Hombale Films to invest Rs 3,000 crore in the next five years for the growth of the entertainment sector

For Vijay Kiragandur, there was a dream – to make quality Kannada films. It began modest, with a film, Ninnindale, starring the late Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar. Over the years, the commitment to quality remained unwavering, as his banner, Hombale Films, made films like Raajakumara, Yuvarathnaa, Masterpiece, KGF and then Kantara, among others.

Somewhere along the way, he and his team realized that some of the tales that they were putting together for Kannada audiences, had a more universal appeal and they began making pan-India films. Yash’s KGF was the frontrunner, a baton that Kantara then took on, even though it was never meant to be the big film that it eventually became.

The future looks bright for Hombale Films. It has a slate of films in the pipeline with some of the biggest stars in south India and, if rumours are to be believed, Hindi movies with Bollywood A-listers are not far off. Currently, Hombale has Salaar with Prabhas in the making, as well as Dhoomam with Fahadh Faasil. Prithviraj Sukumaran is set to act and direct in Tyson and has a cameo in Salaar as well. In Kannada, the banner will soon launch Raghavendra Rajkumar’s younger son, Yuva Rajkumar, while it is also backing Rakshit Shetty’s next directorial Richard Anthony and Sriimurali’s Bagheera. Also in the works is a film with Soorarai Pottru maker Sudha Kongra. Kantara maker Rishab Shetty’s next will also be for the banner. All in all, good times are here to stay for Hombale Films.

It is no wonder, then, that Vijay Kiragandur today announced that the banner was committed to invest Rs 3,000 crore over the next five years for the betterment of the entertainment industry. In a long post on social media, he extended his gratitude and love to everyone that’s supported the Hombale Films journey over the years. He wrote, “On behalf of Hombale Films, I wish to extend my heartfelt greetings for the new eyar and appreciate you all for showering unwavering love and support towards us. Last year has been great and a fulfilling one for us – this was possible only due to your love and support. I thank you all and hope this relationship continues and we achieve milestones together.”

He added, “Cinema entertainment has been there since time immemorial and it has viewed, lived and appreciated by everyone. Whether good times or bad, it has been a huge medium of relief and joy. It has also been a strong carrier of our culture, tradition and history, though which we have been showcasing our identity to the world at large. India, a land of diversity presents us a wide opportunity to unlock the vast potential that is available in the youth of the nation. As we embark into the new year, we promise to produce compelling content with an immersive experience that can have a lasting memory and can leave an indelible impression upon you. With this interest in mind, we pledge to invest Rs 3,000 crore in the coming five years for a sustainable growth in the entertainment sector.”