2005 - Yearly roundup of Kannada Film Industry

Compared to 2004, 2005 was indeed a remarkable year for the Kannada film industry with over 50% success rate and lots of credits, recognitions and honors flocking from allover. Many small and big budget films made hullabaloo this year - some bombed at the box-office while many were profitable. Almost 18% of the films were considered as hit. This year also witnessed many new actors and directors who wanted to try their luck. Let's have a glance on the major releases and performance that flowed through the year.

Since January 2005 till December, 77 films were released (including a Konkani film 'Padri'). A reduction of 4% compared to 80 films in 2004. 17% of 77 films marked 100 days - 10% improvement than 2004. Interestingly, remake Comparative Analysis - 2004 -05

films were reduced to 12% from 33% last year! Apart being the top grosser of the year, Ashwini Production's debut venture Jogi also created record in multiple ways. This film created history by celebrating 100 days in 45 theaters and it became the first ever Kannada film to be screened simultaneously in the United States of America. Puneet Rajkumar's Akash turned out to be another big hit of the year. With that, Puneet creates a record of six consecutive 100-day films! Anna-Thangi, Amruta Dhare, and Ayya can be considered as super hits of the year from business perspective while Auto Shankar, Gowramma, Rishi, Shasti, Namma Basava, Deadly Soma, Rakshasa, Navabharathi and Moorkha too kept the producers profitable. Films that were not super hits in totality but still beguiled the masses and managed to fetch the producers' investments back were Mental Manja, Maharaja, Kashi From Village, Varsha, Ugra Narasimha, O Gulabiye, Sai, and Swamy. It's too early to comment on Rama Shama Bhama and Vishnu Sena which are doing well currently. Most expected but turned out to be disastrous movies were Encounter Dayanayak, Aham Premasmi and News. Audience could not digest these films despite of media hype.

Puneeth, Shivarajkumar, Murali and Vijaya Raghavendra

Puneeth, Shivarajkumar, Murali and Vijaya Raghavendra

2005 belongs to Rajkumar family with Shivarajkumar grabbing the top positions with Jogi, Anna-Thangi and Rishi, his sibling Puneeth stands next with super hit Akash followed by Namma Basava. Darshan and Upendra come next with two hits. Both of them managed to pull the mass audience. Aptha Mitra completing one year was certainly refreshing for Vishnuvrdhan. Also, Bangalore University has awarded him an honorary doctorate citing his tireless efforts and contribution to film industry and the society. His film Varsha is a lukewarm business while Vishnusena released this month is doing well.

Sudeep, Upendra, Darshan and Mayur

Actor Ramesh Aravind who turns director this year with Rama Shama Bhama should feel happy about his significant contributions. Sudeep's Kashi from village, Maharaja and Sai though were not hits, they didn't pinch the producers' pockets. Vijay Raghavendra's Rishi was a hits film and his next high expectation film Shri is expected to release shortly. Youngsters Murali, Mayur Patel and Sunil Rao could not live upto the expectation.

Ramya, Jennifer, Rakshita and Tara

Among the heroines, Ramya stands first with three super hit films (Akash, Gowramma and Amrutha Dhare). It's a dream come true for this actress with hat trick success. Rakshita and Radhika share the next slot. Actress Tara once again proved her versatility with Best Actress National Award for Haseena. Plenty of new heroines have throbbed the big screen this year. Sonali Joshi, Anjali Jaweri, Shridevi, Gowri, Manya, Sindhu Tolani, Deepu, Gajala, Gurlin Chopra, Richa, Gayatri are a few of them but except a few, they failed to make any significant mark.

Girish Kasaravalli, Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar, Prakash and Prem

Girish Kasaravalli, Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar, Prakash and Prem

Prem, the hat trick director is on success spear with never seen before kind of craze for his film Jogi. Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar is back on track with his directorial production Amrutha Dhare doing good business. Debutants Ravi Shrivatsa, Mahesh Babu and Ratnaja too proved themselves as talented technicians. Sai Sagar too stands next to them with his debut film Mental Manja, an unusual flick. Ace director Girish Kasaravalli's film Haseena bagged three national awards.

Dr. Rajkumar, Dr. Vishnuvardhan, Dr. Baraguru Ramachandrappa and Master Kishan

Dr. Rajkumar, Dr. Vishnuvardhan, Dr. Baraguru Ramachandrappa and Master Kishan

Some of the landmarks of 2005 are:
1. Dr Rajkumar was honored at Sarthaka Suvrna by Karnataka Government
2. Visnuvardhan is awarded an honorary doctorate by Bangalore University
3. Kannada film Shanti enters The Guinness Book of World Record
4. Kannada film Jogi was simultaneously released in the US creating history
5. Master Kishan is all set to enter The Guinness Book of World Record
6. Tara got the Best Actress National award
7. Aptha Mitra completes one year in three theaters
8. Amrutha Dhare stars Amitab Bachan for the first time in a South Indian film
9. Vajreshwari Combines celebrates its silver jubilee
10. Kamal Hasan's re-entry to Kannada (Rama Shama Bhama)