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EntertainmentSudeep recently hosted a special vegan dinner for Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza and it turned out to be a night to remember. Digital NativeThe Kannada actor with a pan India appeal, Kiccha Sudeep shares a special rapport with the Bollywood star couple Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza since long. Last year, on Sudeep’s birthday, both Riteish as well as Genelia shared some pictures with the star and wrote memorable birthday wishes. Their special bonding continues with Sudeep recently hosting a special vegan dinner for Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza and it turned out to be a night to remember. Sharing a few pictures from the memorable night, Genelia posted on her Instagram page, “Had the most amazing time with an absolutely amazing person @kichchasudeepa...Thank You for a wonderful evening, great conversations and most importantly memories than we will always cherish..@riteishd and myself totally love you..Missed...

EntertainmentSpeaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Sudeep revealed that he turned a director by chance and that it was completely accidental.Digital NativeDigital NativeKiccha Sudeep recently celebrated his silver jubilee in the film industry in Dubai and hosted a special event for the media in Bengaluru. During his interaction with mediapersons, Sudeep candidly revealed that he turned a director by chance and it was completely accidental. The actor’s maiden directorial was My Autograph, which was the remake of the hit Tamil film Autograph directed by Cheran, who had also played the lead role in it. Speaking about his directorial debut, as quoted by the Times of India, Sudeep is reported to have said, “I'm talking about 2005, it was a low phase of my life. A few of my films weren't doing well, when the films of others were doing very well. It was at that time that I had the...

EntertainmentSudeep has been hosting the show consecutively for the last seven seasons.Digital NativeFile photoSandalwood star Kiccha Sudeep’s next film release will be Kottigobba 3. The shooting of this film has been wrapped up and it is gearing up for release on April 29. Prior to that, the audio launch will take place on March 28 and preparations are being planned on a grand scale. Reports suggest that the audio launch will be a grand public event organised by programme head Parameshwar Gundkal and will be telecast on Colors Viacom. Sudeep is not only playing the lead role in Kottigobba 3, but has penned it as well. Kottigobba 3 is directed by debutant Shiva Karthik. Arjun Janya is composing music for this venture while Shekar Chandru is handling the camera. Madonna Sebastian and Shraddha Das will be playing the female leads in this film with Bollywood actor Aftab Shivdasani in an important role. The...

SANDALWOODThe ‘Kotigobba 3’ event will reportedly be a grand affair and will be aired on television.Digital NativeDigital NativeThe audio launch of the Sudeep starrer Kotigobba 3 is all set to take place on March 28 this year. Reports are that the audio launch will be a grand public event organised by programme head Parameshwar Gundkal, and will be aired on television. The promotional events for Kotigobba 3 are all set to begin this month, after Sudeep returns from his Dubai visit. The star was in Dubai to celebrate his Silver Jubilee in cinema and reveal the title logo of his upcoming film Vikranth Rona. Recently the makers kick-started the promotions of the film in Dubai. The title logo and a sneak peek of the movie were displayed on Dubai’s Burj Khalifa amid a lot of fanfare, along with a glimpse of Sudeep’s journey in the film industry. Besides playing the lead role in Kotigobba 3,...

EntertainmentDarshan is expected to appear in a cameo role in 'Inspector Vikram' while Chandan is gearing up to play a Sudeep fan in 'Mangalavara Rajaadina'.Digital NativeDigital NativeTheatres across Karnataka have reopened after the Covid-19 lockdown and there is a long line up of films waiting for release. Two films – Inspector Vikram and Mangalavara Rajaadina, are scheduled to hit the screens on February 5. In Inspector Vikram, Darshan plays a cameo role and in Mangalavara Rajaadina, Chandan Achar plays a hardcore Sudeep fan who wants to make a unique hairstyle for his idol. Inspector Vikram is directed by Narasimha and bankrolled by Vikyath VR under his banner. Prajwal Devaraj and Bhavana play the lead roles in Inspector Vikram which has Raghu Mukherjee as the antagonist. The technical crew of the film comprises Anoop Seelin for music, Naveen Kumar for cinematography and Sathish and Sreenivas for art direction. Reports suggest that while...

