BETTADA JIIVA Kalmane Kame Gowda

The journey of an illiterate and poor shepherd of a remote hamlet is documented here .
Kalmane Kamegowda grew up spending his childhood amid hills while tending sheep. His life amidst nature brought to the fore that birds and animals were always short of water and shade. He nurtured a dream to fill this gap. He went on to create three small lakes and planted trees . It took him almost seven decades to see his boyhood dream fulfilled.
A local reporter Shivakumar brought Kamegowda 's effort to the limelight by first publishing it in a newspaper. The news reached far and wide in the country bringing recognition to Kamegowda
This is how he earned accolades, acclaim, awards and prize money from the Government, Non- government organisations and public institutions.
He firmly believed that the money he received from people and institutions was not meant for him but to be used for the service towards the flora, the fauna and Nature. He persistently created sixteen small lakes , all on Government forest land.
The outcome of his efforts is seen not only in the increase of the ground water level but also in the better living conditions of the locals.
India was overwhelmed by the contribution of the simple shepherd Kamegowda. However, a few local youth were resentful and felt envious of him. They spread false information and canard, indulging in evil politics. They tortured him physically and also clashed with him. In addition they also trolled him on social media. An ordinary, simple shepherd who was an ardent lover of Nature, birds and animals had much to face in his later phase of life. The struggles that he had to undergo from the backlash of a few misguided youth is the story of this film.
From the first newspaper article which highlighted his initial creation of three small lakes until the completion of sixteen such lakes over a decade of this legendary fighter, it is my curiosity and inquisitiveness to document his seven decade journey that led to the shooting of this film.