Mangaluru : Actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty decided to adopt Koduge Ramanna Rai after it was brink of closure.

Last year when actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty realised that the government school where he filmed his runaway hit Sa Hi Prathamika Shaale.

The director then went on to gather a team to help him in the mission. And this summer, he returned to take up the task of giving it a wholesome makeover. “It’s located in Kairangala, a village between Mangaluru and Kasargod, and is the school where the whole film has been shot. Sadly, there are only 20 odd kids in such a huge school and I was saddened to know they were considering shutting it down. This is the reason we’ve now drawn up plans to introduce pre-school including LKG and UKG and continue their studies in the same school. The building had a weak roof that was threatening to fall off, so we got the whole thing replaced with cast iron and sturdy tiles,” says Rishab.

The school is now being painted, both the interior and exterior portions, and special efforts are on to portray Tulunaadu’s art and culture on the walls.

“Parents have requested us to introduce English in the school. So, without disturbing the sanctity of Kannada, we will bring in special classes in spoken English along with basic computer knowledge for the kids,” he adds.
“I’m glad the film has created a stir, and it is prompting more and more people to adopt government schools. We need all the support we can muster for such an initiative,” Rishab sums up.