PremiumJailer on OTT: Shivarajkumar’s Narasimha deserves a solo movie, say audiences
The Hattrick Hero’s cameo in Superstar Rajinikanth’s had audiences across languages going ga-ga and now that his character's BGM is out, there's renewed love
Last Updated: 12.34 PM, Sep 09, 2023
Every time Century Star Shivarajkumar was asked about his cameo in Superstar Rajinikanth’s Jailer, he literally downplayed it, stating that he’d just done a minor role, which he was glad to do. When the film came out, though, it wasn’t just audiences in Karnataka who were singing his praise. Suddenly, everyone wanted to know who this actor was – the one who’d come and used only his eyes to express himself. His character, Narasimha, became a crowd favourite in no time, with audiences declaring in unison that his cameo was the best in the Nelson directorial. This adulation also meant that Shivarajkumar got himself a new legion of fans in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh/Telangana, which, the makers of his next, Ghost, are capitalizing on.
Ghost, which is an action heist drama directed by MG Srinivas, also stars Jayaram in a pivotal role, as well as Anupam Kher too. The film is releasing in theatres on October 19, with the makers focusing on the Kannada original, but also ensuring that Tamil and Telugu versions also hit the market simultaneously. While Malayalam and Hindi versions were set for a later stage, depending on how Ghost is received in the market, according to the latest buzz, the film may just get a five-language outing on October 19.
The Jailer craze, meanwhile, is yet to die down. The film is still going strong in theatres, and, as of September 7, it is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video as well. And that, as it turns out, has renewed the interest in Shivarajkumar’s Narasimha. Production house Sun Pictures had released the theme music for Narasimha’s character, and fans have been flooding the comment section with posts that read, “Narasimha deserves a solo movie”, “Narasimha is a different vibe”, “No western suit, fancy car, weapon in hand or mass dialogue and yet he gave such gangster vibes. His screen presence was ultimate ”, “We need Jailer 2 and Narasimha should get a full-fledged role”, “Shivanna entry and Anirudh BGM – goosebumps guaranteed”, among others.
Meanwhile, Shivarajkumar will soon be seen in an extended role in Dhanush's Captain Miller . Back home in Kannada, he is working on Arjun Janya's directorial debut 45 and his next production, Bhairathi Ranagal. He has a slew of Kannada films lined up, but following the adulation for his character in Jailer, he's had enquiries from filmmakers across industries, including Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu. He is rumoured to be in talks for a film with The Kerala Story makers, as well as with Prithviraj Sukumaran, among others .