Latest news with #GodhiBannaSadharanaMykattu
New Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Hemanth M Rao: I want to celebrate great talents like Shivanna and Dhananjaya
After winning hearts with Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu, Kavaludaari, and the Sapta Sagaradaache Ello films, director Hemanth M Rao is back with his next venture: 666 Operation Dream Theatre. The film, produced by Dr Vaishak J Gowda under the Vaishak J Films banner, brings a stylised 70s-inspired espionage world to life and marks a nostalgic but fresh turn in Hemanth's filmography. The film is set to reunite the hit Tagaru duo, Shivarajkumar and Dhananjaya, and it taps into the charm of vintage thrillers with a modern touch. 'I grew up watching James Bond, Jedara Bale, and Operation Diamond Rocket. This film isn't inspired by them, but they shaped my love for cinema,' says Hemanth. 'I wanted to make something that carries that energy and entertainment, the kind I saw as a child." As for the title, he adds, '999 is Annavaru Dr. Rajkumar's iconic number (Goa Dalli CID 999). We wouldn't touch that. As for the number we are trying to look at it from our own perspective, and add our own spin to it." While Hemanth's previous films leaned into emotional depth and strong characters, this marks his first project with a mass theme. Is this a shift in style? 'People think 'mass' means formula, but for me, commercial cinema is anything that connects, succeeds, and makes money. That way Godhi Banna... Kavaludaari and Sapta Sagaradaache Ello were commercial hits," he says. Sharing his excitement of working with Shivanna and Dhananjaya, Hemanth says they're fantastic actors. "Beyond 'mass appeal' it is more about celebrating great talent.'
New Indian Express
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Hemanth M Rao officially announces 666 Operation Dream Theatre with Shivarajkumar and Dhananjaya
Acclaimed filmmaker Hemanth M Rao, known for his distinctive storytelling in films such as Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu, Kavaludaari, and the recent Sapta Sagaradaache Ello films, is set to return with his next directorial venture, 666 Operation Dream Theatre. While his previously announced collaboration Bhairavana Kone Pata with Shivarajkumar is currently on hold, this new project marks yet another significant association with the veteran actor. Shivarajkumar had recently hinted at an upcoming film with Hemanth during an interaction — a detail that now stands officially confirmed with this announcement, along with releasing a title motion poster.
India Today
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Agnyathavasi producer hits back at troll criticising Kannada film's poor promotions
Kannada Hemanth Rao, known for emotionally resonant films like 'Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu' and 'Sapta Saagaradaache Ello', is no stranger to crafting cinema that lingers. But with his latest production 'Agnyathavasi', which hit theatres on April 11, 2025, Rao found himself navigating a different kind of discourse, one that played out not on the big screen, but on social media. Recently, a troll criticised the film's poor promotions stating that it was the cause of film's underperformance at the box the days following the film's release, a post on X claimed that 'Agnyathavasi' failed not due to content, but due to a lack of promotional effort. 'No Promotion, No Audience!! It's That Simple (sic),' the post read, praising other recent Kannada releases like 'Yuddhakaanda' and 'Veera Chandrahasa' for doing promotions 'right', while accusing 'Agnyathavasi's' team of expecting magic without making the post: Hemanth Rao replying to the post, wrote, 'Silence is often misunderstood to be confirmation of your opinion... Easy answers are not always the right answers. Each film has its own unique identity and journey. As the saying goes, comparison is the thief of joy.'advertisementHe acknowledged that the team could 'do better' with promotions, but pushed back against reductive takes. 'We will reflect, learn, and go again,' he added, while also thanking those who supported the before 'Agnyathavasi's' release, Rao spoke about these very challenges in an interview with Hindustan Times, offering a glimpse into the hopes the film carried. 'I definitely hope so,' he said when asked whether 'Agnyathavasi' could replicate the pan-Indian success of Malayalam thrillers. 'It would be good if it crosses borders and resonates with audiences,' he also acknowledged the tough year for Kannada cinema: over 70 films were released in 2025 alone, with many struggling to find viewers. But rather than seeing this as a setback, Rao viewed it as an opportunity. 'I don't want to complain. I'd rather break this landscape with different kinds of cinema. Most of the audience comes to theatres for tentpole films, but good storytelling can also bring Kannada audiences back,' he said. 'Agnyathavasi', a 1997-set mystery thriller directed by Gultoo filmmaker Janardhan Chikkanna, features a cast that includes Rangayana Raghu, Siddu Moolimani, Pavana Gowda, and Ravishankar Gowda. The film was announced in early 2023 but faced several delays before arriving in theatres in the debate on promotions has sparked discussion, it has also highlighted a crucial question for the Kannada industry: how do strong stories find their way to bigger audiences? For Rao, the answer is nuanced - not in formulaic strategies, but in building a culture of sustained, long-term connection between cinema and Watch