SandalwoodWith the film industry getting back on its feet after the pandemic, here’s a tentative list of Sandalwood films release dates. Digital NativeThe film industry is slowly but steadily getting back on its feet with theatres reopening after the Covid–19 lockdown since March last year. In fact, there is a long line of films in Sandalwood waiting for the release. Here’s a tentative list with the release dates. Ramarjuna (January 29) - Ramarjuna is an upcoming Kannada film that is directed by Anish Tejaswar. Anish is also playing the lead role in it. Interestingly, the Kannada Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar has rendered a song in this flick which has been composed by Vidya Sagar. Inspector Vikram (February 5) - Prajwal Devaraj and Bhavana play the lead pair in Inspector Vikram which has Ramesh Aravind as the villain. Darshan will be seen making a cameo appearance in this flick. The technical...

SandalwoodRaghavendra Rajkumar took a hiatus from donning the greasepaint for a long time before staging a comeback with 'Ammana Mane'.Digital NativeHaving made a successful comeback and picking some of the best projects, Kannada actor Raghavendra Rajkumar’s star brothers, Shiva Rajkumar and Puneeth Rajkumar wished him all the best. Raghavendra Rajkumar took a hiatus from donning the greasepaint for a long time before staging a comeback with Ammana Mane. Adapted from the book Sri Lalithe, the film was directed by Nikhil Manjoo Lingaiah and bankrolled by Smt Atmasri and R S Kumar under the banners Sri Lalithe Chitralaya and Nisarga Creations. The film’s technical crew included Swami Googaredoddi for cinematography, Nitesh Kumar B for editing. The star cast included Rohini Nagesh, Sheetal Hemanth, Manasi Sudhir, Suchendra Prasad, Nikhil Manjoo, Chaitra, and Tabla Nani. This family drama, released last year, fetched Raghavendra Rajkumar the coveted Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor.

SandalwoodSwami Googaredoddi will also handle the camera work for the film, which is titled ‘Rajatantra’.Digital NativeDigital NativeKannada actor Raghavendra Rajkumar, brother of stars Shiva Rajkumar and Puneeth Rajkumar, stayed away from the arc lights for a long time before staging a comeback with Ammana Mane. Adapted from a book by Sri Lalithe, the film was directed by Nikhil Manjoo Lingaiah and bankrolled by Atmasri and Rs Kumar under the banners Sri Lalithe Chitralaya and Nisarga Creations. The film’s technical crew included Sameera Kulkarni for cinematography, Swami Googaredoddi for cinematography, and Nitesh Kumar B for editing. The star cast included Rohini Nagesh, Sheetal Hemanth, Manasi Sudhir, Suchendra Prasad, Nikhil Manjoo, Chaitra and Tabla Nani. This family drama, released last year, fetched Raghavendra Rajkumar the coveted Karnataka State Film Awards for Best Actor. According to the latest reports, Raghavendra Rajkumar and the cinematographer of Ammana Mane, Swami Googaredoddi, will be...

CinemaDirected by Gokulraj Bhaskar, this will reportedly be the first film in India to be shot entirely using the virtual production filmmaking technique.Digital NativeDigital NativeKiccha Sudeep, one of the few south Indian actors with a pan Indian appeal, has reportedly been approached for a role in the upcoming Prithviraj starrer. Director Gokulraj Bhaskar has reportedly approached Sudeep for his multilingual film, but is yet to get the go-ahead as the actor is busy with his upcoming film Phantom. We hear that the Prithviraj starrer will be shot using the virtual production filmmaking technique, which has been used in Hollywood flicks such as The Lion King and Avatar. This will be the first film in India to be shot entirely using this technique. Yet to be titled, the film will be made in different Indian languages such as Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. Prithivraj, who is also bankrolling the...

