Kannada cinema
Template:Short description Template:Use Indian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox cinema market Template:Indian cinema Kannada cinema, also known as Sandalwood,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> or Chandanavana,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is the segment of Indian cinema<ref name="deccanherald.com">Template:Cite web</ref> dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Kannada language, widely spoken in the state of Karnataka.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kannada cinema is based in Gandhi Nagar, Bengaluru.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 1934 film Sati Sulochana directed by Y. V. Rao was the first talkie film released in the Kannada language.<ref name="Rediff">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was also the first film starring Subbaiah Naidu and Tripuramba, and the first screened in the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom.<ref name="ss">Template:Cite news</ref> It was produced by Chamanlal Doongaji, who in 1932 founded South India Movietone in Bengaluru.<ref name="thehindu">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="dailyhunt">Template:Cite news</ref>
Major literary works have been adapted to the Kannada screen, such as B. V. Karanth's Chomana Dudi (1975), (based on Chomana Dudi by Shivaram Karanth), Girish Karnad's Kaadu (1973), (based on Kaadu by Srikrishna Alanahalli), Pattabhirama Reddy's Samskara (1970) (based on Samskara by U. R. Ananthamurthy), which won the Bronze Leopard at Locarno International Film Festival,<ref name="1nellore.com">Template:Cite web</ref> and T. S. Nagabharana's Mysuru Mallige (1992), based on the works of poet K. S. Narasimhaswamy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Kannada cinema is known for producing experimental works such as Girish Kasaravalli's Ghatashraddha (1977), which won the Ducats Award at the Manneham Film Festival Germany,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dweepa (2002), which won Best Film at Moscow International Film Festival,<ref name="The Hindu">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="awa">Template:Cite web</ref> Singeetam Srinivasa Rao's silent film Pushpaka Vimana (1987), Ram Gopal Varma's docudrama Killing Veerappan (2016), Prashanth Neel's action franchise K. G. F. film series being the highest-grossing Kannada film, and Rishab Shetty's Kantara (2022).<ref name="Oscar nominees among 240 films to be screened during Biffes">Template:Cite news</ref>
Kannada cinema is reported to have 8% market share in the gross domestic box office collections for the period January to August 2022, making it the fourth-biggest Indian film industry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The share rose to 9% by October 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The total gross collections of the top five Kannada movies of 2022 in first ten months was reported to be ₹1800 crores.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The year 2022 began new era for the industry in terms of popularity, quality content and collections.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, the market share of Kannada movies in the gross domestic box office collections declined to 2% in 2023<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with the footfalls dropping from 8.1 to 3.2 crores in 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
History
Early history
In 1934, the first Kannada talkie, Sati Sulochana,<ref>Template:Usurped article in The Hindu</ref> appeared in theatres, followed by Bhakta Dhruva (aka Dhruva Kumar). Sati Sulochana, starring Subbaiah Naidu and Tripuramba, was shot in Kolhapur at the Chatrapathi studio; most filming, sound recording, and post-production was done in Chennai.<ref name="Routledge">Template:Cite book</ref>
In 1949, Honnappa Bhagavathar, who had earlier acted in Gubbi Veeranna's films, produced Bhakta Kumbara and starred in the lead role along with Pandaribai. In 1955, Bhagavathar again produced a Kannada film, Mahakavi Kalidasa, in which he introduced actress B. Saroja Devi.<ref name="Routledge" /> B. S. Ranga was an Indian photographer, actor, writer, producer and director made many landmark movies in Kannada, under Vikram Studios.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Mainstream
