In the first half of the year 2009 controversies took the prime spot and films miserably failed in Kannada filmdom. The success rate is not even 10 percent from 65 films released in the six months. The newcomers like the last year 2008 fell like pack of cards. Lack of approach and not knowing the grammar of film making plus poor selection of subjects uprooted the fate of Kannada filmdom.
Among all the heroes it is only Vijay with two films, Yogish, Ramesh Aravind, Malashri and Sudeep with one film each could do well in the box office in the last six months. The miserable flop films of Shivarajakumar’s ‘Nanda and Hodi Magaa’, Dr.Vishnuvardhana’s ‘Nam Yajamanru’, Upendra’s ‘Dubai Babu’, Srimurali’s ‘Shivamani’ and ‘Yagna’ Vijaya Raghavendra’s ‘Karanji’ and ‘Nam Yajamanru’, Ganesh’s ‘Circus’, Prajwal Devaraj’s ‘Ghulama’, Balaji and V.Ravichandran’s ‘Rajakumari’ and Premkumar’s ‘Gautham’, Ajay’s ‘Jaaji Mallige’,
The films that did very well in the box office are – ‘Ambari’ of Yogish and Supritha, ‘Josh’ of fresh faces, Savaari of Srinagara Kitty, Raghu Mukerji and Kamalini Mukerjee, Junglee of Vijay and Andrita Ray and Thakkath of Vijay and Shuba Punj, ‘Yee Shathamanadha Veera Madhakari’ of Sudeep and Ragini and ‘Kannadadha Kiran Bedi of Malashri’. Among the newcomers one original film Ambari director Arjun and Jacob Verghese of Telugu film remake ‘Gamyam’ in Kannada as ‘Savari’ showed promising results.
This is the year that celebrated Amrutha Mahotsava 75 years of Kannada cinema but the expected result from the bigwigs for sprucing up the Kannada film industry after celebrations in March this year did not happen. The Kannada Film Producers Association applied the 10 point formula to check the expenses made on the films but it never bothered to think on the quality of films.
CONTROVERSIES
Confidence on director Chandrasekhar Srivatsav by producer Smt.Pramila (BJP Women wing President) and her son Ajith the actor of ‘Patre Love Padma’ and director’s over confidence plus irresponsible attitude has burnt nearly Rs.1.5 crore. The Rs.2 crore film ‘Patre Love Padma’ was able to get Rs.45 lakhs as satellite right and nothing came from the screening of films admits Ajith son of producer Smt.Pramila.
Keeping the media at a distance the screen charmer Radhika appeared for the song shooting of ‘Ishwar’ Kannada film on Thursday. She shot from morning 9 to 6 pm.
Everything is not going in right order for the first time producers of ‘E Preethi’. The reasons for this are two persons – Diganth and Tejaswini the lead pair of the film. At the growing stage in career both are creating trouble and uprooting their career in Kannada films.
The cute actor of Kannada cinema Prajwal Devaraj did not expect the strong silent protest from the media for his careless remarks. As Prajwal stood up to explain his role on his new film ‘Jeeva’ the media also stood up considering Prajwal as the high ranking actor who spoke like Jnanapeeth award winner does. What his Papa had not done in three decades he has just did it in two years.
Can this Vishnu not come and ask me ‘let us do a film together in the last five years’ after ‘Aptha Mithra’ success asked Dwarakish. I have done 50 films in my life but he did not ask me to do a cinema together. Is this the set up we have to continue in Kannada filmdom at ‘Amrutha Mahotsava’ time Dwarakish asks? A person who has given super hit after 18 years is sitting blank for five years. Can this happen anywhere Dwarakish asks again.
Very senior director and writer N.T.Jayarama Reddy made a careless statement on Thursday afternoon for not getting an award at the state level for his film ‘Deepa’. The panel of judges at the state award committee should make introspection he said.
The title of ‘Veera Madhakari’ will not be changed at any cost. Writer B.L.Venu is not the Prime Minister of India. He does not know what he wants. I would not budge to the title of this demand the writer has made actor cum director Sudeep reacted sharply speaking to media friends after the audio release of ‘Veera Madhakari’ Kannada film at Atria Hotel.
‘SUKUMARA’ Kannada film launched by Confident Entertainment Group that has been taken up for direction by Rajasenan with Karthik (brother of actress Sindhu Menon) Gauri Munjal in the lead is in cold storage. Without giving reasons for such state of affairs the director Rajasenan is now silently applying make up to play the hero in Malayalam film ‘Bharya Onnu Makkal Moonuu’ that is launched by Jini Pictures in a medium budget.
The prominent Kannada film star Darshan the challenging star and his ‘Navagraha’ colleagues are upset with the attitude of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce pointing to the books it has brought out at the Amrutha Mahotsava event. There is no book on Toogudeepa Srinivas has definitely upset star actor Darshan. Likewise there are other actors of ‘Navagraha’ the sons of veteran actors of Kannada cinema also upset for documenting the services of their proud fathers.
• The music director should not lie to the producer first and secondly he should obey the director. The director also should be able to take good work from the music director. Instead of it giving package deal, music directors going to Mumbai waiting in five star hotels for days to get the call sheet of singers is not called for attacked Velu.
