Director Hemanth M Rao reflects on the lack of blockbuster success in the Kannada film industry post-2022 and highlights the challenge of dwindling audience attendance. Rao emphasizes the need for a unified and influential voice to address the industry's issues, expressing his commitment to Kannada cinema despite opportunities in other industries. In an interview with Bangalore Times, Rao discusses the industry's leadership crisis, his creative process, and efforts to engage audiences. He critiques the industry's reliance on big stars to drive film production, calling for a more communal approach to problem-solving. Rao advocates for greater unity within the industry, citing the success of younger talent in Telugu and Tamil cinema as a model for progress."We do not have our own OTT platform in place. It is important for the government and industry representatives to collaborate and address this issue. Hemanth points out the lack of support from producers, attributing it to their primary focus on filmmaking as a secondary source of income, leading to a lack of interest in industry regulation. He also highlights the low payments made by TV channels for Kannada films, with films made on a budget of Rs 1.5 crores receiving offers as low as Rs 10-20 lakhs. Hemanth emphasizes the need for unified leadership to address issues like piracy and challenges the misconceptions surrounding what constitutes a commercial hit, stressing the importance of making financially profitable films rather than chasing unrealistic box office figures."Films that resonate with us are what led us to venture into filmmaking. According to Hemanth, last year's film, Aachar and Co, contributed to this movement. He views the filmmaking process as akin to a blind leap into a pool. When diving in, one is uncertain of the depth of the subject matter. The goal is to comprehend that world and authentically present it to the audience. Hemanth prefers creating films where he has a strong emotional connection to the characters, believing that when he is invested, the audience will be too. To develop his characters, he immerses himself in real-life encounters to derive inspiration. This approach is an enriching experience that allows him to explore fascinating locations that evoke a sense of wonder. In his storytelling, Hemanth enjoys utilizing colors to enhance the narrative. He emphasizes the cultural and subconscious significance of color and believes it can deeply impact a viewer's experience. However, he cautions against solely relying on color or sound, as storytelling should remain the primary focus to engage and captivate audiences throughout the film.