Matinee idol, Rajkumar entered Kannada cinema after his long stint as a dramatist with Gubbi Veeranna's Gubbi Drama Company, which he joined at the age of eight, before he got his first break as a lead in the 1954 film Bedara Kannappa.<ref name="Rajakumar, king of Kannada cinema">Template:Cite news</ref>
He went on to essay a variety of roles and excelling in portraying mythological and historical characters in films such as Bhakta Kanakadasa (1960), Ranadheera Kanteerava (1960), Satya Harishchandra (1965), Immadi Pulikeshi (1967), Sri Krishnadevaraya (1970), Bhakta Kumbara (1974), Mayura (1975), Babruvahana (1977) and Bhakta Prahlada (1983). His wife Parvathamma Rajkumar founded Film production and distribution company, Sri Vajreshwari Combines.<ref name="Rajakumar, king of Kannada cinema" />
Vishnuvardhan entered Kannada cinema with the National Award-winning movie Vamsha Vriksha (1972) directed by Girish Karnad based on the novel written by S. L. Bhyrappa. His first lead role was in Naagarahaavu, directed by Puttanna Kanagal and based on a novel by T. R. Subba Rao. It was the first in Kannada film history to complete 100 days in three main theatres of Bangalore. In his 37-year career, he has played a variety of roles in more than 200 films.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
With his debut in Puttanna Kanagal's National Award-winning Kannada film Naagarahaavu (1972), Ambareesh's acting career commenced with a brief phase of portraying antagonistic and supporting characters. After establishing himself as a lead actor portraying rebellious characters on screen in a number of commercially successful films, he earned the moniker "rebel star".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also earned the nickname Mandyada Gandu (Template:Translation Man of Mandya)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan and Ambareesh are collectively known as Kannada cinema's triumvirate.
Method actor Shankar Nag received the inaugural IFFI Best Actor Award (Male): Silver Peacock Award" at the 7th International Film Festival of India for his work in the film Ondanondu Kaladalli.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He is the younger brother of actor Anant Nag.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> M. V. Vasudeva Rao, the first Kannada actor to win National Film Award for Best Actor, was starred in over 200 films in his career; however, post Chomana Dudi, he only played minor roles.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
B. Saroja Devi is one of the most successful female leads in the history of Indian cinema and has acted in around 200 films in over seven decades.<ref name="ToI_greatest_2013">Template:Cite news</ref> She is known by the epithets "Abinaya Saraswathi" (Saraswati of acting) in Kannada and "Kannadathu Paingili" (Kannada's Parrot) in Tamil.<ref name="ToI_greatest_2013" />
M. V. Rajamma (first female producer of Indian cinema)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Pandari Bai are considered as the earliest female superstars of Kannada cinema. Other popular female actresses of 1950s through 1990s include Prathima Devi, Harini, Leelavathi, Jayanthi, Kalpana, Bharathi, Lakshmi, Aarathi, Manjula, Sumithra, Jayamala, Arundathi, Sumalatha,Suhasini, Geetha, Bhavya, Sudharani, Tara, Malashree, Shruthi, Soundarya, Prema among others.
Neo-realistic cinema
Template:Main Kannada cinema contributed majorly to the parallel cinema movement of India.<ref name="Kasaravalli">Template:Citation</ref> Directors like Girish Kasaravalli,<ref name="Kasaravalli" /> Girish Karnad,<ref name="Karnad">Template:Citation</ref> G. V. Iyer<ref name="Karnad" /> were the early names to join the movement. T. S. Nagabharana<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and B. V. Karanth were also popular names in the movement. Films of Puttanna Kanagal were however considered a bridge between mainstream and parallel cinema.
