Director Abhilash Shetty is set to release his second feature film, ‘Naale Rajaa Koli Majaa’, on May 9, 2025. The film, a political satire, follows an 11-year-old girl, Sneha, who embarks on a journey to eat chicken curry on Gandhi Jayanthi, a day when meat sales are banned.
Set in coastal Karnataka, the film explores societal hypocrisy and traditions, challenging norms through Sneha’s pursuit of her meal. Shetty describes the film as having multiple layers, unlike his previous work, ‘Koli Taal’, which was a straightforward story about a grandson and grandfather.
The film features Indo-Western fusion music composed by US-based Vithor Moraes and has been screened at film festivals in Canada, Indonesia, and Chicago. It will also be showcased at the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFA) later this month.
Shetty, a self-taught filmmaker from Shivamogga, emphasizes the decentralization of the Kannada film industry, noting that Udupi and Shivamogga now have dubbing studios and accessible equipment. He believes filmmakers no longer need to rely on big cities for post-production.
