45 censored; run-time and plot of Arjun Janya’s debut directorial revealed

45, starring Shivarajkumar, Upendra and Raj B Shetty in the lead, is releasing in theatres on December 25. The Kannada original film will have dubbed versions in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam too

Shivarajkumar in a poster of 45

Kannada cinema’s magical composer Arjun Janya is all set to present his debut directorial to audiences. The film, called 45, is releasing in theatres on December 25, 2025 and stars Shivarajkumar, Upendra and Raj B Shetty in the lead. It was meant to be in theatres way back in August, but delays in the VFX completion forced them to move ahead, and the eventual release date so happened to then clash with Kiccha Sudeep’s Mark. The film, according to those in the know, will be one of the biggest, as far as production values go, in Kannada cinema, which is also why the VFX work took a lot of time.

Arjun will give audiences a sneak peek into the world he has created on December 15, when the trailer is released. The launch is happening at a public event in Bengaluru, which will be live streamed to 7 theatres in 7 districts for the benefit of fans who want to catch all the excitement on a big screen. Thereafter, the trailer will go live on YouTube by 8.01 pm, in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi.

Arjun Janya presenting a common man's struggle in 45?

The delay has also meant that Arjun is ready to take his film to theatres with days to spare and is not spending every last moment hyper-ventilating about post-production and the satellite upload. The film has already been censored and got a U/A certification, with a run-time of 2 hours and 30 minutes. Arjun has also completed the sound mixing, so, all that remains is for audiences to see the film.

The plot, according to the censor certificate, reads that Vinay (Raj B Shetty), a common man’s life takes a drastic turn when he accidentally crosses paths with Rayappa (Upendra). As Vinay finds himself in grave danger, Shivappa (Shivarajkumar), a saviour steps in to protect him. A gripping thriller with elements of danger, suspense and heroism. The story explores themes of survival and loyalty.

Also read: Arjun Janya on the inspiration behind 45: I wrote it during the pandemic when…

In earlier media interactions, Arjun had said that the theme of the film is steeped in Sanatana Dharma tenets and that the idea of the story came to him when he lost his brother during the pandemic. Going by the title, 45, it was assumed that the film was about the 45 days following a person’s death, during which time it is decided if a soul moves on the afterlife or is reborn.

45 the movie FAQs

Q. What happened to Arjun Janya?

A. Kannada music composer Arjun Janya suffered a massive heart attack during the Covid-19 pandemic, but has since made a remarkable recovery.

Q. What is the inspiration behind Arjun Janya's directorial debut, 45?

A. Arjun Janya lost his brother during the Covid-19 pandemic, which is the inspiration behind the story of 45. According to reports, the film revolves around the 45 days after a person's death, which, as per Sanatana Dharma, is when it is decided if the soul moves to the after life or gets reborn.

Share