MANGALURU, DECEMBER 29, 2025: What started as a modest plan to shoot a short film on a mobile phone and upload it to YouTube has now become a landmark moment in Tulu cinema. ‘Bulipu- The Cry of a Baby’ – produced under Kudlaco Productions, has etched its name in history by becoming the only Tulu short film to achieve three houseful shows in a single day at Bharath Cinemas, Bejai, Mangaluru.
The project was conceived by Vaibhav D. Shettigar and Shrashanth Acharya, students of Canara PU College, along with their classmate Milan Amin. Initially envisioned as a low-budget digital release, the film gradually transformed into a full-fledged theatrical experience. Directed by Avinash Acharya and produced by Sharath Acharya, ‘Bulipu’ features a compelling story penned by Vaibhav Shettigar. The cast includes Durga Prasad Shetty, Vijayalakshmi Bekal, Deepthi Rao, Shreesha Acharya, Dhanush Bekal, and Sharath Acharya.
The turning point came with the entry of a producer and, later, Ganesh Acharya as Director of Photography, which significantly elevated the production quality. Despite facing multiple challenges and a budget that ballooned nearly tenfold, the team made a bold decision: to premiere the 40-minute short film in a theatre was the first-of-its-kind move in the Tulu short film industry. The gamble paid off spectacularly. The overwhelming audience response and three consecutive houseful shows have positioned ‘Bulipu’ as a milestone achievement, inspiring a new generation of filmmakers across the region.
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