After setting box-office records with pan-India successes like Kantara and KGF Chapter 2 in 2022, the Kannada film industry has achieved another feat by witnessing the release of 100-plus movies in five months since the start of the present calendar year.
With four movies releasing on 2 June, including Yadha Yadha Hi, Pinki Elli?, Hint and Radha Ramana, the total number of Kannada films that have hit the screens this year so far is 101.
However, the success rate at the box office is pretty limited.
Post Kantara, though a few films like Challenging Star Darshan’s Kranti (2023) and R Chandru’s Kabzaa (2023) claimed to have entered the ₹100-crore club, many other movies barely managed to make a break-even business.
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Post-pandemic effect
“A majority of movies released in the first quarter of 2023 were mostly waiting in queue to hit the screens since the pandemic times,” Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president Bha Ma Harish told South First.
“I have been observing the number of movies that were released every week till the announcement of the recently-concluded Karnataka Assembly elections. Around 8-12 movies were released every week. Now, the situation is quite the opposite with hardly one or two hitting the theatres,” he pointed out.
Elections and IPL effect
Industry insiders attributed the main reason for the poor show in Sandalwood over the past few months to the Assembly elections.
“The elections and the Indian Premier League (IPL) definitely affected the movie business. While the entire state is closely hooked on election affairs and youngsters watching their favourite IPL team playing in the evening, theatres collection suffered. Sadly, even a major multiplex entity has decided to close down 50 screens in the coming months,” they averred.
Both good and bad
While the high number of movies released in a year is a good sign for the Kannada film industry, the percentage of success matters too.
Popular director Shashank — known for his works Moggina Manasu (2008), Krishnan Love Story (2010), and Bachchan (2013) — told South First that 200-plus Kannada movies were released in the past few years.
“This to me is both good and bad. Good in terms of industry growth, employment opportunities and more newcomers experimenting with new subjects. However, it is also bad because new producers are entering into the industry with limited knowledge and no practical experience when it comes to film production,” he explained.
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He pointed out that new producers are often misguided by sugar-coated words and assurances by the filmmakers.
“They are made to believe that satellite rights, dubbing rights and digital rights would fetch them good returns even before the film hits the theatres. And, theatrical returns matter only to around 25 percent of the total business,” Shashank noted.
Such a scenario works only if the movies feature star actors as they act as the brand ambassadors for the projects and of course, through effective marketing measures.
Brand value
Until blockbuster films like Mungaru Male (2006) and Duniya (2007) — both of which featured newcomers and became huge hits — there was an influx of new film producers in the Kannada film industry which resulted in 100-plus movies getting released in a calendar thereafter.
The reason was quite simple: everyone started believing that good content can lead to success, irrespective of the presence of star actors or the filmmakers associated with a project.
For instance, Daredevil Mushthafa (2023) managed to make a break-even business with positive critical appreciation partially because it was strongly backed by Daali Dhananjaya who released it through his banner.
Some relief
Apart from Kranti and Kabzaa, other movies that earned good appreciation for their quality content and filmmaking, irrespective of their box-office success include Orchestra Mysuru, Hondisi Bareyiri, South Indian Hero, Palaar, 19.20.21, Gurudev Hoysala, Pentagon, Shivaji Surathkal 2, Raghavendra Stores, and Daredevil Mushthafa.
Director Shashank who introduced Yash in Moggina Manassu, now popular as “Rocking Star” after the humongous success of KGF, felt that audiences are lapping up films that have brand values, especially after the advent of OTT.
“My own film Moggina Manassu, which featured newcomers, became a hit with no such brand value. Nowadays, the audience is visiting theatres only to appreciate good work. It doesn’t matter if the movie has a star cast or a newcomer,” he added.
