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This page was updated on:
March 13, 2011
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2004 - yearly roundup
 Its
time for the closure of a calendar year. But there is nothing
called year-end for film industries. However, this is a chance
for the looser to learn and winner to feel proud about their
achievements. We are eager to present you the roundup of Kannada
showbiz industry in 2004.
2004 was a year of good and bad for the Kannada filmdom. But
the filmgoers got verity entertainers this year that catered
to all class from mass to family audience. For every Kalasipalya,
there was an Aptha Mitra; for every Malla, there was a Ramakrishna!
Despite of 30% remake films, Kannada filmdom recorded approximately
20% success rate this year compared to that of last year's
less than 10%. 2004 was a year of landmarks too. It was the
70th anniversary of Kannada talkies and Kannada matinee idol
Dr. Rajkumar celebrated 50 years of film career. The flip
side was the demises of many veterans who served the industry
for ages. And also the everlasting film industry crisis that
became a black spot in the history of Kannada filmdom.
2004 witnessed 80 films - a reduction of 18% compared to 98
films last year. At the same time, the number of films mounted
this year too was less compared to 2003. 76 new films were
launched during 2004. However, meager 7% of the total releases
(6 films) marked 100days. Aptha Mitra - produced by Dwarakish
banner can be considered as a mega hit of the year. 'Malla'
- a comeback for Ravichandran too was a blockbuster. But if
we look at the ROI (Return on Investment) considering the
factors like cost of production, time spent and the money
it fetched to the filmmaker, Aptha Mitra leads among all.
Other films that crossed the century mark are Ramakrishna,
Durgi, Monalisa, Veera Kannadiga and now Kalasipalya that
is on the verge of hitting this mark. Films that were not
super hits in totality but still beguiled the masses and managed
to fetch the producers' investments back were Ranga SSLC (Sudeep
& Ramya), Baa Baaro Rasika (Ramya Krishna & Sunil), Veera
Kannadiga (Puneeth & Anitha), Durgi (Malashri), Monalisa (Dhyan
& Sada), Nalla (Sudeep & Sangeeth), Kanti (Murali & Ramya),
Om Ganesh (Saikumar & Sapna), Sahukara (Ravichandran, Vishnuvardhan
& Rambha), Kalasipalya (Darshan & Rakshita), Dharma (Darshan
& Sindhu Menon), The City (Saikumar), Bhagavan (Darshan, Daisy
& Bhavana), Rahasya, Mourya (Puneeth & Meera). Joke Falls
(Ramesh & Neetha) released during December too is receiving
good response and its too early to comments on Kanchanaganga
released last week.
If that was about the films, among the heroes and heroines,
it was a mixed result. We cant isolate anyone who ruled the
screen this year. However, Ravichandran takes the lion share
of success in 2004. He carried 'Malla' on his shoulder as
a hero, director and music director while his other movies
Ramakrishna and Sahukara did a fairish business. For actor
Ramesh, Bisi Bisi was a disaster while other two of his -
Aptha Mitra and Joke Falls turned out good. Out of four films
of Vishnuvardhan, only Aptha Mitra was the saving grace. Among
other films, Sahukara was an average film while Kadamba and
Jyesta have bombed in the box office. Apparently, all four
of his were remakes! Sudeep's Ranga SSLC and Nalla were average
while his home production Swathi Muttu (released last year)
fetched him Filmfare Award this year. Three out of four films
of Darshan made money. Except Sardara, the remaining three
- Dharma, Bhagavan and now Kalasipalya did good business.
Shivarajkumar was one of the busy actors during 2004 where
three of his were released. Sarvabhouma and Rowdy Aliya being
the films of high expectation, they were disappointing. It
is too early to predict the success of Kanchanaganga. Two
of Puneeth Rajkumar's - Veera Kannadiga and Mourya though
not hit films, did fairly good business. Many films of Upendra
are in the pipeline and Omkara, the only film of his released
this year was a disaster. This was one of the most hyped movies
during 2004. Except Ramakrishna, there was noting much for
Jaggesh who was busy in politics! Among newcomers, Sunil Rao,
Murali and Aditya have acted in one movie each while Kanti
of Murali and Baa Baaro Rasika of Sunil did moderate business.
Love was a disappointing debut for Aditya. And so was for
Arjun in Abbabba Entha Huduga. Apart from these three, for
Dhanush, Anil, Praveen, Aryan, Rajesh Krishna and Siddarth
who made their debuts, there is nothing notable.