SandalwoodLast year, Sudeep had unveiled the common Dp for ShivaRajkumar’s birthday.Digital NativeIt’s the Kannada star Kiccha Sudeep’s birthday tomorrow and fans are thrilled with the Superstar of Sandalwood, Shiva Rajkumar unveiling the common Dp as a part of the online celebrations. Releasing the common Dp on Twitter, Shiva Rajkumar had tweeted: “Happy to release common Dp for my dear friend @KicchaSudeep .. all the best.” Happy to release common Dp for my dear friend @KicchaSudeep .. all the best pic.twitter.com/x1LonqME3f — DrShivaRajkumar (@NimmaShivanna) August 30, 2020 Interestingly, Sudeep had unveiled the common Dp for Shiva Rajkumar’s birthday earlier and this shows the good rapport they share. Shiva Rajkumar and Kiccha Sudeep had shared the screen space in the 2018 release The Villain, which turned out to be huge hit. Directed by Prem, The Villain had Shiva Rajkumar and Kiccha Sudeep sharing the screen space for the first time.

SandalwoodWhile Sudeep plays the lead character Vikranth Rona, Nirup Bhandari will be seen as Sanjeev Gambhira and Neetha Ashok as Aparna Ballal aka Panna.Digital NativeKiccha Sudeep’s fans should be thrilled to know that the star is busy shooting for his upcoming film Phantom. The team is busy shooting a song sequence featuring the lead star along with a host of kids. The shooting is currently happening at the Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad. Art director Shiva Kumar has erected grand sets for the song with Jani master choreographing it. Director Anup Bhandari has penned the lyrics for the song which was composed by Ajeneesh Lokanath. Kiccha Sudeep and director Anup Bhandari are teaming up for Phantom and this is their first outing together. Manjunath Gowda, a close associate of Sudeep, is producing the film under his banner. While Sudeep plays the lead character Vikranth Rona, Nirup Bhandari will be...

SandalwoodDirected by Anup Bhandari, the film’s shooting is set to commence in Hyderabad where a massive set has been created.Digital NativeKiccha Sudeep is done with the shooting for Kotigobba 3 and is now all ready to move on to the sets of his next film titled Phantom. The actor is teaming up with director Anup Bhandari for Phantom and this is their first outing together. Manjunath Gowda, a close associate of Sudeep, will be bankrolling the film under his banner. Reports say that Anup had floored Sudeep with an impressive script following which the actor decided to shelve Billa Ranga Baashaa, which was announced earlier. The groundwork for Phantom has been going on for months now and the shooting is all set to commence on Monday in Hyderabad. Talking about the preparations for Phantom, producer Manjunath Gowda had told the Times of India in an interview, “We have...

SandalwoodReports say Sudeep’s ‘Kotigobba 3’ and Darshan’s ‘Roberrt’ may hit the marquee on the same day.Digital NativeDigital NativeTwo of the biggest stars in Sandalwood, Sudeep and Darshan, are gearing up for a box-office clash, we hear. Reports say that Sudeep’s Kotigobba 3 and Darshan’s Roberrt may hit the marquee on the same day. If this happens, it is surely going to start a storm online as the fans of both these stars are known to lock horns on social media on a regular basis. While Sudeep himself has penned Kotigobba 3, it is directed by debutant Shiva Karthik. The film’s shooting began with a fight sequence in Belgrade in June 2018. It has had a staggered shooting schedule with Sudeep juggling between various films in Kannada and other languages. The film is said to be a sequel to the 2016 film Kotigobba 2. The earlier film...

Sandalwood‘Damayanthi’, which has Radhika Kumaraswamy playing the main lead, seems to be the frontrunner to score it big at the box-office.Digital NativeA still from ‘Damayanthi’The Kannada film industry will witness a unique occurrence this week. Nine movies are set to hit the marquee on a single day, Friday, November 29. The films that are set for release are Damayanthi, Mundina Nildana, Brahmachari, Margaret, Ranahedi, Kiru Minkanaja, Naane Raja, Reveal and Tundu Haikla Sahavasa. Of these nine films, Damayanthi seems to be the frontrunner to score it big at the box office. It is touted to be a heroine-centric film with Radhika Kumaraswamy playing the main lead. Set in the 1980s, Damayanthi is directed and produced by Navarasan. Radhika will appear in three different get-ups in the film and she has reportedly done a lot of homework for her character. Radhika’s looks in the film have been revealed...

