The path of a movie, from an idea up to becoming a box office monster, is typically full of S-turns and inordinate amounts of twists and turns, yet in few instances does it have as intriguing a narrative like that of the duo that brought about the global sensation, KGF. Recently, co-founder of Hombale Films, Chaluve Gowda shared an outrageous incident of the early times of the film.
The actor supposedly disregarded the script in an incredulously offensive manner when presented with the script stating with an out-of-context rebuff, “Where do these Kannada movies even screen?!” This quote, which has come to be an industry folklore, underscores the enormous prejudice and distrust that there was towards the Kannada film industry even a few years back.
Not only has the success of the KGF in breaking box office records, but has also been a very effective rebuttal of such an attitude turning Kannada cinema into a major force in the national arena. The movie featuring Yash became the biggest grossing Kannada film up to date and its sequel KGF: Chapter 2 confirmed its position as a pan-Indian blockbuster.
The Rise of Kannada Cinema: From Niche to Pan-India Powerhouse
This statement by the anonymous actor carries the historical understanding that Kannada cinema was the poor cousin of the other South Indian film industries or, in other words, the Tamil and Telugu cinema. The two industries had enjoyed pan-Indian appeal monopoly over the past few decades as their movies and actors performed well in Hindi speaking market. Kannada cinema was however limited to Karnataka–their home state.
The outstanding performance of KGF and especially in northern states transformed this. Its international success at the box office, including the KGF: Chapter 2 crossing 1250 crores in its global box office, showed that well-told stories could overcome language barriers, and large scale filmmaking could be equally popular across languages. Its success opened the door to other Kannada hits such as Kantara to receive the same pan-Indian success, and this has forever redefined the history of Indian cinema.
Hombale Films’ Vision: Redefining Industry Standards
Not only does the success by Hombale Films signal a never-ending vision to produce culturally embedded stories that have universal value, but it also indicates the tremendous growth in becoming one of the most influential production houses to be reckoned with in the country. The production house which is a key player in Indian cinema now is not only enjoying the nostalgia of the hit movies of yore but is also moving on to a grand future. The company has also proposed to spend 3000 crores in most South Indian languages over the next 5 years with an emphasis on film production.
Big films under development will have them in collaboration with the best actors and they even had Prabhas working with them on the repeat of Salaar and even Hrithik Roshan could be seen doing a Bollywood film. This astute growth demonstrates that the industry hitherto not taken cognizance of as a marginally small actor has now taken center stage and controlled the choices as well as the shape of Indian entertainment in the future.
Also Read: Rajinikanth’s Coolie First Show Craze! Fans Pay Rs 4,500 To Catch All The Action
A recent media graduate, Bhumi Vashisht is currently making a significant contribution as a committed content writer. She brings new ideas to the media sector and is an expert at creating strategic content and captivating tales, having working in the field from past four months.
