Tharun Sudhir's debut as director and Dwarakish Chitra's 50th film is a film that will leave a lasting experience. The multistarrer film that has a great supporting cast has a unique story that combines entertainment and a message for the youth about their contribution to the society. 

Four youngsters from four different eras end up in jail for no mistake of theirs. However they reconcile to their fate until they meet an old man in jail who is also wrongly jailed. He inspires them to not waste anymore of their lives. Do these four men manage to do the impossible is the rest of the story. 

Tharun has given equal  importance to the four stars, Vijay Raghavendra, Prem, Diganth and Prajwal Devaraj. There is also important roles for Kashinath and Chikkanna. 

There are beautiful elements in the film. The songs are top class. The four main actors give brilliant performances. Senior actor Kashinath is seen in a role that is unique. He steals the heart with his portrayal of a father who tries to undo the wrong foisted on him. 

The film gives a rich experience and is a visual treat. The makers have managed to show some places like Gol Gumbaz and Suvarna Vidhana Soudha like never before. Every actor in the film is given importance and nothing is out of place. However the film is long at nearly three hours and this is because all characters are given their due. 

There is a message for the youth in the end. It is a mass film with a message. 

Chitraloka Rating 3.5/5

Srinivasa Raju is back with a sequel to his film Dandupalya. But due to an ongoing court case, the film cannot use the word Dandupalya in it. The names have been changed in the film but with all the same actors from the film working in this too with the same character names and same styles, there is no doubt for audience. 

While the first film was about how the police cracked the serial murder cases in Bengaluru and trapped the gang of hardened criminals, this film gives a completely different perspective to the entire sequence of events. The film starts with the court giving a verdict of death sentence to the gang members. They are thrown into prison. A journalist begins to investigate into the reality behind the gang with the conviction that they are innocent.

The journalist's investigation reveals a completely different story. The police are faced with a headache as there are several robbery and murders in the city. They need to find the culprits but are unable to. So they find these innocent people for whom there is nobody to support. The film is about how they are framed. But the ending leaves you surprised. At the end of the film part 3 of the film is announced that will be released in August this year. 

The film has some good performances by Pooja Gandhi, Ravishankar, Sanjjanna and others. The film has some shocking scenes and also some surprisingly bold dialogues. The film is therefore given an A certificate. The film will shock some people because it gives a completely different perspective to what we know about the gang. 

The background score in the film is good. The photography is top class with some unusual shots and frames. Closeup shots are very good. It is technically a very good film because of the good technicians behind the screen.

Chitraloka Rating - 4/5

Yeleyaru Naavu Geleyaru is a well made film that caters to the children. Children's films are plenty but that which can be enjoyed in a theater by children are few. This is where this film is important. It is not only entertaining for kids but also has a good message that is added to the story. 

The film has a big cast of talented children who participated in Drama Juniors television reality show. They have come up with a brilliant performance. There are 10 junior stars like Achintya, Nihal, Abhishek, Amogh, Tushal, Puttaraju, Mahendra, Sooraj, Tejaswini and Mahiti. The film also has an experienced cast including Shankar Ashwath, Harini and Srikanth Heblikar. 

Vikram Soori, who mentored the children in the reality show is the director of the film. He has a good ability to tell a children's story that is appealing to both the children and their parents. 

The story is about a show for which the children are participating. One of them is found to have a medical problem which needs immediate treatment. How do these kids help their friend forms the rest of the story. It is a simple but yet powerful story. 

In their efforts to help their friend the children come acros various problems and very little help. Once they get a help they have to face another challenge. How the children solve these problems and save their friend is told in an interesting manner by the director. It is a perfect film for children. 

The film has music by Anoop Seelin who has composed some good tunes. The photography by Ashok Raman enhances the visual elements. If the entire family wants to go to a movie and if there are kids in the team, you know which movie to choose this time.

Chitraloka Rating - 3.5/5

You may have seen many kinds of politicians but this is one special guy. Meet Humble Politician Nograj, an one-of-a-kind political animal. Like all politicians he is corrupt. But he is honest about it. He does not lie about it. He tries to better himself in this aspect everyday by improving his corruption appeal. 

Even our Nograj has to face difficulties. His dangers come in the form of the local MLA who wants to dominate all corporators. Nograj is not one to be dominated and stomped upon. He sets out to demolish his opponent. He does what every politician does. It is a dog eat dog world out there and Nograj knows how to handle it. He thrives when it comes to beating politicians at their own game.

Now what if a really honest person who is not a politican becomes his opponent? That is where the fun begins. Nograj is at his wit's end facing the challenge from NRI turned local honest businessman Roger Narayan. Does Nograj finally meet his Waterloo at the hands of the really honest person or does the wily politician win the impossible battle? That is what you will see in the film Honest Politician Nograj. 