Modern era
Template:Multiple image Prakash Raj began his acting career with Doordarshan serials such as Bisilu Kudure (Kannada) and Guddada Bhootha (Tulu and Kannada).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He later took up supporting roles in Kannada films such as Ramachari, Ranadheera, Nishkarsha, and Lockup Death. He was known for his dialogue delivery and histrionics. His breakthrough role came in Harakeya Kuri, directed by K. S. L. Swamy starring Vishnuvardhan, with whom he had acted in other films such as Mithileya Seetheyaru, Muthina Haara and Nishkarsha. Prakash re-entered Kannada films through Nagamandala in 1997, directed by T. S. Nagabharana.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Veteran Kannada actor Shakti Prasad's son Arjun Sarja is known for his work in South Indian cinema.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He starred in movies such as Prasad (2012), which was screened at the Berlin Film Festival and Arjun received the Karnataka State Award for his performance in it.<ref name="TOI_Feb2012">Template:Cite news</ref>
Sanchari Vijay's portrayal of a transgender won him the National Best Actor Award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> With the award, Vijay became the third actor after M. V. Vasudeva Rao, and Charuhasan to win the National Award for Best Actor for a performance in a Kannada film.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Shiva Rajkumar is known for his work in Janumada Jodi, Anand, Ratha Sapthami, Nammoora Mandara Hoove, Om, Simhada Mari and Chigurida Kanasu. He acted in Sugreeva, which was shot in 18 hours. His Om, directed by Upendra, set a trend of gangster movies in Kannada and other film industries in India. It continues to be shown even to this day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The new-age actors of Kannada cinema, Sudeepa, Darshan, Puneeth Rajkumar, Ganesh, Yash, Rakshit Shetty, and Rishab Shetty are some of the highest-paid actors.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The cult Ganesh-starrer, Mungaru Male (2006), was the first Kannada film to cross the ₹50 crore box-office collection mark.<ref name="bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com">Template:Cite web</ref> It was the first film to run for over 865 days in the history of Kannada cinema.<ref name="newindianexpress">Template:Cite web</ref>
The 2015 release, RangiTaranga, starring Nirup Bhandari and directed by Anup Bhandari, created a huge overseas market for Kannada cinema with a mega release, amassing $318,000 in the United States alone. It went on to become the first Kannada film to enter the New York box-office listing, the first Kannada film to complete a theatrical run of 50 days in the United States, and the first Kannada film ever to release in several countries across the world; it ran for 365 days in Bangalore.
The Rakshit Shetty starrer, Kirik Party (2016), went on to become one of the highest-grossing Kannada films by collecting ₹50 crores, against a production budget ₹4 crores, and completed a theatrical run of 150 days in the main cities of Karnataka.<ref name="ittt">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="th">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2018, the cult Yash starrer K.G.F: Chapter 1 became the first Kannada film to gross ₹250 crores at the box office. Its sequel, K.G.F: Chapter 2 (2022), made ₹ 1000 crores at the box office. The teaser for K.G.F: Chapter 2 trended at No. 1 on YouTube and gained more than 250 million views on the platform as of April 2022, surpassing the views of Avengers: Endgame.<ref name="auto1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It became the highest-grossing Kannada film of all-time with a record collection of over ₹1000 crores within India itself.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Kananda cinema was reported to have 8% market share in the gross domestic box-office collections from the period of January to July 2022, making it the fourth-biggest Indian film industry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> RangiTaranga, Kirik Party, K.G.F: Chapter 1, K.G.F: Chapter 2, and Kantaara were the first Kannada films to get international audiences, and bring the industry to a global reach.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
The 2020s have seen a rise in experimental and science-fiction storytelling in Kannada cinema, with films such as Blink (2024).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Film scores
Composer Hamsalekha is usually referred to by the title Naadha Brahma (Template:Translation The Brahma of Music) who is considered to be the major cause for the change in the music composing and lyric writing style which would appeal much to the younger generation. He integrated folk and introduced western musical sensibilities into the Kannada cinema.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Mano Murthy scored the blockbuster film Mungaru Male starring Ganesh and Pooja Gandhi. Upon the album's release, it topped the charts with the song "Anisuthide" receiving significant radio and TV air time.<ref name="hindu">Template:Cite news</ref> The album emerged as a massive success topping every Kannada music chart. It was reported that by mid-May 2007, over 200,000 copies were sold in compact discs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
International recognition
1960-69
The 1964 movie Naandi set a landmark by being the first ever Kannada film to be screened at an international film festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was screened at IFFI 1992 Kannada cinema Retrospect.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 1969 movie Uyyale was screened twice at the IFFI retrospect - once in 1992 and again in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1970-79
