This is what Kannada film director Rishab Shetty did to 119-year-old Government school in Bantwal

April 26: The 119-year-old Government Primary School at Kairangala, has undergone an extensive facelift recently. Kannada film actor and director Rishab Shetty has transformed a crumbling building into a vibrant building. He had shot the main scenes of his film ‘Sarkari Hiriya Prathamika Shale, Kasaragodu – Koduge Ramanna Rai’ at this school.
The walls of the schools have been painted with pictures of historic icons of Tulunadu like Koti-Chennaya and Veerarani Abbakka. The paintings depict the culture of Tulunadu, the local arts ‘Hulivesha’ and ‘Yakshagana’, rural games such as ‘Buguri’ (spinning top), folk sport ‘Kambala’, modes of worship such as ‘Nagaradhane’ and ‘Daivaradhane’. The students will not only get inspired but will also gather knowledge.

Rishab Shetty decided to adopt the school which has helped in cementing his style of film making in Sandalwood and has been striving to improve facilities at the school for the past one year. The strength of the school has decreased to 25 students in the previous academic year. The number of teachers has also reduced to three. Rishab said that his team has taken this step to provide a new learning atmosphere for the children from the new academic year. The roof and some parts of the school were in a dilapidated condition. The leaking roofs have been repaired and the building was restored to its original glory. The walls of the school were given a fresh coat of paint.

Rishab said a pre-school will begin from the next academic year. He also has plans to recruit new guest teachers, to start the computer and Spoken English classes to increase the number of students, getting admission into the school. He said he will seek cooperation from the school alumni and people in the region to develop the school’s playground.