Maarnami: Ritvvikk and Chaithra J Achar’s gangster drama gets a new release date
Maarnami had earlier been announced as a November 2025 theatrical release, first on the 21st, then the 28th and was then postponed indefinitely. The team has now frozen a new date
Last Updated: 11.21 PM, Feb 04, 2026
Debutant filmmaker Rishith Shetty’s gangster drama Maarnami was postponed indefinitely from its initial November 2025 plan. Back then, although the team had hurriedly announced a release date, given that they would not get theatres later on once the star-led December films release, they realized that they had not done enough to get people to theatres. Most people were unaware of a film called Maarnami, they figured and that is when they decided to skip the 2025 release plan.
When will Maarnami be in theatres?
They have now announced a new date; Maarnami will be in theatres on February 20, 2026. As of now, the only other Kannada film to have booked the date is the thriller Second Case of Seetharam. In the time that the team of Maarnami took to revise the release schedule, they also initiated conversations about satellite and digital rights, which, they are hopeful of closing before the film hits theatres.
The film, starring Ritvvikk and Chaithra J Achar in the lead, is a gangster tale with a love story at its core. Maarnami is set in coastal Karnataka, and revolves around turf war between gangs, but also has a love story central to it. The film is based on a story by Sudhi Aryan, while Sonu Gowda, Suman, Prakash Thuminad, Jyothish Shetty, Swaraj Shetty, Roopa Varkady, and Chandrahasa Ullal, among others, are also on the cast.
Also read: Chaithra J Achar: Marnami is a gangster drama, but there’s also a nice love story | Exclusive
The film is also being dubbed in the other south languages, and will likely release a week later in those centres. Now that they have a couple of weeks before the release, the team has put an entire roadmap in place for the promotions across the state and tell audiences why they should give Maarnami a chance in theatres.
Maarnami FAQs
Q. Who is the director of Maarnami?
A. Maarnami is directed by debutant Rishith Shetty.
Q. What does Maarnami mean?
A. Maarnami is the name people in coastal Karnataka use for Dasara.
Q. What is Ritvvikk’s claim to fame?
A. Ritvvikk is a popular TV actor, known for shows like Anuroopa, Ginirama and Ninagaagi. He’d made the transition to the big screen with Gift Box a few years ago. Maarnami marks his return to films.