Gattimela hero gets filmi relaunch with director Chethan Kumar’s Burma

Actor Rakshith Gowda, who found fame with telly series like Gattimela and Puttagowri Maduve, had shortened his screen name to Raksh in time for his big screen debut in 2020. Called Naragunda Bandaya, the film was based on the 1980 Naragunda uprising by farmers against state taxes, but did not strike a chord with audiences and tanked. After the debacle fo Naragunda Bandaya, the actor returned to telly to play the lead on Gattimela, which is still ongoing on Zee Kannada.

The actor is now gearing up for a second start in films. On the auspicious occasion of Varamahalakshmi yesterday, it was announced that he will soon be seen in a commercial action entertainer to be helmed by Chethan Kumar. The actor has been rechristened Rakksh Raam for this launch. Called Burma, the film, we are told, will be made in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi. The film’s tagline reads ‘Holding a weapon is not just a style, it’s a culture’.

Netizens had mixed reactions to the announcement; while Rakksh has a sizeable female following, Chethan’s filmography is not very confidence inspiring. Known for commercial films like Bahaddur, Bharjari, Bharaate and James, this is Chethan’s fifth directorial. Bharaate was a commercial failure, while James did well at the box office only because it was late Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar’s last commercial film outing and had an emotional connect. Comments ranged from, “Same old commercial film maker, he needs to be updated to the current trends and make a films”, to “Chethan Anna.... Nambke illa guru avr mele... James alline nodidivi... Anna en maadavne anta”, “Poster - Title - Tagline all are Crazy, But Director mele ne solpa Doubt irodu, weak Story Teller. Introducing Rakksh Raam antha bere”, among others.

Burma, according to the announcement poster, refers to the place where Lord Brahma resides. The film, we hear, will go on floors in late September.