Who are some side actors in Kannada films who went on to become a major actor?

Upendra Rao who was popular inside Karnataka in 2000’s for his stylish looks and raw acting He played a small uncredited roles in 1989 and 1990. His debut movie Anantana Avantara(1989) at age of 22 in a song of his mentor Kashinath.

In 1990, he played a character in a Kannada language serial called Nirmaleya Sakshi alongside legendary kannada actors like Vaangiraj, Sundar krishna urs, Asharani etc.

Back then Upendra was mocked for looking weak and ugly which he later improved by working hard.

Navarasa Nayaka Jaggesh debuted in 1982 at the age of 19 in a small uncredited role in Kannada Film Ibbani Karagitu and later became the most talented actor in Indian cinema.

What are some Kannada movies with great visual effects?

 Visual oriented movies are very rare in Indian cinema

Durga Shakti (1999) and Etu Eduretu (1981) are some of the few kannada horror movies to use visual effects.

Stills from Durga Shakti (1999)

The 1981 Kannada film Etu Eduretu is partially based on real-life events. The core of the movie is inspired by historical folklore regarding a formidable sorcerer or Warlock who allegedly terrorized a rural Indian village with black magic between 1832 and 1910.

Hollywood (2002) is the first Kannada movie based on the subject of robotics.

Is the Kannada movie Om a true story?

 31 years and nobody noticed who Sathya in OM (1995) is really based on:

Om(1995) Kannada Movie Poster.

So, I was rewatching Om when I paused at the end. Something about this movie felt like a memory rather than fiction.

As we already know, OM was unlike any other Kannada film at that time. Upendra cast four actual gangsters from that era directly in the film. Bekkina Kannu Rajendra, Tanveer Ahmed, Jedaralli Krishnappa and Korangu Krishna appear as themselves.

Photographs of the real gangsters from the movie.

Then the three supporting characters are also inspired by real figures from the same underworld. K Raj is inspired by Jayaraj. Oil Raja is inspired by Oil Kumar. Rai is inspired by Muthappa Rai. The film follows the exact same chain of events.

Reel vs. Real-Life characters.

But none of these are the real discovery.

Who is Sathya inspired by?

His introduction establishes him as the son of a Brahmin priest through his character intro song. The last background you would expect for someone who ends up where he does. He enters the underworld, rises through K Raj's circle, is directly involved in Oil Raja's death, and loses his leg in the final confrontation.

Dr. Shiva Rajkumar as Sathyamurthy alias Sathya.

After 31 years, when I dug deeper, I know who I believe Sathya is loosely inspired by.

Mysuru Ganesh. One of the very few gangsters from the Brahmin community in Bengaluru's underworld. He was part of Jayaraj's gang. Lost his hand in a confrontation and was severely wounded. Muthappa Rai spared him. Directly involved in Oil Kumar's murder.

Mysuru Ganesh, the man who's life inspired the character of Sathya.

Same community. Same gang. Same murder. Same maiming. Same mercy.

No Wikipedia page. Almost nothing written about him in mainstream media. Which is likely why this connection has gone unnoticed for 31 years.

Source: I stumbled upon this while rewatching the Underworld Flashback documentary series that had aired on Suvarna News 24X7 in 2011. Verifiable at 7:33 here: https://youtu.be/pcfLUNtRbHw?si=64tVGFSMx6WdW74q

Disclaimer: This is purely a film analysis and observation about the characters in OM (1995). I am not glorifying rowdyism, crime, or any individual mentioned here. The intent is to appreciate the depth of research and storytelling that went into making this film.

Did any of you notice this in 31 years?

What is your review of Bollywood/Kannada actress Suman Ranganath?

 Suman Ranganathan is a small time Indian actress who acted in some south Indian and Bollywood movies. She was active since late 1980’s known for supporting roles nowadays and glamourous roles in her prime.

What are some mind blowing facts about the Kannada film industry?

 I read about this English movie called Boyhood which was 12 years in making.

But there is a Kannada movie which was 38 years in making. Surprised!?

Yes!This is about the movie Saavira Mettilu - Thousand steps .

The film was started in 1968. It was released around 2006.

This film was supposed to be one of Puttanna Kanagal's early movies.The original starcast included Jayanthi,Kalyan Kumar, Ashwath,Pandari Bai,Vajramuni etc.

But due to reasons unknown,the film got stalled.This movie was supposed to be the debut of the much celebrated villian Vajramuni.But since this movie was stopped, Vajramuni's debut was Mallammana Pavaada which was again directed by Puttanna.

Vajramuni's debut in Savira Mettilu

This unfinished movie was taken up by the producer D B Basave Gowda. He was very keen to revive this movie.He collaborated with Ravi(K S L Swami) who was also a pupil of Puttanna to finish this film.

