PremiumBachelor Party to Upadhyaksha, Case of Kondana, Hadinelentu - Kannada Republic Day releases
A couple of comedies, a social drama and a thriller are among the choices that Kannada audiences have
Last Updated: 07.25 PM, Jan 02, 2024
A year ago, the buzz in Sandalwood circles was about the big box office clash for Republic Day, what with Bollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan returning with Pathaan, and namma Challenging Star Darshan presenting his 55th, Kranti. The winner of this battle, of course, was clearly Shah Rukh, with Kranti failing to strike a chord even with hardcore Darshan fans. Cut to now and there’s no bigleague film vying for the Republic Day long weekend, at least in Kannada. There is Hrithik Roshan’s Fighter from Bollywood and challenging that are not one or two, but 4-5 Kannada films across different genres.
The first to stake claim to the January 26 date was Chikkanna with his debut as leading man, Upadhyaksha. Directed by Anil Kumar, this one takes Chikkanna’s character from Adhyaksha as the protagonist. The film also stars P Ravi Shankar, Sadhu Kokila, Kari Subbu and Malaika, among others. Actor-filmmaker Rakshit Shetty then booked the long weekend for his production Bachelor Party. Debutant director Abhijit Mahesh’s Bachelor Party sees Diganth join Loose Mada Yogi and Achyuth Kumar on a bachelor party where everything goes wrong. The film is said to be on the lines of the Hollywood hit Hangover. Rishab Shetty was meant to be a part of the film earlier, but excused himself after the success of Kantara to focus on the next, Kantara: Chapter 1.
Also releasing on January 26 is Case of Kondana, which, yet again has Vijay Raghavendra in cop mode. Directed by Devi Prasad Shetty, who made Seetharam Benoy: Case No. 18 with Vijay earlier, Case of Kondana is in the same territory as far as genre goes. The film also stars Bhavana Menon and Kushee Ravi, among others. The fourth film that has been confirmed for Republic Day is a festival darling. Filmmaker Prithvi Konanur, whose Railway Children and Pinki Elli were widely acclaimed in the festival circuit, brings his latest, Hadinelentu, a film about two teenagers caught in a sex tape scandal.