The makers of Diganth’s upcoming film, Marigold, are gearing up for a release, and the teaser was recently unveiled. Judging by the glimpse, the film hints at an action-packed suspense thriller, which should have demanded an extra dose of energy and enthusiasm from the experienced actor. Joining him is Sangeetha Sringeri, the second runner-up of Bigg Boss Kannada season 10, who plays the female lead.

Speaking at the teaser launch producer Raghuvardhan mentioned, “Although I have directed several films, Marigold marks my first foray into film production. The captivating storyline presented by Raghavendra Naik compelled me to take this leap.”

The film revolves around four boys embarking on a mission to sell Marigold Biscuits and is shot across various locales including Chitradurga, Bangalore, and Sakaleshpur. While Diganth affirms his portrayal as an intelligent scammer in the film, the director reveals that Marigold will showcase the actor in a new light, blending drama and thrills seamlessly. The film’s cinematography is handled by Chandrashekar and it has music by Veer Samarth.

Dhruva Sarja, currently juggling between shoots of two big projects, Prem’s KD and Martin, will resume shooting for the latter from February 10. The high-octane action entertainer directed by AP Arjun, marks his first pan-India film and has been in the making for quite some time. The film is now entering its final phase of production. The team is gearing up to shoot two songs, with the first track serving as a continuation of the introduction song. The remaining sequences will be filmed in Goa, choreographed by Murali master. Following this, the team plans to wrap up with a romantic duet, to be choreographed by Imran Sardhariya, and shot in various parts of India.

According to the makers, shooting for Martin is scheduled to be completed in February. Meanwhile, the production house is carefully considering a suitable release date that would work well for them. An official announcement will be made thereafter. Martin‘s audio rights have been bagged for a whopping amount and is currently working on the post-production work. The film will also be dubbed in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi.

The story of Martin is written by Arjun Sarja, and the film stars Vaibhavi Shandilya as the female lead. The film also features Anveshi Jain, Sukruta Wagle, Nathan Jones, Rubiel Mosaquera, Achyuth Kumar, and Malavika Avinash among others. Uday K Mehta is bankrolling the project under the Vasavi Enterprises banner, with music composed by Mani Sharma and Ravi Basrur taking charge of the background score.

Satya Hegde is responsible for the cinematography, while the action sequences are taken care of by stunt choreographers Ram-Lakshman and Ravi Varma.

Filmmakers are constantly seeking to capture the pulse of society, addressing issues that resonate with audiences. B Sandeep Kumar’s latest venture, Maaye & Company, is poised to tackle one of the most pressing topics of our time: the impact of social networking sites.

Set to hit the screens amidst a flurry of releases on February 9, Maaye & Company is billed as a crime drama that delves deep into the ramifications of social media’s omnipresence in people’s lives. Backed by  M N Ravindra Rao, this film offers viewers the darker side of social media.

Speaking about the film’s thematic focus, B Sandeep Kumar, who not only directs but also has penned the story and screenplay, sheds light on its underlying message, “Nowadays, all kinds of mishaps happen due to WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, and this film is about how to deal with it,” he reveals. With a clear intent to address the pitfalls of unchecked social media usage, Maaye & Company is a film, made with a purpose,” he says.

At its core, the narrative revolves around four young protagonists, navigating the labyrinth of social media’s influence on their lives. “As their stories unfold on screen, the audience is confronted with the stark realities of cyberbullying, identity theft, and the invading personal privacy in the digital age. Through their experiences, we want to spotlight the dangers lurking behind the glossy façade of virtual connectivity,” he adds.

With cinematography by Shankar Aradhya, the ensemble cast of Maaye & Company includes Arjun Kishore Chandra, Naveendra, Yashshree, Anusha Anand, Uma, and Raghav Laal, among others.

Mano Murthy, the noted composer, has ensured for decades that his songs and music linger in people’s hearts, especially the melodious tracks, even long after the films are done and dusted. Examples abound, including Amrutha Dhaare, America America, Joke Falls, Cheluvina Chittara, Geleya, and Mangaru Male, to name a few. However, the music director, who is an NRI, seemed to have disappeared for a few years; is now back to captivate audiences with a new set of films, the latest being director Dattareya’s upcoming romantic mystery thriller Pranayam. The film, starring Rajavardan and Nayana Ganguly, is produced by Paramesh of P2 Production and is set to release on February 9.