Danish Seth's hilarious comedy coupled with a serious satire on the political system in the country through the eyes of a businessman is brought out beautifully by director Saad Khan. The film has some good acting by Danish Sait, Vijay Chendur, Roger Narayan, Sumukhi Suresh, Sruthi Hariharan and Hanumante Gowda. 

This is a very unusual film that will leave you laughing all the way through. It will leave you rooting for Nograj sometimes and the honest Roger other times. Either way it is a win-win situation for everyone including the audience. This is a surprisingly different kind of film and you would not have experienced the dimensions of characters like this. At times the film has too much of English and it may not be familiar to everyone. But overall this is a special film for Sandalwood and a Sankranti gift. 

Chitraloka Rating - 3.5/5

Sumanth Shailendra is back and this time he has a wholesome film on offer. Unlike a specific genre of films he had acted in like Dilwala, Tirupathi Express, Bettanagere and Bhale Jodi this film Lee, directed by HN Srinandan has action, drama and romance packed into one film. 

Sumanth has grabbed the opportunity to showcase his talent in different getups for this film. There is romance with Nabha Natesh, aciton with the screen villains and drama in the story. Sumanth gets able support from Nabha Natesh and supporting cast that includes Rahul Dev, Sneha, Sadhu Kokila, Rangayana Raghu, Achyuth Kumar, Suchindra Prasad and others. 

The story starts with a mad person on the street. But soon the reason for his condition is revealed. He is a kung-fu expert who was running an academy. He falls in love with a girl but a villain is too after the same girl. Charlie (Sumanth) is tricked and beaten up and brought to this condition. The rest of the film is about how he recovers and takes his revenge and if he gets his girl. 

On the technical front there is able support from MU Nandakumar. His photography gives the film good visuals. The action scenes are captured in a thrilling manner. dialogues by Masti, lyrics by Vachana Sriram stand out. The action scenes have been nicely choreographed by Kungfu Chandru handled stunts. Music by Anand Vikram is above average while Gurukiran give the film an enchanting background score.

Chitraloka Rating - 3.5/5

It cannot get any bigger as India's first-ever mythological epic in 3D marks the 50th film of Challenging Star Darshan. He simply roars with his career best, portraying 'Dhuryodhana' in producer Munirathna's version of Kurukshetra.

The magnum opus has managed to turn one of the most talked-about mythological tale into a spectacular experience with some of the best actors and technicians at work.

Presenting the epic drama in digital avatar is the biggest take away for the entire team of Kurukshetra right from the producer Munirathna who realised his 'dream into a reality' and then followed by a bunch of extremely talented cast and crew.

While the movie depicts the most important phase of Mahabharata from the point of view of Dhuryodhana, the rest of the crucial roles is also dealt carefully without doing injustice to them. 

The crux of it being the battle of ideologies of justice versus injustice, is showcased in a well balanced act by the director Naganna.

Insofar as the multi-star cast, it is undoubtedly Darshan who leads the show with a majestic performance which will be remembered for a longtime as a personal milestone in his career. After Darshan, the list gets bigger with everyone chipping in with their career best, be it crazy star as Lord Krishna or Arjun Sarja as Karna and most of all the rebel star Ambareesh as Bheeshma Pitamaha. And, not to forget, Ravishankar as the cunningly intelligent Shakuni  The youngest of them all, Nikhil Kumaraswamy as Abhimanyu is impressive with a fair amount of screen presence in the second half. It's a fully loaded epic battle which emerges victorious in terms of expectations it carried ever since it was launched on a big scale.

Whereas the technical aspects are concerned, the digital output of it are satisfactory which in fact elevates the 3D experience for the audience. The script churned out of Gadha Yuddha from the epic writer Ranna is supported with apt dialogues while keeping in mind the understanding of the present generation audience along with the couple of 'beautifully' songs making it look grandeur before the war of war starts rolling. Both Meghana Raj and Hariprriya shine bright dancing to the classical tunes along with Darshan in between.

It's an epic treat for the fans of mythology packed with several surprises. Dhuryodhana might lose the war but goes on to win the hearts of many. Kudos to Munirathna and his entire team for turning an epic dream into reality and more importantly, presenting it in digital 3D avatar. Do not miss the epic action in full force at a theatre near you, be it 3D or 2D, it will definitely leave you amazed in the end serving justice to all the expectations.

Nishabda is one of the best known thriller films in Kannada starring the late Dr Vishnuvardhan. The sequel's story is not connected to the original film but there are a few similarities. One is that of dogs. Vishnuvardhan played a dog trainer in the first film. Here in this film a trained dog plays a very important role. 

