Sharan’s horror comedy Choo Mantar gets new release date

A few weeks ago, when the team of the horror comedy Choo Mantar announced that it would be in theatres on April 5, it emerged that lead actor Sharan would have two releases in quick succession. The makers of his much-delayed Avatara Purusha 2 had fixed March 22 for its theatrical outing. This, of course, did not seem like an ideal situation, and eventually, both teams came to an understanding with Avatara Purusha getting pushed ahead to April 5 and Choo Mantar being postponed indefinitely, without a new date in sight.

Choo Mantar: Sharan's next is a horror comedy with a hyperlinked narrative 

Well, Choo Mantar’s new release date is here. The team has zeroed in on May 10 for its theatrical outing, a day on which, as of now, only one other Kannada film has staked claim – Ramana Avatara. Choo Mantar, which has been censored U/A, with a runtime of 2 hours and 22 mins, is a film about exorcism. While Sharan films typically have a healthy mix of comedy, with Choo Mantar, the actor had said that the narrative would be more about the horror elements than the comedy.

Sharan, Aditi Prabhudeva and Chikkanna play new-age ghost hunters, who investigate supernatural occurrences in the home of an NRI couple played by Prabhu Mundkur and Meghana Gaonkar. In fact the focus of the narrative is on exorcism, Sharan had told OTTplay earlier. Given that Sharan’s character is seen sporting a crucifix and carrying what looks like a Bible, how he, and not a priest trained in exorcism, comes to be entrusted with the responsibility of keeping the couple safe is what Choo Mantar is about.

Exclusive! Sharan: Exorcism, as depicted in Choo Mantar, will be novel for Kannada audiences 

The actor had also said that like his earlier Guru Shishyaru, which was more about sports and the drama around it than comedy, Choo Mantar will be the next step in the changing story-telling pattern in his filmography.