A short film based on Tulu movie Bayya Mallige, which released 42 years ago, will be released on May 15th at the Town Hall. Bayya Mallige was a superhit flick that had Jayamala and Pandari Bai playing important roles. Speaking to Times of India, Jayamala has shared her thoughts on safeguarding our regional languages through movies.
"I have acted in four Tulu movies and I don't think they are available in their original form today. Acclaimed films like Kaasdaye Kandani are still reminisced by lovers of Tulu cinema, but its negatives, too are lost with the passage of time," she has said. "Regional films have to any way fight hard to get noticed and people fail to understand that they are the true representatives of the culture and ethos of a land," she has added.
However, the veteran actress is happy that efforts are being made to immortalize classics like Bayya Mallige. "I'm glad people are coming forward with such innovative initiatives to preserve the golden works of Tulu cinema. It is definitely a matter of great pride. Besides, the industry is growing at a healthy rate with more youngsters coming in and I shall always be there to support them. I'm constantly rooting for my mother tongue because I want Tulu movies to also get subsidy and all other perks that are accorded to Kannada films."