The story is also completely different. Three friends decide to rob a house because they are in big trouble. They zero in on the house of a retired military officer who has lots of money in his house and lives alone. It should be an easy job which they should be able to complete without any trouble. But when they get inside the house, they realised that they have bitten more than they can chew. 

What was supposed to be their ticket to a settled future becomes a life and death struggle. There are only five main actors in the film including a dog. Roopesh Shetty, Aradhya Shetty, Petrol Prasanna and Avinash star in this thrilling story. 

Most of the film happens inside a house and here the work of the director and cameraman come to the rescue. They have done a good job. All the actors have done their best. Avinash has done justice to the role. It is amazing to see his character develop and how he lives the role. 

The film is less than two hours long but every minute of it has a thrilling element. It is aided by good editing which is crisp and keeps the film going fast and the background score that pumps up the thrills. This is not a ghost film but there are scenes which will scare you. Though there is a simple storyline each scene is brilliantly conceived and keeps up the momentum.

There is a good film this week by a talented team of newcomers. Rangbirangi has a host of newcomers in an amgalamtion of romantic emotions held together by some good directorial skills of Mallikarjuna Mattalageri. There are very few romantic films which explore the subject out of the conventional formulas. Rangbirangi is one of those rare breeds. 

On the face of it the film seems like a normal romantic saga. But very soon you realise that the director and his team has gone to great lengths to script this one. There is a beautiful girl in the neighborhood and everyone from the student next door to the mechanic on the next street are head over heels over her. There are four principle characters that are in love with her. Unlike a caper comedy for example Friends where one group of friends fall for the same girl, here it is a disparate bunch of youngsters who fall for the same girl. Each one of their status, aspiration and dislikes are different. The only thing that bind then is their love for this girl. 

It could have become an episodic formula film. But the director has managed to bring together diverse attitudes of love into a coherent film narrative. 

Among the cast the newcomers in the main roles have done a commendable job. Sri Tej, Panchakshari, Charan and Shreyas have done their job more than well. The actress Tanvi has a charming personality matched by good acting skills. They can be easily identified as good acting prospects for the future. 

The film is really a colourful exploration of the different wavelengths of love. The presentation makes it interesting. The cinematographer and the music composer Manikanth Kadri have given some more colour to it. Nandakishore and Raviverma are the cinematographers. Rangbirangi is not just a film for the youth. Audience of all ages can enjoy it even the parents of youngsters in love. Along with entertainment the film explores why youngsters act like the way they do when they are in love and also carries a message. It is blended nicely into the story without being preachy. Overall Rangbirangi is a film you should watch for its content and making.

Chitraloka Rating 3/5 

Tiger is a perfect comeback film for Pradeep. The actor has been waiting for three years since his last film and this film is sure to take him one or two level up in Sandalwood. The film is a complete paisa-vasool entertainer that is non-stop from the first to the last scene. 

The story is about a youngster who wants to be a police officer. But his father wants him to become a bank official. This issue divides them and they live separately in the same house. The son's wish is just ambition but the father has a deeper reason for opposing it. Why he opposes it is revealed later in the film in a flashback. 

Meanwhile the boy falls in love with a girl who seems to be ghost. He has a run-in with a local MLA and has no option but to fight him out. But a bigger problem arrives for him from Mumbai. He has to save his father from a big danger. Does he manage to save himself, his girlfriend and his father all at the same time? Does he fulfil his dream of becoming a police officer? You will have to watch the film for it.

The film has everything that audience expect in a film from comedy, action, drama, family sentiments, good songs, great one-liners and great visuals. Tiger delivers all of it. It is a complete entertainer which gives the audience everything they want from a film.

Pradeep shows his acting talent with this film. He is convincing as a concerned son, lover boy and more so in the action scenes. This is his best film. Shivaram also makes a comeback and shows that age has not dimmed his abilities. He still looks younger than his age. There is good music by Arjun Janya and good photography as well which keeps the screen colorful. The flashback is captured in a different tone. 

The comedy in the film is also top class. After a long time all three top comedians of Kannada; Sadhu Kokila, Rangayana Raghu and Chikkanna get good roles in the same film. 

Tiger is the film you have to book to enjoy the weekend. It is a good treat for the entire family. 

Chitraloka Rating 4/5

Uppu Huli Khara is a spicy treat by Imran Sardariya. The popular choreographer of Kannada is in his second film as director and he serves up a hearty wholesome meal which has 'uppu' 'huli' and 'khara' in the right proportions. The film is a complete entertainer which has all kinds of elements from romance, comedy, suspense and action. 

