Mangalore: Trust him to work furiously, but under wraps or covers, for any of his film productions, as an actor or a director, with great zeal to surprise his growing circle of admirers.

Shiva Dhwaj Shetty is a hero in a Kannada film, a producer – director of an international award winning Tulu film, a hero in a GSB Konkani film, director of  ‘Gaggara’ in Tulu and now, he has completed, they say, a Kodava film, ‘Na Puttna Mann’( The soil where I had birth).

He is eager to bring it out and no one is preventing him, if he does that. He recently arranged a pre-view of his latest picture, while still posing for ‘Ujwadu’ a Konkani film shown in big cinema but directed by Kasaragodu Chinna.

Shiva after hoisting the Kodava flag got down to media talk on October 18. He said it was a regional language film of Kodagu district. He took only nine days to finish the shooting. The film is in Cinema scope, he added with pride.

There are no fights of hunting Kodava warriors, no Huthari or agro folk dances of the “black and white” Kodava dressed beauties. But Kodava culture and present day problems of land, gardens and economy are there for all to see.

The film was done in a shoe-string (Small) budget, but there is a determination to reach out to every Kodava in Madikeri, Mangalore or Bangalore, he revealed. May his tribe increase.

The story revolves round armymen that is what Kodavas were in 60 years, although the desire to join Army service is ebbing these days. Kodava culture is great and far-flung and that is mirrored in this film. But you better see on the screen more of it, he advised. Zenith Ayyappa is hero besides Shailaja Joshi, Cariappa, Umesh N., Padma Bopaiah are in the film.

Shwetha Chengappa (we are still remembering the other Chengappa girl, Prema for her liquidity) has a meaty role, with an identity in the soil of her birth.

Shwetha was afraid of facing a 35mn camera, while she was comfortable with TV screens. But the director (Shiva Dhwaj) filled her with ardour and opportunities, so she has acted whole heartedly, Shwetha says.

Producer Suresh Nanjappa volunteered to invest in the film, on hearing a story line. Music is from Lokesh.