Global Kannada Recognition
BENGALURU
A new milestone has been etched in the history of the Kannada film industry with Bengaluru-based young director Anooya Swamy’s short film Pankaja becoming the first Kannada short film to be officially selected for the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in the United States. The achievement has brought international recognition not only to the filmmaker but also to grassroots talent from Karnataka.
Anooya Swamy, who is currently pursuing postgraduate studies in film and television in New York, returned to Bengaluru with a strong desire to tell a story rooted in her homeland. Staying true to realism, she chose Padmashree, a third-grade student from the government school in Agara, Bengaluru, to play the lead role. Actress Harshani essays the role of the girl’s mother, lending emotional depth to the narrative.
The international recognition has sparked celebrations at the Agara government school, where Padmashree studies. On Friday, the film team screened Pankaja for students and teachers at the school. The young actor was felicitated on the occasion, and sweets were distributed to mark the proud moment. Teachers and students alike expressed joy that one of their own had become part of a globally recognised film.
Sharing her excitement, Padmashree said she was thrilled that the film would be screened in America. “I was not scared during the shooting at all. Everyone supported me and helped me a lot. I am very thankful to Anooya for giving me this opportunity,” she said. Her performance has once again highlighted the immense potential among students from government schools.
Director Anooya Swamy, speaking on the occasion, said the project was deeply personal. “I was born and brought up in Agara. I always wanted my first short film to be made in the place where I grew up,” she said. Emphasising her belief in realism, she added that she deliberately avoided casting well-known faces. “When newcomers are given opportunities, they bring honesty and naturalness to their performances. That belief has now been validated,” she said.
Pankaja explores sensitive themes such as trauma, grief and emotional ambiguity with subtlety and restraint. The film was shot across multiple locations in Bengaluru, including HSR Layout, Malleshwaram, Agara, a police station and stone quarries. Over 50 technicians contributed to the project, reflecting a strong collaborative effort.
Agara government school headmaster Rangaswamy congratulated Anooya Swamy on her remarkable achievement, calling it a matter of pride for Kannadigas and the entire Kannada film fraternity.