The 1970 movie Samskara won the Bronze Leopard at Locarno International Film Festival.<ref name="1nellore.com"/> The 1977 movie Ghatashraddha which had the distinction of being shown at the Museum of Modern Art, New York,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> became the only Indian film to be chosen by the National Archive of Paris among 100 others, during the centenary celebrations of cinema.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="The Hindu"/> It also won the Ducats Award at the Manneham Film Festival Germany. At the 2009 International Film Festival of India, it was announced one of the 20 best films in Indian cinema, having received 1.6 million votes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During February 2024, US film publication Variety announced that the Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project, George Lucas' Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation and Shivendra Singh Dungarpur's Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) have partnered to restore the film in time for its 50th anniversary from the original camera negative preserved at India's National Film Development Corporation of India-National Film Archive of India.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The restored version was showcased in the Venice Classics section of the 81st Venice International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The 1978 movie Ondanondu Kaladalli was released at The Guild Theatre, 50 Rockefeller Plaza on 17 May 1982. Vincent Canby, the chief film critic of The New York Times, called the movie "that is both exotic as well as surprising in view of all the bodies on the ground at the end, sweet natured!".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The film was subtitled into English for its American premiere on 18 October 1995 in Shriver Hall at the Johns Hopkins University as part of the 1995 Milton S. Eisenhower Symposium "Framing Society : A Century of Cinema".<ref name="Johns Hopkins Gazette">Template:Cite web</ref>
1980-89
The 1981 movie Simhada Mari Sainya was selected for the Paris and Moscow International Film Festivals.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 1987 film Pushpaka Vimana featured retrospectively in the Shanghai International Film Festival and Whistling Woods Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1990-99
The 1999 film Upendra was screened at the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival in Japan in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 1999 movie Deveeri was selected for 18 international film festivals<ref name="kl">Template:Cite web</ref> including the International Film Festival Rotterdam, Jeonju International Film Festival (2003),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the 44th London International Film Festival and the Cairo International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2000-09
The 2000 movie Munnudi was screened at Palm Springs International Film Festival (2002).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 2002 movie Atithi was screened at Cairo International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 2002 movie Dweepa was screened at the Moscow International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 2004 movie Hasina was screened at Berlin's Asia Pacific Film Festival. The 2004 movie Bimba was selected for the Bangkok International Film Festival.<ref name="kl" /> The 2006 movie Thutturi won the Best Audience Award at the 9th Dhaka International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and won the Earth Vision Award of 2005-06 at the 15th Tokyo Global Environmental Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 2006 movie Naayi Neralu was screened at six international film festivals including International Film Festival Rotterdam, Bangkok International Film Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival, Osian's Asian Film Festival (2006) <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and the Karachi International Film Festival. The 2006 movie Care of Footpath was selected for the Kids for Kids Film Festival at Cyprus and the 2006 film Cyanide was selected for the London Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2010-19
The 2010 movie Kanasemba Kudureyaneri won the NETPAC Award at the Asiatica Film Mediale (Italy) (2010).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 2011 film Koormavatara was screened in 17 film festivals and won acclaims at the film festivals of Bangkok, New York and Vancouver.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Prasad (2012) premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival<ref name="TOI_Feb2012"/> and was reported to be the first Kannada movie to premier at that festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 2012 movie Edegarike was selected for Mumbai Women's International Film Festival (2013).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 2013 movie Lucia premiered at the London Indian Film Festival on 20 July 2013.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It won the Best Film Audience Choice award at the festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was also screened at the Zurich Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 2015 movie Thithi won accolades at multiple international film festivals including 2 awards (Pardo d’oro Cineasti Del Presente Premio Nescens and Swatch First Feature Award)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> at the 68th Locarno International Film Festival<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and also won awards at the 19th Shanghai International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 2016 movie Railway Children won the Ecumenical Jury Award (special mention) at Zlín Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 2016 film Bombeyaata won three awards at seven International Film Festivals.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Hombanna (2017) won four awards at Five Continents International Film Festival, Venezuela<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and was also selected for screening at the 2017 Miami Independent Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 2018 movie Nathicharami and Balekempa were screened at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Balekempa also won the FIPRESCI Award at the 47th International Film Festival Rotterdam.