2003 - Yearly roundup of Kannada Film Industry

Goodbye 2003 and welcome 2004. Its time to look back and see our footsteps. Unlike many other industries, though there is nothing called year-end for film industries, we are eager to report the success and failure statistics. Though there is no yardstick to measure the success or failure of a movie, this is a chance for the looser to correct themselves and winner to feel proud about their success.

Compared to 2002, this year was much better for Kannada filmdom. Though the success rate was less than 30%, there were plenty of tasteful and verity of films in 2003. But it is sad that the audience don't have taste for good movies most of the time. 2003 had enormous ups and downs throughout with loads of remake films. Year marked with 98 movies, 2003 started with series of failures followed by everlasting tassel between film producers and exhibiters. Later part of the year turned out to be good for Sandalwood. Kariya, Abhi, Kutumba, Preethi Prema Pranaya, Chandra Chakori and Raktha Kanneeru films marked 100 days while Laali Haadu, Sriram, Don, Khushi films touched 50 day's mark. There was an encouragement for newness in the mainstream films and hence young directors like Prem, Yogaraj Bhat and Prakash are looking very successful. Paris Pranaya, Nanjundi, Singaravva, Chigurida Kanasu, Katthegalu Saar Katthegalu, Lankesh Pathrike and Ondagona Baa were high expectation films but failed in the box office. Veterans like Nagathihalli and Nagabharana are being puzzled because of such results. Shivaram Karanth's novel based Chigurida Kanasu directed by Bharana was a real good film in all aspects but ditched in the box office! There is no wonder him saying, "films are not spoiling the society but industry is suffering because of the poor taste of people."

Contrast to last year, 2003 was good for superstar Upendra with two super hit films in his credits - Kutumba and Raktha Kanneeru. It is too early to talk about his latest home production film Gokarna. Next comes actor Darshan with seven films in his kitty including Kariya, Laali Haadu, Dasa, Namma Preethiya Ramu and Annavru. Darshan turned out to be safe bet for film producers. For Sudeep, 2003 was not smooth sailing. His films Kiccha and Partha could not even complete 50 days. Film Nandi released by end of last year fetched him State Award and Filmfare Award. His home production Swathi Mutthu released last week has received rave reviews and showing positive signs of becoming a successful remake! There was only one film of Ravichandran - Ondagona Baa. This film recorded high sales in audio but bombed in the box office. Punith's second film Abhi was another hit film of the year. Two films of Shivarajkumar (Sriram and Don) have completed 50 days but when compared to his total number of films released but failed, this success takes back seat. Jaggesh adds himself to flop heroes list. Running after the success of his low budget film Yardo Duddu Yallammana Jathre, he acted in series of similar films where all of them flunked. Even Devraj does not have anything notable this year. His film Hai Naa Bhishma Kano was technically good but didn't do well. Vishnuvardhan, Ananthnag and Ambarish were the senior starts in the league. Vishnu had two films in his credit. While the first film Raja Narasimha failed completely, second film Hrudayavantha was moderate. Ananthnag's Preethi Prema Pranaya was beyond expectation. Though there are various other factors influencing this success, the lion share goes to Nag. Annavru of Ambi was released just three weeks ago and hence can't predict anything but has received good responses so far. Murali, Sunil Rao, Ajay and Mayur are promising new comers of the year. Except Khushi, there is nothing much to talk about Vijay Raghavendra.

We can say Ramya (Spandana) was the heroine of the year with two films in her credit - Abhi and Excuse Me. Last year's top heroine Radhika faced tough competition this year and failed in most of the films except Mani directed by Yojaraj Bhat. There weren't many opportunities for her either. She was branded for sentiment characters. For actress Prema 2003 was bad. Couple of her films were out of theaters in no time. Anu Prabhakar maintained consistency while Vijayalaxmi and Sindhu Menon have shown their existence. Bhavana was noted for dance in PPP and has won the best actress State Award for her performance in film Kshama.

When comes to direction, it is young directors who attracted the viewers. Director P.S. Sathyu (Dasa and Don), M.S. Ramesh (Sriram), Prem (Kariya and Excuse Me), Prakash (Khushi), Yogaraj Bhat (Mani), Indrajith Lankesh (Lankesh Pathrike), Hemanth Hegde (Oo Laa Laa and Dhad Dhad) are in the limelight through their fresh waves. Kavitha Lankesh known for art films like Deveri proved that she can direct even a pure commercial film through PPP. Unlike last year's hit film Tavarige Baa Thangi, Sai Prakash's sentiment formula didn't click this year. Sadhu Kokila (who is now Kokila Sadhu) turned out to be a successful director through Raktha Kanneeru and Chandra Chakori to S. Narayan's credit. S. Narayan's Pakka Chukka was a disaster.

Among music directors, its Gurukiran, Hamsalekha and Rajesh Ramanath who are were in demand while each of them have scored for almost 11 films. Sadhu Kokila has four and V. Manohar has five films in their credits. While V. Manohar's music for Chigurida Kanasu was melodious, Sadhu's Raktha Kanneeru was special being offbeat. R.P. Patnayak (Excuse Me), S.A. Rajkumar (Chandra Chakori) were the music directors came from other filmdom while Raj (Mani) is a new talent who grabbed the attention through his catchy tunes.

Films released during 2003
January	February
Kariya	Neenandre Ishta
Dumbee	Border
Dali	Sachchi
Sri Kalikamba	Anand
Don	Mooru manasu Nooru Kanasu
Laali Hadu	Bengalore Bundh
Jaya	Adu
Pakka Chukka	Badri
Heart Beats	Nagabharana

March	April
Yeh Naa Bhishma Kano	Hello
Gandhinagar	Yardo Duddu Yallammana Jathre
Colors	Devara Makkalu
Wrong Number	Kichcha
Raja Narasimha	Rodham
Nimma Preeetiya Huduga	Parusha
Nann Hendti Maduve	Kutumba
Katthegalu Saar Katthegalu	Paris Pranaya
	Singaravva
	Abhi

May	June
Nee Illade Naa Illa Kane	Sriram
Kushalave Kshemave	Oo Laa Laa
Preetisale Beku	Ananda Nilaya
Tayi Illada Tabbali	Panchali
Ramaswamy Krishnaswamy	Kalarava
Lankesh Pathrike	Pratidhvani
Vijaya Shanti	Hero
Black & White
Tada Khaidi
Meese Chiguridaga
Fifty Fifty

July	August
Talwar	Chandra Chakori
Hudugigagi	Nanjundi
Smile	Market Raja
Vikram	Hunter
Preethi Prema Pranaya	Kasu Iddone Basu
Mane Magalu
Marichike

September	October
Anka	Hrudayavantha
Jogula	Chigurida Kanasu
Yajna	Khushi
Lovve Pasagali	Game
Vijaya Dashami	Ondagona Baa
Raktha Kanneeru	Hucchana Maduveli Undone Jana
Body Guard
Inspector Jayasimha

November	December
Ree Swalpa Barteera	Excuse Me
Bala Shiva	Dreams
Gadibidi Brothers	Odu
Namma Preethiya Ramu	Dhad Dhad
Khaki	Mani
Dasa	Vijayasimha
Partha	Ardhangi
SrI Renukadevi	Annavru
	Shrabvana Sambrama
	Gokarna
	Swati Mutthhu