SandalwoodDirected and produced by Navarasan, the film will also be released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.Digital NativeDigital NativeThe audio launch of Damayanthi is scheduled to happen on November 12 to coincide with its lead star Radhika Kumaraswamy’s birthday. The news has been confirmed officially and we also hear that Darshan will be gracing the event. The makers of Damayanthi impressed the star with the film by screening the rushes for him and the star reportedly praised the team for the good quality work. Damayanthi, set in the 1980s, is directed and produced by Navarasan. It is touted to be heroine-centric film and Radhika will appear in three different get-ups. Reports say that she has done a lot of homework for her character. The story revolves around Damayanthi, daughter of Rajendra Varma from the Devapura royal family, who is a doctor by profession. Her whole family is killed by...

SandalwoodThis is a remake of the 2015 Malayalam film 'Two Countries'.Aravind ShwethaAdhyaksha in America, directed by Yoganand Muddan, is not a sequel to Sharan's hit film Adhyaksha. There is no connection or continuation to the first part. This is a remake of the 2015 Malayalam film Two Countries, which was also remade in Telugu with Sunil in the lead. A remake film comes with its own pros and cons. With a number of online streaming platforms making their way to every household, there are chances that many people would have already seen the original. That said, the onus is on the filmmakers to weave a tale taking only the important elements from the original and fashioning it to suit the sensibilities of its audience. A too-faithful remake – meaning frame-to-frame copy – is sure to disappoint the audience. Adhyaksha in America is one such remake. Ullas (Sharan) is a wastrel and an opportunist.

SandalwoodDirected and produced by Navarasan, Radhika will appear in three different get-ups in this period film.Digital NativeDigital NativeDamayanthi, set in the 1980s, is directed and produced by Navarasan. In this movie, which is touted to be heroine-centric, Radhika Kumaraswamy will appear in three different get-ups and she has reportedly done a lot of homework for her character. This Kannada film will also be released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam, considering the universal appeal of the subject. The film’s director-producer Navarasan told Cinema Express in an interview, “Such types of films are doing well these days. So I think this is the best time to make a film like this. I’m quite confident that the film has all the necessary elements to cater to the national audience. People want to see something new. This film is an attempt to satisfy that need.” As Damayanthi is set in a different time period,...

SandalwoodThe set worth Rs 2 crore has been erected at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, where an intense action sequence is being shot.Digital NativeThe shooting of the Sudeep starrer Kotigobba 3 is currently going on at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad. According to reports, the team has erected a set worth Rs 2 crore, where an intense action sequence is being shot. Reports say that this schedule will go on for 15 days. While Sudeep has himself penned Kotigobba 3, it is directed by debutant Shiva Karthik. Arjun Janya is composing the music for this venture while Shekar Chandru is handling the camera. Madonna Sebastian and Shraddha Das will be playing the female leads in this flick with Bollywood actor Aftab Shivdasani in an important role. The others in supporting roles include Tabla Nani, Rajesh Nataranga and Ravi Shankar. It may be noted here that the shooting schedules of Kotigobba 3 have been getting delayed...

Sandalwood'Kavacha' is the Kannada remake of the Mohanlal film 'Oppam'.Aravind ShwethaWith over a 100 films in his kitty, Dr. Shiva Rajkumar has essayed almost every kind of role in his three-decade-long career. But, Kavacha is special for two reasons. One – Shivanna broke his own rules and agreed to be a part of a remake film after 14 long years. Two – for the first time in his career, he plays the role of a visually impaired man in this murder mystery. The structure of every murder mystery is obviously the murder, which is followed by the story of a murderer, the person being murdered and a police officer investigating the case. The hero can either play the role of the murderer or the role of the police officer. In some movies, the hero is an innocent man, who is caught in the line of fire. Kavacha has one such narrative with the...

With just one song needed to be wrapped up, the film has gone into the post production mode. Digital NativeIt was reported a few days ago that following a leg injury while shooting for a film, Radhika Kumaraswamy had to take a short break. But all is fine now with the actor back to work. Reports are that she has completed shooting for the talkie portions in her upcoming film Damayanti. With just one song needed to be wrapped up, the film has gone into the post production mode. Damayanti, set in the 1980s, is directed and produced by Navarsan. Touted to be a heroine-centric film, Radhika will appear in three different get-ups and she has done a lot of homework for her character. Her first two looks have been revealed already. With the film set in a different time period, the VFX work will reportedly take at least three months to be completed.