“I haven’t vanished. After that peak period, for some reason, the latter films which I worked on somehow didn’t do too well,” says Mano Murthy. “In my view, I realised that today if films don’t perform well, songs don’t achieve their potential, but there are exceptions. Today, people are mostly drawn by the content and trailers, which become the key invitations to theatres. Unlike before, songs don’t have the same impact in attracting audiences. Also, albums in those days were either on CDs or FM. Now, songs are streaming on every platform before release, allowing people to form their opinions even before watching them in theatres and how the songs complement the entire film. A handful of films for which I have composed music have failed for different reasons. Even then, the songs have done well, but not to the extent we expected,” he adds.

Mano Murthy describes Pranayam as a mystery thriller with a different love story, and each track is melodious. He underscores that as a music director, the strength of Pranayam’s music lies in the background score. “Background scores have to complement the visuals, which are extraordinary, and I take a lot of time to work on them,” he says. Mano Murthy has composed six songs, bringing in famous singers like Shreya Ghoshal, Sonu Nigam, and Kunal Ganjawala, along with Hemanth Kumar, who has lent his voice to various tracks in Pranayam. The lyrics are penned by Jayanth Kaikini, Hrudaya Shiva, and Chinmaya Bhavikere. “To a large extent, I have to go by what the makers wish and rope in noted singers. This time, I have used a new singer, Vani Sathish, who lives in Davangere,” he says.

The music director has a good set of lineups; his next includes Gajarama. “I have also collaborated with Nagathihalli Chandrashekar for his next project and Kuladalli Keelyavudo directed by Shreyas Raj Shetty, which is currently in the works. The film has to do well, and people have come to watch Kannada films for the content, visuals, and also for the songs as well,” he concludes.

Darshan’s Kaatera helmed by Tharun Kishore Sudhir, which hit theatres on December 29, has been declared a commercial blockbuster with a box office collection grossing over 200 crores. The film, which continues to do a successful run in theatres, will make its digital premiere on ZEE5 on February 9.

Backed by Rockline Venkatesh and directed by Tharun Kishore Sudhir, who has also penned the script along with Jadeshaa K Hampi, Kaatera has dialogues by Maasthi. The film also features debutante Aradhanaa, Jagapathi Babu, Kumar Govind, Vinod Alva, Shruti, Biradar, and child artist Rohith PV, among others. The film has V Harikrishna scoring music and cinematography by Sudhakar S Raj.    

Set in the 1970s, the mass action entertainer follows Darshan’s titular Kaatera, a skilled weaponsmith on a mission to assist farmers in implementing the Land Reforms Act, as he navigates various challenges against the backdrop of agrarian struggles.   

Director KM Chaitanya is currently gearing up for the release of his upcoming romantic drama, Abbabba, starring Likith Shetty, and Amrutha Iyengar, which is scheduled to hit theaters on February 16. Meanwhile, there is a buzz around the director’s next project, and our source says Chaitanya will be directing Vinod Prabhakar marking the actor’s 25th film. The gripping tale, centred on the underworld, will be produced by Padmavathi Jayaram for Padmavathi Films.

In a previous conversation with CE, Chaitanya had shared that he was writing a story that delves into the underworld. He further emphasised that the film is not a true story and also not a sequel to his debut Aa Dinagalu, but the film’s narrative is connected to Karnataka’s history.  As per the latest update, the film’s script has taken shape and the project is set to be headlined by Vinod Prabhakar.

Chaitanya is not new to the theme as he has previously explored the underworld in Aa Dinagalu. The upcoming film will mark the director’s first collaboration with Vinod, who is known as a mass hero. While the details about the project are kept under wraps, the official announcement regarding the film is expected to be made shortly.

Meanwhile, Vinod Prabhakar has two projects, Maadeva and Lankasura at different stages of production.
 

Actor Jaggesh and filmmaker Guruprasad, known for their previous hits like Matta and Edelu Manjunatha, are set to repeat the magic with Ranganayaka. The film, which comes 15 years after the duo's previous collaboration, is gearing up for release on March 8, on the occasion of Shivaratri. Recently the makers unveiled the first single from Ranganayaka, titled 'Gaali Tangaali', which has garnered attention for a couple of reasons.