Among the heroines, it was Ramya, Rakshita, Priyanka and Anu
Prabhakar who made it big this year. Rakshita bags the lion
share of success of Kalasipalya and so is Priyanka in Malla.
Kanti and Ranga SSLC featuring Ramya were well appreciated
while five films of Anu Prabhakar proved her as a versatile
actress. For Prema, 2004 was not significant apart from her
contribution in Aptha Mitra. Second innings of actress Radhika
has just began in Kannada and she along with Ramya and Rakshita
have all the qualities and chances of being the stars of 2005!
More than 17 new heroines have throbbed the big screen of
Sandalwood from outside. They are Anitha, Madhuri Bhattacharya,
Sada, Mayuri, Keerthi Chavla, Preethi Jhangiani, Laila, Pranathi,
Meera Jasmin, Sangeetha, Mumtaz, Gurlin Chopra, Shreedevi,
Richa Pallod, Hrishita Bhat and Gajala while Yana Gupta, Suja,
Daisy, Anthra Biswas, Abhinayashree were imported for item
numbers.
Ravichandran, P. Vasu, Indrajith Lankesh can be considered
as most successful directors while senior directors Rajendra
Singh Babu and Sai Prakash have failed miserably through films
like Love and Rowdy Aliya respectively. Budding talents Bharath,
Nagendra Prasad and Yogaraj Bhat have shown all the qualities
of becoming directors of tomorrow. Bharath's Kanti and Nagendra
Prasad's Nalla were well appreciated and so is Yogaraj Bhat's
Ranga SSLC. Many new directors are flooding with not much
of an experience, which is a bad sign. As an advancement,
Hi-definition camera was used for the first time in a Kannada
film this year. 'Kanakambari' by noted director, cinematographer
Dinesh Baboo bombed though it was a technically well-made
film.
2004 was the year for producer Ramu. His films Malla, Durgi
and Kalasipalya gave him good business. So is for Dwarakish.
Aptha Mitra gave him a financial rebirth. K.C.N. Productions,
Indrajith Lankesh and Rockline Venkatesh too got their money
back. Though Kanakapura Srinivas's production Kanti recovered
his money, he lost on Omkara.
Among music directors, Hamsalekha and Gurukiran were successful
despite of outsiders were brought in for number of movies.
Music and background score of Aptha Mitra by Gurukiran is
well appreciated and so is the audio of Omkara by him. Krishnakumar
and Ramesh Babu shine behind the camera.
Now the downturn. 2004 was one of the worst hit years of crisis.
Starting from reduction in entertainment tax on non-Kannada
movies from 70% to 40% till the recent seven-week moratorium,
it was misery all the way. Two massive protests headed by
thespian Dr. Rajkumar to implement seven-week moratorium on
non-Kannada films had sent hot waves till the central government
but went in vain and currently the issue in the court of law.
Frustration, enmities and crimes resulted due to these protests
were the black spots in the history of Kannada filmdom.
Demise of actress Soundarya along with her brother Amar in
a plane accident (April 17) was the saddest incident of the
year. Furthermore, it was an year to lose many legendaries
like Vadiraj, Lokesh, Gowrishankar, Udupi Jairam, D.V. Rajaram,
M.N. Basavaiah, Haridas, Narayan Gowda, Arun Prasad, H.V.
Subbarao, Somayajulu, Bhima Nagaraj, C.S. Rao and Kodandapani
who served the industry for several decades in multiple departments.
To end the roundup with positive notes, here are some good
news. Kannada film 'Preethi Prema Pranaya' directed by Kavitha
Lankesh bagged the Best Regional Film Award in the 51st National
Film Award this year and Dattatreya (Dattanna) received a
'Special Jury Award'. Offbeat film Pravaha was nominated for
Indian Panorama. Aptha Mitra created all time record in Mysore
by running for 100 days in three theaters simultaneously.
Contrast to remakes in Kannada, 'Made in Karnataka' films
like Tavarige Baa Thangi was remade in Telugu (also in Tamil)
and succeeded. And so were Monalisa and Love. Remake right
of Bhagavan and Durgi are given to other languages and Love
is being re-made in Malayalam! Inspired by the success of
Aptha Mitra, now the same is being made in Tamil! A great
development by Kannada filmmakers!
With that, lets welcome 2005 with a big hope of seeing the
glory back in Kannada film world and hope to see much higher
success rate, awards and accolades in the years to come.
Click
here to see the list of all films released during 2004
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I am a proud Kannadiga, presently working at Kuwait, in IT industry. Eventhough we stay ocean across, when we go through your internet site, we get a feeling that we are still in our kannada-nadu. Hats-off to your good work.