The Kannada Sahitya Kalavidara Sangha has arrived at a conclusion to protest against the stopping of Charlie Chaplin statue at Othineni in Udupi district for the Kannada film ‘House Full’ produced by Maverick Association of Mumbai in the direction of Hemanth Hegde.
It was an evening of Shani shine and Duttargi dynamism surfacing at the 3rd Varadaraju Award presentation. It was a recap for the veterans on Tuesday evening at the Nayana Kannada Bhavana at the SP Varadaraju Awards.
Yes. ‘The money played a crucial role in the release of my father Dr.Rajakumar from the hands of fugitive Veerappan’. I cannot say it was not there at all. I don’t know how much of money was transferred and it is not right to rake up old issues now said Shivarajakumar answering a question at the 7th Amrutha Mathu Manthana at Press Club of Bangalore. You go on digging it now it looks like a whole vicious circle he informed.
Dr.Leelavathi was in shock for receiving a blow to her vehicle when she was traveling with her son Vinodraj near Shanthala Silk House.
Hodi Maga Kannada film locked in censor battle.
Actress Shruthi divorced her husband director S Mahender, announced marriage to Chandrachud. She was asked to get down from Women and Children Welfare department chairperson post.
Ramaya lashing at film journalist for her coming late to ‘Jothegara’ media briefing, ‘Jothegara’ film locked in financial problems, there was hue and cry for the theatre timings.
Top producer, director and actor Dwarakish dashed by saying ‘Aptha Mithra’ director P Vasu cheated me were major ones.
OBITUARY
S.Madesh the producer of ‘Sacha’ Kannada film who died on account of brain hemorrhage at Sagar Appolo Hospital in Bangalore - He was just 35 years.
Te first half lost a notable personality R Lakshman.
He was one of the pillars of Kannada cinema industry. Hindi actor and producer Feroz Khan died in Bangalore.
One of the prominent supporting actor on big and small screen Bharat Bagavathar son of Honnappa Bagavathar the legend of yesteryears died on Saturday on account of brain hemorrhage in Bangalore. The 50 years Bharat Bagavathar left behind two daughters Laxmi and Megasri. Megasri is Kannada film and television actress.
Raju Ananthaswamy was 39 and leaves behind mother Shantha and two sister who are staying in USA.
DEVELOPMENTS
Among the developments the setting up of Kannada Chalanachitra Academy was most wanted. TS Nagabharana heads the team. This was inaugurated at Banquet Hall of Vidhana Soudha by Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa.
The 67 years States theatre became ‘Bhoomika’.
The expected winner at the MP elections Ambarish lost in the election battle,
The prestigious Lahari Recording Company moved to the new office.
The first ever television awards were given away on the silver jubilee of television industry.
The two big Bangalore Royal Challenger families in the cinema business Rockline Venkatesh and Munirathna Naidu children Mr V.Yateesh and Ms M. Sindhoori respectively married on 30th April in Bangalore Main Palace in a grand style, top ranking music director Hamsalekha opened a College that gives education in music, dance and drama besides teaching technical aspects.
For power star Puneeth Rajakumar starring ‘Raj the Showman’ the five prominent heroines of yesteryears – Dr.Jayaprada, Jayanthi, Dr.Jayamala, Bharathi Vishnuvardhana and Urvashi – all five heroines of Dr.Rajakumar films have come together for a song sequence of ‘Raj-The Showman’.
Dr.Vishnuvardhana bagged the Dr.Rajakumar award while Life time achievement award goes to Smt.Parvathamma Rajakumar and the prestigious Puttanna Kanagal Award goes to veteran director Renuka Sharma in the 2007-2008 Karnataka State Film Awards announced on Sunday evening by Information Minister Khatta Subramanya Naidu.
The depressing fact is that the closure of morning show of Pramod theatre (situated next to Prasanna) on busy Magadi Road for want of audience to the Kannada film ‘Meghave Meghave’. Perhaps this is for the first time in the history of Kannada cinema.
The wedding reception of Shruthi Shailendra daughter of noted producer of Kannada cinema Shailendra Babu and Suraksh Ravikumar was attended by many of the film industry friends on Thursday evening that was held in opulent style with the backdrop of Bangalore Palace. Shruthi is Suraksha as her hubby name itself is ‘SURAKSH’.
Pooja Gandhi nearing 25 films floated her website via globosport Digital on 29th April 2009. It is www.mypoojagandhi.com.
AWARDS
108 prominent personalities plus big wigs like Rajanikanth, Prakash Rai and others were honored on the occasion of Amrutha Mahotsava of Kannada cinema.
For the first time in the history of radio channels the annual awards on the second year existence of 93.5 SFM a Sun Network channel was bagged by top playback singer the winner of three state awards Nanditha. The award for Nanditha was given to the song in the film ‘Slum Bala’ Manasu Rangagidhe…. The male playback singer of 2008 went to Raghu Dixit for his song Ninna Poojege Bandha Madeshwara……in the film ‘Psycho’.
Popular small screen ‘badshah’ Ravikiran crowned the ‘ACT Television Cable Varthe Television Award’ in the first television awards evening on 12th of April at Tripura Vasini Hall in Bangalore Palace. The artists and technicians in 30 plus categories receive the awards. The lifetime achievement award will be given to HMK Murthy, Sihikahi Chandru, MS Narasimha Murthy and Smt.Aparna.
Manohar. R.(Manu),
chitrataramanu@gmail.com
Photo Journalist
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