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 2019 movie Arishadvarga also premiered at the London Indian Film Festival<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> followed by the Asian Premiere at the Singapore South Asian International Film Festival<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the North American Premiere at the Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 2019 movie Manaroopa won 10 awards at various international film festivals including the Best Thriller Film at Out of the Can International Film Festival at England,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Best Experimental Film at the Cafe Irani Chaii International Film Festival<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and was officially selected for the Miami Independent Film Festival in the United States and the Istanbul Film Awards in Turkey.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 2019 movie Bell Bottom premiered at the Indian Film Week in Japan in 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2020-21
In the post - pandemic era, Kannada cinema started making waves across the world in several international film festivals. Pinki Elli? was screened at around 50 International Film Festivals including the Prague International Film Festival and the Hainan International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It opened the Busan International Film Festival and was screened at Hong Kong International Film Festival. It won three awards at the New York Indian Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It also won the Best Film award at the Asian Film Festival Barcelona 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Amruthamathi was screened at ten international film festivals including Boston Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Austria Film Festival and won multiple awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Abhilash Shetty's Koli Taal premiered at the 21st New York Indian Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was then screened at various film festivals including the 18th Indian Film Festival of Stuttgart<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the 12th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. Neeli Hakki was selected for multiple international Film festivals including the New York Indian Film Festival. Pinni (2020) was selected in the competition category at the New York Indian Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Daari Yaavudayya Vaikunthakke won a total of 94 awards<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> including multiple awards at Rajasthan Film Festival<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and other international film festivals like Sundance Film Festival,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Barcelona, Nawada,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 7 Colours International Film Festival<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Golden Sparrow International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Illiralaare Allige Hogalaare won the Director's Vision Award at the 18th Indian Film Festival of Stuggart.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was earlier screened at the Dhaka International Film Festival<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and had won an award at the Rome Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It also won award at the Spain International Film Festival in Madrid.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Baraguru Ramachandrappa's Mooka Nayaka won the Best Picture of the Decade Award by competing with movies from different languages around the globe.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jeevnane Nataka Samy (2021) was screened at Miami International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Avalakki Pavalakki won five awards in various categories at Uravatti International Film Festival, Indo Global International Film Festival, American Golden Pictures International Film Festival, Oniros Film Festival and the Sweden Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Rudri won multiple awards at Oniros Film Festival,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tagore International Film Festival<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the Vindhya International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Naanu Ladies had its world premier at the 16th Tasveer South Asian Film Festival in Seattle.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It went on to win the Best Narrative Feature Award at the Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Pedro had its world premiere in the New Currents Section at the 26th edition of the Busan International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and was shortlisted for the Directors Fortnight Cannes 2020.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It went on to win the Best Director Award in the Crouching Tigers competition section at the Pingyao International Film Festival in Shanxi, China.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was also the joint winner of the Montgolfiere D'Argent Award at the Festival Des 3 Continents, Nantes, France.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was screened at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles(IFFLA)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was also screened at BFI London Film Festival,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> IndieLisboa International Film Festival,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kazan Film Festival, IFFSA Toronto and Greek Film Archive 12th Athens Avant-Garde Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Dollu was screened at the Dhaka International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was shortlisted for screening at 72nd Berlinale's European Film Market and the Dallas ft worth South Asian Film Festival (virtual).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was also screened at the Caleidoscope Indian Film Festival Boston where it won the Best Indian Film award.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It also won the Best Kannada Movie award at Innovative International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Namma Magu received recognition from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2022-25