Composed by Anoop Seelin, who also lends his voice alongside Muniraju, 'Gaali Tangaali', with lyrics by Guruprasad, brings forth the essence of Kannada. The video song not only focuses on the film's lead Jaggesh, but also features junior artists portraying eminent personalities like  Ambareesh, Ravichandran, Vishnuvardhan, Rajkumar, Shankar Nag, and more.

Ranganayaka, produced by Vikyath A R under the Vikhyath Chithra Production banner, is touted to be a period drama political satire. Distributed by Zee Studios, the film introduces Tamil television actor Rachitha Mahalakshmi, who will share the screen with Jaggesh. 

Shivarajkumar, who has a slew of projects in the pipeline, is gearing up for his latest endeavour IV Returns, which marks the directorial debut of Lakki Gopal. The film has sparked excitement since its announcement, as it is set to revive Shivanna's cherished titular character from the comedy-thriller Inspector Vikram (1989), after a hiatus of 34 years.

Produced by Mylari M, along with Renuka Prasad and Mysuru Ramesh overseeing the production, the project is set to rope in a star-studded cast. Meanwhile, the makers have finalised the technical team. With Vidhyadharan penning the story, Lakki Gopal's debut feature will have noted composer Amrish scoring the music. Maasthi, the dialogue writer of Kaatera and the upcoming Bheema is also onboard, along with cinematographer Mahendra Simha, known for Rustum and Ghost. Deepu S Kumar will be taking care of editing while stunt choreography will be handled by Chethan D Souza.

Shivarajkumar is awaiting the release of Karataka Dhamanaka, which is slated to hit theatres on March 8. He is currently shooting for Bhairathi Ranagal, and 45, and simultaneously gearing up to commence filming for IV Returns.

Dhanveerrah, the actor from Bazaar, and By 2 Love, last seen in Kaiva (now available on Prime), signs his next project while awaiting the release of Vaamana. Titled Hayagrriva, the film marks the directorial debut of Raghukumar OR. He previously served as an associate in Sudeep’s Kotigobba 3 and contributed to films like Kannadakkagi Ondandu Otti, Seetha Circle, and Manedevaru. He has also directed a short film, The Bell.

Now venturing into feature film direction, Raghukumar has unveiled the film’s first look poster, teasing a concept that intertwines mythology and a crime set in modern times. According to the director, the movie propels us into the future by 40 years, exploring the consequences of a crime involving lords. With a blend of ancient tales and contemporary elements, the film is said to be a family entertainer along with a romantic track. Sanjana Anand plays the female lead, marking her first collaboration with Dhanveerrah.

Samruddhi Manjunath, a distributor who has produced Life Jothe Ondu Selfie, and is bankrolling the project under the KVC Productions banner, presided over the muhurat on Friday The shoot is scheduled to commence on February 8 and will have Ravishankar playing a mythological character, along with Rangayana Raghu and Sadhu Kokila, Shruthi in pivotal roles.

Hayagriva has Judah Sandy as the music director and Karthik S as the cinematographer.

Karthik Mahesh, winner of Bigg Boss Kannada Season 10, launched the trailer of Mandya Haida along with political Ravikumar Gowda, ahead of the film's release on February 16. The film stars Abhay Chandrashekhar in the lead role.

Speaking at the trailer launch event, Kartik Mahesh had a few words to say about his friend Abhay Chankrashekar, with whom he worked in Sagar Puranik's Dollu. "Abhay possesses all the qualities to become the next mass hero," he mentions, adding, "The film offers a blend of action and comedy, catering to the preferences of Mandya's audience." Mandya Haida is a family entertainer showcasing Mandya’s high lifestyle and the twists of love. This film tells the story of a brave young man who goes to great lengths to protect his love. Abhay Chandrashekhar, a Mandya native who has worked in a couple of films, is making his debut as the lead in this film.

Further, Karthik Mahesh also expressed his best wishes to the team and appreciated the efforts of director Shrikanth. The film which will have five songs composed by Surendranath, will feature cinematography by Manugowda. Bal Rajavadi, Vishnu, and producer Chandra Shekhar have also played crucial roles in the film.

Abhay’s father, Chandrashekar, has bankrolled the project under the Tejas Creations banner. Interestingly, the film, mostly shot in Mandya, features fifteen comedians and seasoned artists.