Kannada film fans have a lot to look forward to this August. With the end of Ashada , an inauspicious time for the launch and release of new films, and the beginning of Shravana , an auspicious month, a large number of big-budget films are set for release. According to sources in the Kannada film industry, there is a possibility of raking in ₹200 crore this month.
The highly-anticipated multilingual, multi-starrer, Kurukshetra will hit screens on August 9, the day of Varamahalakshmi festival. Kurukshetra is the first attempt by the 80-year-old Kannada film industry to depict the Mahabharata , making Kurukshetra, the war between Pandavas and Kauravas, the pivotal point. The ensemble cast includes Darshan, Ambareesh, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, Arjun Sarja, Ravichandran, Shashikumar, Sneha, Meghana, Danish Akthar, Sonu Sood. The film is directed by Naganna, who earlier made Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna .
Costliest yet
The 175-minute Kurukshetra is being touted as the costliest Kannada film made so far. Recently expelled Congress MLA Munirathna, who has produced the film, refused to divulge the total budget. (Last year’s KGF: Chapter 1 , which was said to be the most expensive Kannada film, had a budget of ₹ 80 crore).
However, he admitted that “the film earned ₹20 crore even before the release of audio and TV rights. A Bollywood company bought the satellite rights for the Hindi version of the film for ₹9.5 crore”.
Undeterred by the blockbuster draw of Kurukshetra , Kempegowda-2, the sequel to the 2012 film starring Sudeep, will also release on August 9. Comedian-turned-hero Komal plays the lead role and the cast includes cricketer Sreesanth.
Fortune favours the brave
Admitting that it is a risk to release the film on the same day as Kurukshetra and Saho, starring Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor, Komal says: “I don’t mind. The audience will choose what they want. Let them watch Kurukshetra first and then they can see Kempegowda-2. ”
However, TR Chandrashekar has pushed the release of Gubbi Mele Brahmastra, a dramedy starring Raj B Shetty of Ondu Motteya Kathe, to August 15. Earlier, he planned to release his film on Varamahalakshmi festival day.
The producers of other films such as Butterfly , Aatakkuntu Lekkakkilla , and Hulidurga are struggling to get dates for the release of their films during the festival season. Many producers attribute the confusion to the fact that the screening committee under the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, which used to have a say in the release of films, is not functioning.
“The committee has almost become dormant,” says producer Harish.
“I am confused about the release of my film Andavaada , because the schedule of many big-budget films are not put out as the producers constantly change it,” says director Chalapathi.
“This is not the case in neighbouring states as the release dates are fixed four months before the film hits the screens,” he adds.
Meanwhile, Nanna Prakara starring Priyamani and Kishore; Gimmick, and Geetha, both starring Ganesh; Kalpana Vilasi , Odeya and Randhava are also set to release in August.
The trailer of Arjun Gowda starring Prajwal Devaraj has been launched and the first song of Bharaate starring Sri Murali will be released soon.