Taledanda (2022) was selected for London International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Koli Esru was selected for screening at New York Indian Film Festival (2022).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Shivamma was selected for Marche du Film (2022) - the business counterpart of the Cannes Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> It was also screened at the 27th Busan International Film Festival<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> where it won the New Currents Award given to first or second feature film of a new Asian director.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It also won the Young Jury Award at the 44th edition of the Three Continents Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was also selected for screening at the US and Australian film festivals in 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Man Of The Match (2022), produced by Puneeth Rajkumar, was selected for screening at the 14th New York City Independent Film Festival in the foreign film category.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2022, Shuddhi (2017) and Bell Bottom (2019) premiered at the Indian Film Week in Japan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Vagachi Pani was selected for the co-production market at the film festival in Busan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Thayi Kastur Gandhi was screened at LA Film Festival<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and it won the Best Editor award at the Dallas International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hadinelentu was screened at the Jiseok section of the Busan International Film Festival (2022).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1888 was screened at several International film festivals across the world.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 2012 movie Edegarike was screened at the Indo-French International Film Festival in 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kantara, Koli Esru and Hadinelentu were nominated in various categories at the 14th edition of Indian Film Festival of Melbourne(IFFM) - 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Devara Kanasu was screened at around 30 film festivals,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> including an entry to participate in the panel screening and final selection of the Cannes Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Brahma Kamala won several awards and accolades at various film festivals including the Eediplay International Film Festival in France, Wonderland International Film Festival in Sydney, Old Monk International Film Festival in Nepal and the Indo-Singapore Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Shivamma won the Grand Prix Award at the 17th Andrei Tarkovsky Zerkalo International Film Festival, Ivanovo (2023).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Hadinelentu and Koli Esru won awards at the Ottawa Indian Film Festival Awards 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Koli Esru also premiered at the Indo-German Film Week.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Naanu Kusuma won award at the Gange Sur Garonne International Film Festival (2023) in France.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Chinnara Chandra was selected for Ahmedabad International Children Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kantara won the Special Jury Award, also known as the Silver Peacock Award - at the 54th International Film Festival of India (2023)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> - making it the first Kannada movie to win that award.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Mrityorma won four awards at the 6th Moonwhite Films International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Timmana Mottegalu was screened at the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tharini was selected for screening at the Rajasthan International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Kannada short film Suryakanthihooge Modhalugothagidhu (Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know) was a part of the "Film Schools' Competition" at the Cannes Film Festival held from 14 to 25 May 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Mikka Bannada Hakki won the Best Actor Award at the Shanghai International Film Festival (2024).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kenda premiered at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts and Switzerland.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy was selected for the BAFTA Breakthrough Talent Award 2024-25 for her debut directorial Aachar & Co.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> None of Her was screened at Chennai International Film Festival (2024).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Vagachipani premiered at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival (2025) and became the first Kannada film ever to have its premiere at that film festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It won Special Jury Mention at the "Spirit of Fire Festival" (2025) in Russia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was also screened at the Cinemajove Film Festival in Spain, the Sydney Film Festival, the Bangkok International Film Festival and won awards at the Toronto International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Alindia Radio was screened at the Indo-French International Film Festival (2025) and Indian Film Festival in Melbourne.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Swapna Mantapa was selected for the Chicago International Film Festival and reached semi-finals in the competition section.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> My Hero (2025) won accolades at International Film Festivals in Canada, Thailand, the US, Italy, India, Sweden, Hungary, Russia, Singapore and Germany.