SandalwoodVeteran star Raghavendra Rajkumar’s comeback film touches upon several issues faced by lower middleclass families.Aravind ShwethaAmmana Mane could not have gotten a better release date than Women’s Day, for the movie revolves around the three most important women in the hero’s life – mother, wife and daughter. This comeback film of veteran star Raghavendra Rajkumar had upped the ante with its intriguing trailer. However, the makers had sent a clear message that this would be an engaging, meaningful film and not a commercial potboiler for entertainment lovers. The film stands by it. Born with a deformity, Rajeeva (Raghavendra Rajkumar) is thin and frail. This upsets his father who gives his wife (Rohini Nagesh) an ultimatum to choose between the ailing baby and him. Rohini chooses the former, determined to make her son an independent man. He cannot walk or talk fast, so she stands by him throughout.

Sandalwood‘Damayanti’ is a horror comedy set in the 1980s, in which Radhika plays the title role.Digital NativeDigital NativeRadhika Kumaraswamy was in the news a few days ago after hurting her leg during a song shoot for Damayanti. The shooting had to be put on hold till the actor recovered and now we hear that she is gearing up to get back on the sets. Radhika is busy with two films – Damayanti and Bhairadevi. According to reports, she will be juggling between the sets of these two films to complete the projects on time. The actor is expected to join the sets of Damayanti on March 5 to complete the song shoot. On her injury and getting back to the shooting, Radhika has been quoted by The New Indian Express as saying, “I am doing well now and will be back for the next schedule of Damayanti. I have just...

SandalwoodThe actor will be seen playing the title role in the film, which is touted to be a horror comedy.Digital NativeA few months ago, there were reports that Kannada actor Radhika Kumarasamy’s next project is titled Damayanti and that it will be directed by Navarasan. This was followed by rumours that the actor, who is the wife of the chief minister of Karnataka, HD Kumaraswamy, will quit acting and join politics to assist her husband. Radhika has put the rumours aside with the announcement that Damayanti would go on the floors on November 12. She will be seen playing the title role in the film, which is touted to be a horror comedy. It is a period flick set in the 1980s with oodles of VFX included. Makuta VFX has been roped in to take care of the computer graphics in the film. Damayanti will feature veteran producer Gk...

SandalwoodSet in the 1980s, the film will reportedly have loads of VFX.Digital NativeDigital NativeRadhika Kumaraswamy aka Kutty Radhika will be seen playing the title role in Damayanti, a horror comedy. A period flick set in the 1980s, it will reportedly have loads of VFX included. Makuta VFX has been roped in to take care of the computer graphics in the film. Damayanti will have veteran producer Gk Reddy of Gk Films playing Radhika’s dad. It may be noted here that he is the father of the actor - producer Vishal, who is also the general secretary of the South Indian Artistes Associations and the President of the Tamil Film Producers’ Council. Reports indicate that Damayanti will be made in Kannada and then released in other southern languages as well. To be directed by Navarasan, who is also the producer of the film, Damayanti will include Sadhu Kokila, Tabla Nani,...

SandalwoodDebutant director S Mahesh Kumar has managed to depict the rural setup without making it seem artificial.Aravind ShwethaAs the title suggests, Ayogya revolves around the ‘unfit’ protagonist, played by Sathish Ninasam. For this mass entertainer, Sathish has collaborated with S Mahesh Kumar, a former protégée of renowned directors Yogaraj Bhat and Duniya Soori. The storyline, though predictable, is entertaining. Maregowdanahalli, a remote village in Mandya, is under the control of gram panchayat chief Bachche Gowda (Ravishankar) for several years. The hero Sidde Gowda (Sathish), an unemployed youth, is irked that despite being in power for many years, Bachche Gowda has not provided basic facilities like toilets to the village and rebels against him. Thus begins the clash of clans – Sidde Gowda vs Bachche Gowda. How the apparently unfit and incompetent Sidde Gowda confronts Bachche Gowda is narrated humorously, and this forms one part of the story. In parallel, Sidde...

