Writer-director-actor MG Sinivas and Shivrajkumar's next venture goes on floor

The Hindu

07-05-2025

Shivarajkumar will now be seen in a children's film, A for Anand. MG Srinivas, known for his out-of-the-box storylines and approach to visualisation and concepts, will direct the film. Cinematographer Mahendra Simha and composer Vasuki Vaibhav are also on board the project.
The RJ-turned director, Srinivas, is known for films such as Srinivasa Kalyana and Birbal. Srinivas and Shivrajkumar joined hands for the muhurat of A For Anand, at Bande Mahakali Temple, Kempegowda Nagar. At the muhurat, school benches were used instead of chairs for seating. The way the stage was set, looked like an annual day programme at school with a brass bell placed in the left corner of the table and a black board with the details of the film written in chalk.
Shivarajkumar and some children rang the bell to indicate the beginning and end of the press conference. While the children were left to just be children, they were self-disciplined. After running helter-skelter all around, on stage they were responsible and answered questions, shared the film's premise with confidence and clarity. They were also in awe of Shivarajkumar, nudging and jostling each other trying to get closer to the actor.
Srinivas described A For Anand as a family entertainer. 'It is going to be challenging as the story is child centric with drama and humour.' Srinivas said he wanted to present Shivarajkumar in a light-hearted role.
'When I worked with him in Ghost, I realized he gets serious and intense roles. Once the camera is off, however, he is so funny and makes everyone laugh. He has a great timing for comedy, which is what we will be exploring in this film.'
The film, Srinivas says, is backed by research. 'We want it to be entertaining and also support the thought process and education of children.'
Produced by Geetha Pictures, Shivarajkumar says, 'A For Anand is not going to talk about things in a bookish manner, but rather present children as they are, on screen too. It will be a simple narrative using their language and vocabulary.'
When the hit song 'Tuvi Tuvi' from Shivarajkumar's first film, Anand, was played, an emotional Shivarajkumar smiled saying, 'Anand was a title chosen by my late mother, Parvathamma. And now Sreeni has chosen A for Anand as the title for this film, which makes it all the more special.'
Shivarajkumar plays a teacher in A for Anand and urged his fans instead of only watching star vehicles, to watch films with new stories and newcomers to encourage them.