Elumale Is My Way Of Showing That Reality Is More Thrilling Than Fiction:

Every person stepping into the world of cinema dreams of leaving a mark in one form or another.

- A SHARADHAA

For lyricist-turned-filmmaker Punit Rangaswamy, it was always about leaving a legacy of words. "I wanted my writing to be spoken about, to be remembered. Unfortunately, my lyrics or story ideas did not convince the directors I worked with. That's when I realised, if the director is the decision-maker when it comes to writing, why not become one myself? That thought became the seed for direction," recalls Punit, who makes his directorial debut with Elumale, which sees its release this week.

Before this point of reckoning, Punit spent years behind the screen. He worked with Tharun Kishore Sudhir for three years as lyricist and writer, and was part of the writing and direction department for Kaatera for nearly two years. He also collaborated with Guru Deshpande on multiple occasions. "Tharun gave me the best encouragement. When Elumale did not match his directorial profile, he entrusted me with that responsibility. He judged rightly and made me the captain of the project," says Punit.