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 2023 movie Ramzan won award at the 14th Universal Film Makers Council and Genesis Ultima International Film Festival (2025).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Naale Rajaa Koli Majaa (2025) was screened at the NYIFF and was nominated for Best Screenplay.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Nimbiya Banada Myaga - Page 1 won the "Best Film Award" at the Dhanbad International Film Festival; the "Best Director Award" at the 7 Sisters North East International Film Festival; the "Best Director Award", the "Best Cinematographer Award" and the "Best Supporting Actor Award" at the 7th Crown International Film Festival in Bangladesh.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Furthermore, the film earned another accolade at the Thailand International Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Don’t Tell Mother had its World Premiere at the prestigious 30th Busan International Film Festival (2025) in the Windows To Asian Cinema section, becoming the only Indo-Australian production to do so.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
National recognition
- The 1959 movie Mahishasura Mardini was dubbed in seven other languages and is retrospectively identified as among the first major Pan-India films.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref><ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref>
- The song Baare Baare from the 1972 movie Naagarahaavu was the first slow-motion song of Indian cinema.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- The 1986 movie Anuraga Aralithu was the first Indian movie to be remade in seven other languages.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- The 1986 movie Africadalli Sheela was the first Indian movie to be shot in African forests.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- The 1987 movie Ondu Muttina Kathe was the first Indian film to have an underwater action sequence shot in an ocean outside India without the help of oxygen mask.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- The 1989 movie Idu Saadhya created a record by becoming the first Indian movie to be shot within a span of 36 hours.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- The 1991 movie Shanti Kranti was the first Indian multilingual movie and was the most expensive Indian film at the time of its release.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- The 1995 movie Om is the only Indian movie to have been re-released 550 times.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- The 2005 movie Shanti was the second Indian film to enter the Guinness Book of World Records in the Fewest actors in a narrative film category. It had only one actor with the other characters represented through voice and no physical appearance.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- The 2006 Kannada movie Mungaru Male was the first Indian movie to run for a year in a multiplex.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- The 2022 film K.G.F: Chapter 2 became the first movie to gross more than ₹400 crores within India in its opening weekend.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It also became the first South Indian movie to gross more than ₹550 crores in its opening weekend.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
- The 2022 film Kantara collected ₹25.5 crore in its sixth weekend which was reported to be the highest sixth weekend collection as well as the highest sixth week collection for an Indian movie.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its seventh week collection of ₹24 crores was the highest for an Indian movie surpassing ₹11 crores collected by Baahubali 2: The Conclusion in its seventh week.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- The 2025 movie Kantara: Chapter 1 became the highest-grossing film in the world for the week <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> when it grossed $53 million worldwide during its first week.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- K.G.F: Chapter 2 (2022) and Kantara: Chapter 1 (2025) were the first two Indian movies to gross a minimum of ₹50 crores in 5 languages.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Awards
| Year | Recipient | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Rajkumar | Actor |
| Year | Film | Director | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Samskara | Pattabhirama Reddy | Pattabhirama Reddy |
| 1975 | Chomana Dudi | B. V. Karanth | Praja Films |
| 1977 | Ghatashraddha | Girish Kasaravalli | Sadanand Suvarna |
| 1986 | Tabarana Kathe | Girish Kasaravalli | Girish Kasaravalli |
| 1997 | Thaayi Saheba | Girish Kasaravalli | Jayamala |
| 2001 | Dweepa | Girish Kasaravalli | Soundarya |
| Year | Film | Director | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Pushpaka Vimana | Singeetam Srinivasa Rao | Shringar Nagaraj |
| 2022 | Kantara | Rishab Shetty | Vijay Kiragandur |
State recognition
State award
State film festivals
Other awards
- Filmfare Awards South
- SIIMA Awards
- IIFA Utsavam
- Udaya Film Awards
- Suvarna Film Awards
- Mirchi Music Awards South
- South Scope Awards
- Chandanavana Film Critics Academy Awards
- Hello Gandhinagara Awards
- Chittara Star Awards
Film schools
The first government institute in India to start technical courses related to films was established in 1941 named as occupational institute then called the Sri Jayachamarajendra (S J) Polytechnic in Bangalore.
In September 1996, two specialised courses, Cinematography and Sound & Television were separated and the Government Film and Television Institute was started at Hesaraghatta, under the World Bank Assisted Project for Technician Development in India.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
- List of Kannada-language films
- Media in Karnataka
- Cinema of India
- Media of India
- List of Kannada film actresses
- List of highest-grossing Kannada films
References
External links
Template:National Film Award Best Feature Film Kannada Template:Cinema of Karnataka Template:Cinema of India Template:Media of India Template:World cinema Template:Karnataka topics