For years, R Narayana Murthy stayed away from other directors’ films, even when well-known filmmakers approached him. He reportedly turned down an offer from his mentor, Dasari Narayana Rao, for Osey Ramulamma. Puri Jagannadh also wanted him to play Sincere Murthy in Temper, a role eventually played by Posani Krishna Murali. Now, his appearance in Husharu 2 raises an obvious question: what made him say yes this time?
Narayana Murthy built his identity through films centred on social issues and political ideologies. He preferred to lead stories that reflected his beliefs rather than take up character roles in other filmmakers’ commercial projects. His choices remained consistent even when the offers came from prominent names in the industry.
Husharu 2 is a youth-oriented film, making his presence particularly intriguing. Yet, his look offers a possible explanation. Sporting a red scarf and carrying a gun, he appears to be playing a revolutionary who takes on the system. The setting may be different from the films he usually makes, but the character seems close to the ideology he has represented on screen for decades.
Perhaps the appeal was not the opportunity to enter a different kind of cinema, but the chance to play a character who still stands for something he believes in. Whether that is what convinced him remains to be seen, but his Husharu 2 appearance has certainly created curiosity about this unexpected choice.
