Kannada watchlist: ‘Kotee’, ‘Sahara’, and ‘Chef Chidambara’ to hit the screens this June

Kotee

On Ugadi, the makers of Kotee revealed the first-look poster of the film. It showcases lead actor Dhananjaya with a striking lion mane hairstyle and his face partially covered with ₹500 notes.

Helmed by debutant director Parameshwar Gundkal, Kotee marks Jio Studios’s foray into Kannada cinema.

Parameshwar is well-known to Kannada audiences, having served as the business head for general entertainment channels. Most notably, during his tenure at Colors Kannada, he oversaw Bigg Boss Kannada.

Dhananjaya expressed his excitement about working on a film with Param.

Kotee, which was majorly shot in Mysuru, also features Moksha Kushal, Rangayana Raghu, Prithvi Shamanuru, Sardar Satya Tanuja Venkatesh, and Tara in significant roles.

“The character Kotee represents pretty much every common man, and most of the situations in the film are instances that would have happened in our lives at some point; it’s so relatable,” stated Dhananjaya.

Kotee depicts the journey of a sincere young man whose life unravels upon realising that earning a crore through legitimate means is nearly impossible. This lesson becomes apparent when he encounters the antagonist portrayed by Ramesh Indira.

The Kannada filmmaker, well-known for his notable performance in Sapta Sagaradaache Ello-Side A and Side B (2023), returns to another formidable role in Kotee.

Kotee boasts cinematography by Arun Bhrama, editing by Pratheek Shetty of Kantara (2022) fame, music by Vasuki Vaibhav, and background score by Nobin Paul of 777 Charlie (2022) fame.

As of now, the film is scheduled for release on 14 June.

ಕೋಟಿಯ ಎರಡನೇ ಹಾಡು ‘ಜನತಾ ಸಿಟಿ’ಯ ಲಿರಿಕಲ್ ವಿಡಿಯೋವನ್ನು ಈಗ ನೋಡಿ ಸರೆಗಮ ಕನ್ನಡ ಯೂಟ್ಯೂಬ್ ಚಾನೆಲ್ಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ🎉Watch the lyrical video of Kotee’s second song, ‘Janatha City,’ now on the Saregama Kannada YouTube channel🥳

Link to Janatha City : https://t.co/yLGAaJvvWM#JyotiDeshpande @jiostudios… pic.twitter.com/7cS1qLcui7

— Jio Studios (@jiostudios) May 22, 2024

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Sahara

The cricket-based Kannada film narrates the inspiring journey of Jayashree, a young woman from a rural background, who triumphs over obstacles to fulfil her ambition of becoming a professional cricketer.

Helmed by director Manjesh Bhagawath, Sahara stars a talented cast including Sarika Rao, Dr Sudharani, Ankush Rajath, and Manjunath Hegde in pivotal roles.

In the movie, Sudharani portrays the character of a cricket coach, guiding Jayashree through her challenges.

Sarika Rao, who essays the protagonist’s role, underwent rigorous training under the tutelage of Ranji cricketer KB Pavan to prepare for her role.

Interestingly, actor Kichha Sudeep, also known for his passion for cricket, lent his voice to the trailer, which was digitally released by Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar of PRK Productions.

Kiccha Sudeep dedicates Sahara to all those who strive to achieve their dreams, embodying the spirit of perseverance that the film celebrates.

Behind the scenes, Sahara benefits from the expertise of its technical crew, including editor Vijay M Kumar, music composer Suraj Jois, and cinematographer Anthony Ruth Vincent, ensuring a visually captivating and emotionally resonant cinematic experience.

The Kannada film will have a theatrical release on 7 June 2024.

First Spin receiving fantastic reviews!! #SaharaTrailer 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖!
🔗 https://t.co/QxrjdgmxKF#SarikaRao #ManjeshBhagwath#saharakannadamovie #AnkushRajath @suraj_jois #SudharaniGovardhan #AntonyRuthVincent #SantoshShekar @PRKAudio @KRG_Studios @KRG_Connects pic.twitter.com/ipf6huNbRL

— KRG Connects (@KRG_Connects) May 27, 2024

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Chef Chidambara

Aniruddha Jatkar, last seen in the 2018 film Raja Simha, is returning to the silver screen with Chef Chidambara, a dark comedy slated for release in theatres on 14 June.

Directed by M Anand Raj, Chef Chidambara, is among the two Kannada movies that have secured mid-June for their theatrical release.

In Chef Chidambara, Aniruddha is paired with Rachel David, known for her role in Love Mocktail 2 (2022), while Nidhi Subbaiah plays a significant character in the film.

The ensemble cast includes Sharath Lohitashwa, Shivamani, KS Sridhar, Raghu Raamanakoppa, Kari Subbu, Mahantesh, and Shwetha.

Ritwik Muralidhar, who marked his acting debut in the film Bang last year, takes on the role of composer for Chef Chidambara.

The title track, which features vocals by Aniruddha, has lyrics penned by Sree Ganesh Parasuram. He previously directed Bang (2023).

In Chef Chidambara, Aniruddha Jatkar portrays the character of a chef who manages a cloud kitchen from his apartment.

However, when a guest in his flat is discovered dead, it sets off a chain of peculiar occurrences. Amidst this chaos, a corrupt police officer sees an opportunity to extort money from Chidambara, leveraging the situation to his advantage.

The narrative revolves around Chidambara’s struggle to navigate this predicament and devise a solution to extricate himself from the turmoil.

🙏🤗❤️😘 pic.twitter.com/I36xGj1J0v

— Aniruddha Jatkar (@AnirudhJatkar16) May 16, 2024

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