But time had passed.Some of the actors had aged while some others had passed away.Yet the producer and the director did not loose the zeal. As many as 17 actors or more - Anu Prabhakar, Ambareesh , Shivaram ,B V Radha , Padma Vasanti,Master Hirannayya,Ramakrishna, Sunderraj,Lakshmidevi, Hema Chaudhary, Jaya, Girija Lokesh, Ashalatha, Mukyamantri Chandru, Doddanna, Govinda Rao were added as part of the new cast.All of them agreed to work without payment as a tribute to the master Puttanna.

A guest appearance by Ambareesh

One very very rare thing about this movie is that the heroine has lived her age on screen.We have observed in many movies ,the actors grey their hair or put on make up to appear old.But in this movie, actress Jayanthi has appeared as both 20 year old lass as well as a 60 year old woman in real.

Young Jayanthi

Older Jayanthi

Not just Jayanthi, Ashwath who played her father in the movie too reprised his role after so many years.

The middle aged Ashwath

The old Ashwath

The film is no way a great movie by it's storyline . It has its share of flaws and faults. But the idea to pay homage to such a great director is indeed appreciable.

What would have happened to the Kannada film industry without Rajkumar? Would it still be as heavily Madras-based as before?

 Kannada Film industry would have died long back in 1960’s.

Tamil Kongas, Telugu golties and Mallus wanted to ensure that Kannada film industry should not grow and thrive.Marathigas were also not close with Kannadigas that time period.

Gokak movement was significant in ensuring that kannada language and Kannada cinema should be given prominence and first preference inside Karnataka. Rajkumar was the key man behind it.

However after death of Rajkumar in 2006, now whole film industry has collapsed.

Now at present Kannada film industry is in ICU only few artists like Legend Navarasa Nayaka Jaggesh, Upendra Rao(although he has lost his interest) and few senior Kannada actors are giving some life support to Kannada film industry now.

Since a decade 90 percent of Kannadigas are not interested in Kannada language movies anymore.

Who's the most talented Indian male actor? (Not necessarily from Bollywood)

 Navarasa Nayaka Jaggesh is the most talented actor India has produced till now ( from 1990 till now).

You never get bore to see his talent in the movies he starred.

Navarasa Nayaka means Master of 09 emotions. The title is not given to him on purpose, he did hard work to earn this title. He can give multiple expressions with his face.

He can play any kind of role and is very multi-talented with genres like Comedy, tragedy, raw rustic action with supporting roles, protagonist and antagonist roles.

He is an actor+writer+director+sister. A bundle of talent and skills. A rare valuable gem in Indian cinema.

What was so special about the kannada movie OM?

 It was indeed a special movie, for it was directed by one of the best film makers in the world, Upendra. It was a gangster movie, one of its kind, that wasn't explored in Kannada industry that well till then.

For the sake of the movie, the story that was about underworld mystery, Upendra brought in realistic factor by asking the real-life underworld dons to act in it. Bekkinakannu Rajendra, Korangu Krishna, Tanveer Ahmed, and Jedarahalli Krishna were some of the gangsters who acted in the movie.

• The movie was re-released for a whopping 632 times, which is an All-time record in the history of Indian cinema.
• For 75 times out of the 632 re-releases, the movie ran for more than 100 days.
• In 2015, the TV rights of the movie wa ssold out for a whopping ₹10cr, highest for a Kannada movie (then) even after 20 years of its release.
• The movie collected ₹25cr at the box office, which was the highest for a Kannada movie back then.

The songs of the movie were legendary and the story was quite unique as well. Thanks to the execution, it turned out to be a perfect gangster movie back then.

It's a cult classic movie in Kannada film industry.

Image courtesy - Metrosaga.

Which are the best Kannada horror movies?

 Shhh! (1993) is regarded as the best horror+ mystery thriller in Kannada Film land. It created a trend in horror+mystery thriller movies

For supernatural spirit oriented movie with revenge story plot.

Durga Shakti (1999) - Supernatural+ horror+revenge. The climax will give goosebumps with beautiful Durga statue. The painting of actress Durga shree looks scary and beautiful at the same time.

This was the first recognised kannada horror movies to use CGI and graphics.

Ade Raga Ade Haadu (1989) - supernatural+revenge

Yaahoo(2004) - a group of students/researchers venture into dense forest and get into trouble.

6–5=2(2013) - loosely inspired by Blair Witch project(1999) and trekking disasters that happened near Gundya Forest area and Aramane Gudda ( Bermuda triangle of Western Ghats).

Apthamithra(2004) is the highest grossing horror movie in Kannada Film land . It is remake of Manachitrathazu(1993).

It is the first Kannada movie to gross 25 crores in Karnataka alone. It is only Kannada movie to cross 2 crore in a single theatre.