Sandalwood'Krishna Tulasi' manages to do better than many previous films with disabled protagonists.Rakesh MeharScreenshot/YouTubeStories about persons with disability are generally a troubling prospect in Sandalwood. More often than not, audiences are served up a tale dripping with pity and condescension, as the disabled protagonists work simply as a mirror for the faults of the able-bodied characters around them. Thankfully, while Krishna Tulasi can’t entirely escape from the trope of disabled persons with hearts of gold, it manages to do better than many previous films with disabled protagonists. The film tells a love story that slowly blossoms between Krishna (Sanchari Vijay) and Tulasi (Meghashree). While Krishna is a tour guide who has recently moved from his hometown in Madikeri to Mysuru (much to his mother’s disappointment and concern), Tulasi is a voice artist in a dubbing studio. As they meet repeatedly on the same bus, conversations turn into friendship, which is poised to blossom into love. But a sudden revelation leads Krishna to a questionable decision regarding the relationship, and it seems like this love story may end before either person confesses their love. There are more than a few interesting elements in this film. For one, in an effort to treat its blind characters respectfully, writer and director Sukesh Nayak spends a lot of time focusing on their daily routines and the way they live their lives. The picture the film tries to paint is of dignified, self-sufficient individuals who have made the best of their circumstances, and largely succeeds. For another, it also fleshes out its protagonists, giving us a sense of their work, their various relationships, and their hopes and desires. And it keeps the eternally wise, innocent and genial personae of disabled persons to a minimum, which many previous films have struggled to do. The visual journey is also quite pleasing, with the film bathing Mysuru in a mellow warmth. The music is similarly quite likely to stay with one long after the end credits roll by. On the acting front, Sanchari Vijay pulls off a strong performance, capturing the texture of a variety of emotions. Meghashree struggles with overplaying her character at times, but is largely likeable. The rest of the cast including Ramesh Bhat, Tabla Nani, Kuri Prathap and Padmaja Rao, deliver an earnest set of performances too. The film, however, isn’t entirely able to escape from the heart of gold syndrome, and conceive of disabled characters who might be selfish or self-centric. So it never manages to move far enough from overdone tropes in Kannada cinema, particularly in the somewhat disappointing climax. It could also have done with a tighter edit, as it drags in parts and takes too long to get to its central dramatic conflict. Still, Krishna Tulasi is worth a watch for anyone who’s tired of formulaic mass entertainers and is looking for a genial, if a tad too sentimental, tale. Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the film. Neither Tnm nor any of its reviewers have any sort of business relationship with the film's producers or any other members of its cast and crew.

EntertainmentThe film will star Kannada actor Navarasan and will be helmed by Pran Poojari.Digital NativeDigital NativeKannada actor Navarasan, popular for his portrayal in horror movies such as Vaira, Rakshasi and Psycho Shankara, has signed up a new venture titled Jai Loves Janu. This time around, he has chosen a romantic entertainer and is all set to capture the attention of the movie buffs with this new genre. The poster of Jai Loves Janu was released by the Nadigar Sangam General Secretary and Tamil Film Producers’ Council Chairman Vishal along with his father Gk Reddy. Produced under the banner Geetha Entertainment, the film will be helmed by Pran Poojari. The director will be making his debut with Jai Loves Janu. Speaking about taking up this venture, Navarasan said that he chose this script after listening to around 25 scripts as he was impressed by it. The actor has said that he took up courses in acting and direction for about three years before venturing into movies and is confident that the film would turn out to be a hit. Actor Narthat told Bangalore Mirror: “Jai Love’s Janu is based on a break-up story which also packed into it a message for the youth. Love stories are common in present life, but many people ruin their lives only because of a break-up. So, Jai Love’s Janu will show that break-up is not a reason to end life. In that way, this movie will be a good watch for the youth.” Kempe Gowda, Tabla Nani and Vijay Chendur, who have all been part of Navarasan’s earlier ventures, have found a spot in this film as well. The director is currently scouting for a suitable female lead to pair up with Navarasan and is expected to zero in on one very soon. The shooting of this film would commence in mid-January with plans to can important portions at various locations in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Mangaluru, among other places. The team has chalked out a 45-day schedule for the shooting and the film is expected to hit the silver screens by mid-2018.