Film producer and distributor Karthik Gowda. Photo credit: N Ravichandran.

Karthik Gowda, founder of production and distribution company KRG Studios, is passionate about making new generation films in Kannada. Took the responsibility of Executive Producer at Hombale Films for pan India hit films like KGF: Chapter 1, KGF: Chapter 2 And Kantara, Karthik has now focused his attention completely on KRG Studios.

The banner’s first project was an emotional slice-of-life-cum-family drama Ratnan Prapanch, Starring Dhananjay and Umashree. After receiving praise for its debut film, KRG Studios spent money Gurudev Hoysala, A fast paced police drama with a social message.

Talked to the distributor-producer hindu The progress of the Kannada industry over the years, challenges faced by the industry and what to expect from their banner were discussed.

Excerpts from the conversation:

Can you tell us about KRG Studio’s upcoming projects?

first kannada movie powder, It will be released on 12th July. We are excited about this collaboration with TVF, which wanted to move into feature films after making its mark in the online space. This is a new age comedy film. The KRG and TVF want to produce films for young adults in the future. We have also announced a Tamil film with Anjali Menon; We are all her fans, and this film is a slice of life, which she is very good at.

Then there is a project with Sudeep sir, who is returning to direction after a decade. When we came up with an exciting idea, he agreed to do it. He was looking for a director, but we felt he was the right person for it. His technical skills are far superior to many in the industry. It is too early to talk about the film, but I can say with confidence that this is a film that will celebrate Sudeep sir.

Ultimately, we are excited Uttarakhand. It is a two-part crime drama that will be shot in North Karnataka. From handling several notable actors (Dhananjay, Shivarajkumar, Aishwarya Rajesh, Chaitra J Achar, Achyuth Kumar) to handling the huge crowd that gathered around our sets every day, to understanding the dialect of the region, everything about the project Has been challenging. As yet. If we deliver on what’s on paper, this will turn out to be a film that KRG Studios will always be proud of.

Also read:KRG Studios has collaborated with TVF for a film

Poster of ‘Powder’ starring Digant Manchale. , Photo Credit: Karthik_KRG/Instagram

As a production house, what does KRG Studio expect from the filmmakers?

We prefer to read scripts before finalizing projects, however, many Kannada filmmakers hesitate in sending their scripts. They are ready to pitch an idea and then work on the script. We don’t work that way; The think-tank team at KRG Studios likes to read scripts and then take things forward. Even if you don’t have a bound script, you’ll need to send a draft that explains the film. Filmmakers from other industries send scripts as soon as we ask for them.

Do you think Kannada cinema has failed to capitalize on the success of ‘KGF’ and ‘Kanthara’?

Yes, and the reason for this is lack of uniformity! Everyone has to take the blame, including me. Last year (2023) was not good for Kannada, although we got some gems. When the bar is high, living up to expectations becomes a challenge. I always believe that a good film will always find its audience. Many times, a small Kannada film has been successful at the box-office against powerful non-Kannada films, such as How Colorful enjoyed a spectacular run amid the dominance of bahubali And Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Therefore, one cannot blame competition from other industries. The main thing is to position your film well to ensure that it is widely visible.

Karthik Gowda with actor Sudeep. , Photo Credit: Karthik_KRG/Instagram

Exhibitors and producers complain that Kannada stars do not do more than one film a year. Why so?

Most South Indian films do not adhere to their deadlines and disrupt the calendars of exhibitors, who plan for the entire year by blocking their dates for those big films. It would not be right on my part to talk about why some of the most awaited Kannada films took so much time to be made. But stars can and should do more than one film in a year. Filmmakers should plan their shooting wisely and stick to their schedule. For example, in Tamil a superstar like Vijay does two films in 15 months. His last release, Lion, It was shot between 125 and 180 days. This is a fantastic record, considering that this was not an easy film to make.

Amidst the pan-India wave, Kannada filmmakers have forgotten to make films for the local audience…

I agree. To appeal to non-Kannada audience, you are losing your regular audience. Perhaps the filmmakers are eyeing additional money from pan-India films. but like a movie Kantara Made for local audience. Even in Karnataka, many people were not aware of the cultural significance seen in the film. Still it did wonders because the film was in Kannada. It was only after the success in Karnataka that it performed well across the country. So, your local audience becomes your priority. They will ensure to expose non-Kannada audiences to good Kannada films through word of mouth promotion on social media.

Also read:Ramya refused to do Dhananjay starrer film ‘Uttarakand’

Dhananjay in ‘Uttarakand’. , Photo Credits: Anand Audio/Youtube

As a producer, have you found a solution to Kannada cinema’s OTT conundrum?

I think this is just a phase and this situation will not last very long. Additionally, the streaming platform needs to employ someone who knows the local market so that it can select movies at the right price. A great film may sell in good numbers, while a mediocre film may sell for huge sums. This happens because people at streaming platforms don’t know what works for local audiences.