The Rise of Ashoka’s Ninasam Sathish: Kannada cinema is stuck in a rut of…
Ninasam Sathish’s The Rise of Ashoka, a commercial entertainer with a pertinent social message, releases on February 27, 2026. The actor weighs in on the absence of simple films in Kannada cinema
Last Updated: 04.16 PM, Feb 25, 2026
Kannada actor Ninasam Sathish is counting down to the release of one of his most ambitious films, The Rise of Ashoka, which will hit theatres in Kannada, Telugu and Tamil on February 27, 2026. The film by late director Vinod Dondalay, has Sathish in the title role, a youngster from an oppressed socio-economic background, who has to fight to ensure that his lifelong dream of getting into the government service is not derailed by the upper echelons of society.
The Rise of Ashoka is widely seen as yet another film about oppression and a fight for rights, like, for instance, Kshetrapati, Kaatera and, more recently, Landlord, of which, only Darshan’s Kaatera managed to make waves at the box office. By and large, the impression one gets is that Kannada audiences are not enamoured by tales of oppression and related subjects. Sathish, though, maintains that while his film has a pivotal social message, it’s not preachy and has been presented as a typical commercial entertainer.
What's the problem with the Kannada film industry, as per Ninasam Sathish
During the promotions of the film, Sathish was asked why Kannada cinema has not been able to make simple yet immensely entertaining films like Yarigu Helbedi, Ganeshana Maduve, among others. The problem, says Sathish, is that no one’s ready to attempt such films these days. Everyone, including himself, is stuck in a zone believing that only a certain type of film will succeed and have more or less convinced audiences too that it is the norm. “It is, honestly, sad that we cannot make a success out of simple films in the Kannada industry,” Sathish told the Kairam Vaashi podcast.
The actor added that even if there is an audience willing to watch such content, the industry if not meeting that demand. “We had simple stories onscreen even in the early 2000s, which we are missing out on now. We’ve got stuck in a rut of dark subjects, dark visual treatment, which is working out financially. There are no family emotions in films, or great love stories; it’s all gone. We need those stories too,” he says.
*The Rise of Ashoka will release in theatres on February 27, 2026 in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu.*
The Rise of Ashoka FAQs
Q. What was The Rise of Ashoka called initially?
A. The Rise of Ashoka was initially titled Ashoka Blade, which, leading man Sathish Ninasam thought did not suit the narrative and then changed it.
Q. Why was The Rise of Ashoka delayed in the making?
A. The Rise of Ashoka's director Vinod passed away during the making, leading to production being stalled for a while. Much later, the film's editor stepped in and wrapped up the filming.