Navrang is one of the oldest cinema halls in Bengaluru with a history of entertaining cine-goers for over six decades.
Published Jul 03, 2023 | 12:26 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 10, 2023 | 1:20 PM
KCN Mohan owner of Narang Theatre no more. (Supplied)
KCN Mohan, Kannada filmmaker, exhibitor and owner of one of Bengaluru’s iconic Navrang Theatre, is no more.
According to his family, Mohan was suffering from kidney disease and passed away on Sunday, 2 July. He was 65.
His father KCN Gowda, a native of Doddaballapura in Karnataka, was well-known for running a successful sericulture business. He eventually ventured into the textile business and filmmaking. He also constructed Navrang and Urvashi theatres in Bengaluru, and Rajkamal Theatre in Doddaballapura.
KCN FAMILY – KCN Gowda (in centre) with his two sons KCN Chandrashekar and KCN Mohan. (Supplied)
KCN Gowda was credited with producing some of the popular films under the KCN Movies banner. These include Sharapanjara (1971), Belli Moda (1967), Kasturi Nivasa (1971), and Bangaarada Manushya (1972).
Thereafter, KCN Chandrashekhar, the eldest son of KCN Gowda, continued the legacy by making superhit Kannada films like Bangarada Panjara (1974), Daari Tappida Maga (1975), Babruvahana (1977), and Huliya Halina Mevu (1979).
Like his father and his brother, KCN Mohan, too, continued his family’s legacy by producing Kannada films like Bhale Chatura (1990), Ramarajyadalli Rakshasaru (1990), and Julie (2006).
Julie is a remake of the Hindi super hit film Julie (1975) which, in turn, is a remake of the Malayalam movie Chattakkari (1974). It was directed by his wife Poornima Mohan.
The Kannada version of Julie featured actor-politician Ramya and Dino Morea in the lead.
Navrang theatre. (Supplied)
Navrang is one of the oldest theatres in Bengaluru with a history of entertaining cine-goers for over six decades.
Located on Dr Rajkumar Road, the cinema hall began its journey with the Kannada film Veera Kesari (1963) starring Dr Rajkumar in the lead.
A state-of-the-art facility back then, the theatre was also known for its best theatrical experience. To date, it exhibited films in various languages, including Kannada, Hindi, English, and Tamil.
From Shammi Kapoor’s Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) — the first 70mm film — to Kannada’s first cinemascope Biligiriya Banadalli (1980) and the 2017-released Transformers (the first 3D film), Navrang Theatre has been a witness to the exhibition of several classic cult movies.
In fact, the blockbuster film Mungaru Male (2006) starring Ganesh and Neha Shetty in the lead, ran for over 25 weeks in the cinema hall. The theatre was renovated recently.
