ಪುಷ್ಪಕ ವಿಮಾನ (1987)

Anecdotes

Pushpaka Vimana is a 1987 Indian black comedy film written and directed by Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, who co-produced it with Shringar Nagaraj. The film, which has no dialogue, stars Kamal Haasan leading an ensemble cast that includes Samir Khakhar, Tinu Anand, K. S. Ramesh, Amala, Farida Jalal, Pratap Potan, Lokanath, P. L. Narayana and Ramya. It revolves around an unemployed graduate who encounters a drunk rich man unconscious and takes over his lifestyle after keeping him prisoner. However, he does not realise the dangers he has brought upon himself because a hired killer believes him to be his target.

Production

Singeetham Srinivasa Rao was assisting director K. V. Reddy in a film where there was a scene requiring a character to emote fear without dialogues. Srinivasa Rao wondered if he could make an entire film that way for a long time, but did not have an idea for the story. The idea for the film that would become Pushpaka Vimana came to Srinivasa Rao when he was in a shower, after which he wrote the screenplay within two weeks.

The film struggled to find a producer, prompting Srinivasa Rao to take over production himself. When Kannada actor Shringar Nagaraj, a relative of Kannada matinee idol Rajkumar with whom Srinivasa Rao was working at that time, heard that Srinivasa Rao was producing a film on his own, he asked about the subject.

Since the film had no dialogue, Srinivasa Rao chose to cast actors from different parts of India. Haasan, a native of Tamil Nadu, was cast as the protagonist, an unemployed graduate. He had to shave his signature moustache for the role. Srinivasa Rao initially wanted Neelam Kothari to be the female lead, but she wanted to wear "glittering costumes" like in Bollywood films; hence, Srinivasa Rao did not cast her.

Srinivasa Rao initially approached Amrish Puri to portray the contract killer, but he could not accept the offer due to unavailability of dates. Haasan's then-wife Sarika showed a photograph of Tinu Anand and successfully recommended him for the role. Pratap Potan, then known mainly for portraying dark characters, played a comical character, the illicit lover of Ramya's character. Srinivasa Rao initially wanted Bengali magician P. C. Sorcar Jr.

Thota Tharani constructed a street set for the film beside the Hyland Hotel in Bengaluru. The ramshackle room where the graduate lives, and the building itself, was constructed above the hotel. Most of the shooting was done in the Windsor Manor hotel in Bengaluru.

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