heavily in filming song sequences, an unusual trend in Kannada cinema during the time.[1] It was also the first in Kannada and second Indian film to employ SFX sound system.

Ekangi
Directed by	Ravichandran
Produced by	Ravichandran
Written by	Ravichandran
Screenplay by	Ravichandran
Starring	Ravichandran Ramya Krishna Prakash Rai
Music by	Ravichandran
Cinematography	G. S. V. Seetharam
Edited by	Shyam
Production company	Eshwari Enterprises
Release date	21 March 2002 (2002-03-21)
Running time	130 minutes
Country	India
Language	Kannada

The film received warm reviews from film critics and won five awards at the 2001–02 Karnataka State Film Awards including the award for Second Best Film and Best Actor (Ravichandran). It was an ambitious project, but failed to succeed at the box-office, even though following the audience's hostile response after its theatrical release, almost 20 scenes were re-shot and re-edited before re-releasing it with censor acceptance. Ravichandran was said to have suffered a loss of ₹ 2 crore owing to the film's commercial failure.[2]

Cast

• Ravichandran as Ravi
• Ramya Krishna
• Prakash Rai
• Vanitha Vasu
• Sridhar
• Soori
• Master Vinay
• M. N. Suresh
• Prakash
• Ramesh Bhat
• Sadhu Kokila
• Mandya Ramesh
• Master Santhosh

Production

For the film, a multi-storeyed glass house was built. Built just for the film and at a cost of ₹ 80 lakh, it was an unusual experiment by the director and producer Ravichandran at the time, considering that a similar house was erected even for Ravichandran's previous film O Nanna Nalle. Close to 80% of the film's scenes were filmed in the house.[3][4] EFX sound system was employed in the film for the first time in Kannada cinema and second overall.

Following the film's first theatrical release and a hostile response from the audience, close to 20 scenes of the film were re-shot and re-edit before giving it a re-release, a first of its kind in Kannada cinema.[5]

Soundtrack

Ekangi
Soundtrack album by Ravichandran
Released	2001
Genre	Feature film soundtrack
Length	48:21
Label	Jhankar Music
Ravichandran chronology
O Nanna Nalle (2002) Ekangi (2001) Kodandarama (2002)

Ravichandran composed the film's background score, soundtracks and also wrote the lyrics for the tracks. The album consists of nine soundtracks.[6] The album was released in late 2001, in Davangere, at an event.[7]

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Banna Bannada Loka"	Ravichandran	Shankar Mahadevan	5:08
2.	"Ee Chitte Thara Banna"	Ravichandran	L. N. Shastry	5:54
3.	"Hudugi Superamma"	Ravichandran	Suresh Peters, Anupama, Rajesh Krishnan	4:54
4.	"Nannane Kele Nanna Pranave"	Ravichandran	Hariharan	5:50
5.	"Nee Madid Thappa"	Ravichandran	Rajesh Krishnan	11:18
6.	"Nee Yekangiyagamma"	Ravichandran	Madhu Balakrishnan	4:40
7.	"Once Upon a Time"	Ravichandran	Sonu Nigam	4:15
8.	"Ondu Nimisha"	Ravichandran	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Anuradha Sriram	4:47
9.	"Ekangi Theme"	Ravichandran	Instrumental	1:35
Total length:				48:21

Critical reception

The album was received well by critics upon release. But, for the lyrics, the album received appreciation. Amritamati S. of The Music Magazine reviewed the album and called it, "Symphonic grandeur on dumb lyrics". She added writing credits to the solo violin, guitar bits and the piano play among other highlights of the album. She concluded writing, "The quality of recording is excellent. Full marks to the string ensemble, and to the other instrumentalists. But you will be disappointed if you look for poetry, or even the street-smart variety of verse that Hamsalekha specialises in."[7]

Awards

Karnataka State Film Awards 2001-02

• Best Film - V. Ravichandran
• Best Actor – V. Ravichandran
• Best Music Director – V. Ravichandran
• Best Sound Recording – L. Sathish
• Karnataka State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer – Rajesh Krishnan

Aftermath

Having suffered from huge losses after the film failed commercially, Ravichandran took the blame for the film's failure. In an interview with Deccan Herald in December 2004, speaking of the film's failure, he said "it shattered him mentally and physically."[8] The failure of the film influenced him hugely and his style of filmmaking.[9]

References

1. "Veterans still hold the key". The New Indian Express. 14 March 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
2. "2002 Year Round Up". chitraloka.com. 30 December 2002. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
3. "Ravichandran's new home". The Times of India. 26 September 2001. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
4. "Waiting with hope". The Hindu. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
5. ""Yekangi" gets a facelift!". The Hindu. 18 April 2002. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
6. "Ekangi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". iTunes. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
7. "Symphonic grandeur on dumb lyrics". themusicmagazine.com. 26 November 2001. Archived from the original on 17 December 2001. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
8. "A true 'kanasugara'". Deccan Herald. 5 December 2004. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
9. "Scaling new heights". Deccan Herald. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2014.