‘Pedro’ Director Natesh Hegde Launches Production Banner With Mystery Crime Drama ‘Kurka’ (EXCLUSIVE)

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Renowned Indian film director Natesh Hegde, known for movies like “Pedro” (2021) and “Vaghachipani” (2025), which have significantly boosted the international recognition of Kannada-language films, is broadening his influence in the industry by starting a production company, Fox and Friends, together with fellow filmmaker Ganesh Hegde.

The first production of the company is the enigmatic crime-drama series “Kurka,” helmed by Ganesh Hegde, who was recognized with the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Debut Feature for his work on “Neeli Hakki” (2021).

Besides Natesh Hegde, the movie also features him as an actor. The film “Kurka” represents a notable step in Hegde’s professional journey, transitioning from a festival-circuit director to a versatile figure in the industry. Earlier this year, his movie “Vaghachipani”, known as “Tiger’s Pond”, made headlines by becoming the first Kannada-language film to debut at the Berlin Film Festival’s Forum section.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I’d put it this way: “I follow the story of ‘Kurka’, which revolves around Munna, the defiant son of a former soldier now turned quarry worker. His life becomes intertwined with local power struggles, all while he grapples with profound personal grief. His journey to find resolution takes an unexpected turn, leading to a mind-bending transformation that puts his honesty to the ultimate test.

Discussing the latest production label and their extensive partnership, Natesh Hegde remarked: “Ganesh and I go way back from our short film days. I helmed ‘Pedro,’ while he directed ‘Neeli Hakki.’ For ‘Vaghachipani,’ he stepped in as associate director to aid me. Over the years, we’ve been mutually supportive on numerous projects.

The show is a collaboration between Fox and Friends and Aghor Motion Pictures, founded by Dr. Revanna, a prominent entrepreneur and philanthropist, with the mission to cultivate emerging storytellers in the film industry.

Natesh Hegde remarked that it’s inspiring to observe a fresh generation of filmmakers in the Indian cinema industry, who are not only producing films but also experiencing both success and failure, all while being deeply committed to sharing their unique stories. He stated that the mission of their production company is to establish a platform for creating relatable, sensible, and unconventional films.

In 2021, the film titled “Pedro” participated in the New Currents competition at the Busan International Film Festival. It went on to win the Best Director award for Natesh Hegde at Pingyao, the Best Film award at the Nantes Three Continents Festival, and had a successful festival run that included the BFI London Film Festival, Golden Horse, and IndieLisboa.

Known mainly for his directorial work, Natesh Hegde is also making a name for himself as an actor, having landed roles in the 2024 film “Rifle Club” and a future Hindi-language movie directed by Anurag Kashyap.

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Although he’s famous for his directing, Natesh Hegde is also gaining recognition as an actor, appearing in the upcoming films “Rifle Club” (2024) and a Hindi-language project helmed by Anurag Kashyap.

The “Kurka” cast also features Avinash, Vijay Raghavendra and Anupama Gowda.

Ganesh Hegde takes on two roles – director and cinematographer, while Natesh assumes the editor’s role. Our creative team consists of Charan Raj, who composes music, and Shreyank Nanjappa, a graduate from the Film and Television Institute of India with a history of work showcased at Berlinale and Cannes film festivals, handling sound design.

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2025-04-30 12:47