The film starts with a bank robbery. Devi, an ACP is brought to find the robbers. She gets a tip from an anonymous caller who tells where the three robbers are heading in a car. The cop, played by Malashri, arrests them easily. All the three say they are not part of the robbery and know nothing about it. Devi continues the investigation and checks each of their backgrounds. She realises that something is missing in their narration but is unable to pinpoint it. The local MLA puts pressure on her to complete the investigation at the earliest. A suspense drama starts from then on.The film goes through various twists and turns after that. How Devi manages to crack the problem forms the rest of the story. The three robbers and their girlfriends and families are caught in a struggle to prove their innocence. The film is nicely executed by Imran Sardariya.

Malashri as the cop brings in her tough image to the fore. She uses the north Karnataka accent in the film and it suits her well. Her character is very believable. Jayashree and Anushree get to play good roles as well. There are three main male leads played by choreographer Dhananjay, Shashi Devaraj and Sharath. The three manage to make a good impression in their roles. They have very contrasting characters which are brought together by circumstances. Overall Uppu Huli Khara is an entertaining film that will give you the best returns for your ticket money. 

ಶಿವರಾಜ್‍ಕುಮಾರ್, ಸೂರಿ ಕಾಂಬಿನೇಷನ್‍ನ ಟಗರು ವಿಭಿನ್ನತೆಯಿಂದಾಗಿಯೇ ಗುಟುರು ಹಾಕುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಬಾಕ್ಸಾಫೀಸ್‍ನಲ್ಲಿ ಜೋರು ಸದ್ದು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಸ್ವತಃ ಶಿವರಾಜ್‍ಕುಮಾರ್ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಎಲ್ಲರನ್ನೂ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳು ಅವರವರ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳ ಮೂಲಕವೇ ಗುರುತಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ವಿಶೇಷ. ನಿತ್ಯೋತ್ಸವ ಕವಿ ಕೆ.ಎಸ್.ನಿಸಾರ್ ಅಹಮದ್ ಕೂಡಾ ಚಿತ್ರವನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ಮೆಚ್ಚಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇನ್ನು ಕಿಚ್ಚ ಸುದೀಪ್ ಇನ್ನೂ ಒಂದು ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಮುಂದೆ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಚಿತ್ರವನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ, ಚಿತ್ರದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸ್ವತಃ ವಿಮರ್ಶೆ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಸುದೀಪ್.

ಸಿನಿಮಾದ ನಿರೂಪಣೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ. ತೆರೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಬರುವ ಪ್ರತಿ ಪಾತ್ರವೂ ಜನರನ್ನು ಕನ್‍ಫ್ಯೂಸ್ ಮಾಡುತ್ತೆ. ವಿಭಿನ್ನವಾಗಿ ಕಥೆ ಹೇಳುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಸೂರಿ ಗೆದ್ದಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಇನ್ನು ಶಿವರಾಜ್‍ಕುಮಾರ್ ಎನರ್ಜಿ, ಅಭಿನಯ ವಂಡರ್‍ಫುಲ್. ತೆರೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಅದ್ಭುತವಾಗಿ ಕಾಣಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಧನಂಜಯ್ ಪಾತ್ರ ಮತ್ತು ಅಭಿನಯ ಎರಡೂ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿವೆ. ವಸಿಷ್ಠ ಸಿಂಹ ಅವರ ಧ್ವನಿ ಎಲ್ಲರ ಗಮನ ಸೆಳೆಯುತ್ತದೆ. ಚಿತ್ರದ ಸಂಗೀತ ಎಲ್ಲರ ಗಮನ ಸೆಳೆಯುತ್ತದೆ. ಸಂಗೀತ ನೀಡಿದ ಚರಣ್‍ರಾಜ್‍ಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಅಭಿನಂದನೆ.

ಇದು ಕಿಚ್ಚನ ವಿಮರ್ಶೆ. ಕನ್ನಡದ ಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಈ ರೀತಿಯ ನಡೆ ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಹೊಸತು. ಒಬ್ಬ ಸ್ಟಾರ್‍ನ ಚಿತ್ರವನ್ನು ಇನ್ನೊಬ್ಬ ಸ್ಟಾರ್ ನೋಡುವುದು ಹಾಗೂ ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ವಿಮರ್ಶೆ ಮಾಡುವುದು ಕನ್ನಡಕ್ಕೆ ನಿಜವಾಗಿಯೂ ಹೊಸತು. ಕಿಚ್ಚ ಸುದೀಪ್ ಈ ಮೂಲಕ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಸತ್ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯಕ್ಕೆ ನಾಂದಿ ಹಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ.