Filmmaker Murali Mohan passes away at 57; directed hits with Upendra, Shiva Rajkumar; battled kidney ailments for years
The Kannada film fraternity is mourning the loss of director
Murali Mohan
, a filmmaker who left a lasting imprint on the industry through his collaborations with some of its biggest stars.
Best known for helming 'Nagarahavu' with Real Star
Upendra
, Santha with Hat-trick Hero Shivarajkumar, and Mallikarjuna with Crazy Star
Ravichandran
, Murali Mohan passed away in Bengaluru on August 13.
He was 57. His death comes after a long and difficult battle with kidney-related ailments.
The news was shared by the director Prakasharaj Mehu via social media. Taking to Facebook handle he wrote, "Murali Mohan was one of the driving forces behind the film Om! The reason I say this is because, during the story discussions at Vajreshwari Productions that I was part of, every time the topic of Om came up, Varadanna would fondly remember Murali and the contribution he made to that film!! He praised Murali's intelligence.
It is a tragedy that his true talent was never fully utilised in the Kannada film industry!!!"
Prakasharaj Mehu further wrote, "Seeing people like him makes one believe the saying that nothing else grows under a big banyan tree. Murali, who always spoke about God, religion, meditation, homa, and havan, appeared to me more like the head of a monastery than a film director. He had bought a plot in Uttarahalli, but it got caught up with the Rajakaluve (stormwater drain).
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Redefine Your Future with a Top Online MBA
SRM Online
Enquire Now
Undo
He struggled a lot to save it. Today, he has become free from all such concerns.
Salutations to you, Murali — may the heaven you believed in be yours…' — Prakash Raj Mehu, Writer and Film Director."
A long fight against illness
For years, Murali Mohan had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital on JC Road in Bengaluru. His condition had required costly surgeries. Reportedly, he had publicly appealed for financial help when medical expenses mounted to an estimated Rs 30–35 lakh.
Friends, colleagues, and well-wishers rallied to his side, raising funds and offering support. Despite their efforts, his health continued to decline, and he breathed his last on Wednesday.
Friendship with Upendra
Murali Mohan's had a long standing bond with the superstar Upendra. That bond evolved into a creative partnership on several projects, including cult hits like 'Om', 'Shhh', and 'Tarle Nan Maga', where he contributed behind the scenes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
How to get Aztec Egg in Adopt Me
The Aztec Egg arrived in Adopt Me on August 15, 2025, replacing the Moon Egg and introducing eight new pets. Obtainable from the Nursery's Gumball Machine for 750 Bucks, it offers a 4% chance to hatch the coveted Legendary pets, the Temple Friend and Quetzalcoatl, alongside other common to ultra-rare companions. Aztec Egg is one of the newer eggs to make its way into Adopt Me, and it can provide you with several exciting pets inside the game. It has replaced the Moon Egg in the Nursery and brings something fresh to the Roblox experience. It ranks in the legendary rarity, and it is the only source to get the Temple Friend and the Quetzalcoatl, which are highly coveted pets in Adopt Me. You will have to spend bucks to acquire the Aztec Egg and complete the relevant tasks to hatch it. Here is a detailed guide on obtaining the Aztec Egg in Adopt Me. How to obtain the Aztec Egg in Adopt Me HATCHING 50 AZTEC EGGS at the BEST spots for a LEGENDARY in Adopt me! The Aztec Egg in Adopt Me was released into the game on August 15, 2025, and the update has excited the game's community. It is essentially obtainable from the Gumball Machine, located in the Nursery, and you will need to spend a total of 750 bucks to purchase it. Here are the steps that you can follow to acquire the Aztec Egg in Adopt Me: After launching Adopt Me, you have to navigate to the Adoption Island. Upon reaching the island, navigate to the Nursery and head to the Egg Shop. Purchase the Aztec Egg from the Gumball Machine by spending 750 Bucks. As previously mentioned, you will have to complete a total of 5 tasks to hatch the Aztec Egg in Adopt Me. Here are the drop rates of the different rarity of pets: Common pets: 35% chance Uncommon pets: 25% chance Rare pets: 24% chance Ultra-rare pets: 12% chance Legendary: 4% chance The Temple Friend and the Quetzalcoatl are the main attractions of the Aztec Egg, and both of them fall under the Legendary category. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo There is only a narrow chance of 4% of obtaining the two pets, so you will have to hatch several eggs to get them. Aztec Egg pets in Adopt Me Aztec Egg features a total of eight pets that you can hatch, and they can be wonderful companions to you in Adopt Me The following are the pets that you will be able to get from the particular Egg in the game: Tegu – Common rarity Tree Frog – Uncommon rarity Chanekeh – Rare rarity Water Opossum – Rare rarity Ehecatl – Ultra-rare rarity Onza – Ultra-rare rarity Quetzalcoatl – Legendary rarity Temple Friend – Legendary rarity This was all you needed to know about the Aztec Egg in Adopt Me. Besides it, the Royal Aztec Egg is another way you can get the various pets inside the Roblox experience. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Joining the Kantara universe has been thrilling; and a little daunting: Rukmini Vasanth
The news sent ripples through social media: Rukmini Vasanth is part of Kantara: Chapter 1. For an actress whose star has been steadily rising, this was, in her words, 'a dream come true'. We caught up with Rukmini in her first interview after the big reveal to hear, straight from her, what it feels like to land a role in one of the most anticipated films on the horizon. Excerpts: I consciously avoided letting the brilliance and success of the Kantara weigh me down. Instead of thinking about matching or surpassing it with this prequel, I approached this as its own story - Rukmini Vasanth 'The moment my role was confirmed, I wanted to shout it from the rooftops' Rukmini reveals that she was approached for Kantara: Chapter 1 early last year. 'That's when I first met Rishab Shetty sir, and he shared the story with me. When he asked if I'd like to be part of the project, it genuinely felt like a dream come true. Ever since Sapta Sagaradaache Ello released, Rishab sir had been incredibly kind to me and appreciative of my craft. Honestly, the moment it was confirmed, I wanted to shout it from the rooftops. It felt both thrilling and a little daunting — a responsibility as much as a dream. I knew these things had to be announced at the right time, so I held on to it as my own little secret. When people kept asking me when my next Kannada film was coming, I'd smile and think, 'Just wait… It's coming.' Now that it's finally out in the open, all the excitement from everyone feels incredibly rewarding,' she says. This film builds on the first — expanding the world, deepening it, and making it richer - Rukmini Vasanth 'The thrill of doing something new keeps me going' Rukmini made a mark with her performance in her second film, Sapta Sagaradache Ello. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Do you have a mouse? Desert Order Undo Now, as she straddles multiple film industries, she tells us, 'It's been beautiful to receive this kind of affirmation so early in my career.' Ask her what drives her choices, she says, 'Honestly, it's about excitement. Sometimes it's the team that inspires me, sometimes it's the story, and often it's the opportunity to grow through the process. At the heart of it, it's the thrill of learning & doing something new that keeps me going.' 'I consciously avoided letting the success of the first Kantara film weigh me down' And what about the expectations that come with a burgeoning fanbase - especially as she steps into the Kantara universe? Rukmini says, 'There's more appreciation than pressure. People simply want to see you give your all and they respond to honesty and effort.' She notes, 'As for the fan base of Kantara and the world it created, I consciously avoided letting the brilliance and success weigh me down. That kind of pressure can keep you from fully inhabiting the new world the film is building. Instead of thinking about matching or surpassing it, I approached this as its own story. Everyone on set seemed to wear the earlier success lightly, focusing instead on extending that universe with more nuance. ' What I value most about working with Rishab sir is how deeply involved he is — how much he's right there in the trenches with you, facing every challenge together - Rukmini Vasanth 'People approach work with the same passion across industries' Transitioning between film industries often presents unique challenges, but for Rukmini, the primary adjustment has been linguistic. She explains, 'The main thing I've had to adapt to is language. I'm more comfortable in Kannada, so working in other languages just means putting in a little extra prep — especially with dialogue. Once that's done, the process feels the same everywhere, because no matter the industry, people approach their work with the same passion and commitment. ' 'It's only in film that you can experiment; if it doesn't land, there's always another take' From her debut film to now, Rukmini describes her approach as 'a bit of a patchwork — drawing from different influences and experiences'. 'Some of it comes from theatre in school, some from drama school, and a lot from observing people I've worked with on my first, second, and third films. If I see something that works for someone else, I often try to adapt it into my own process. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't — but that's the beauty of film: you can experiment, and worst-case scenario, it's just another take. If there's been one real evolution, it's that I'm no longer as scared. I find it easier now to go all out in a performance because I know that even if it doesn't land, we can always try again. That freedom has been incredibly liberating,' she says. "Get the latest news updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
Pink Villa
an hour ago
- Pink Villa
Coolie Day 3 India Box Office Estimates: Rajinikanth crime-drama looks to do an excellent Rs 48 crore gross on 1st Saturday BUT...
Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, and starring Rajinikanth had yet another excellent day at the India box office, grossing Rs 47-48 crore. These are excellent numbers but the trend is slightly worrisome. The movie opened to collections of Rs 75.50 crore, added Rs 63.50 crore on day 2 (Independence Day holiday) and is likely putting up Rs 47.50 crore on day 3, taking the 3 day cume to Rs 186.50 crore. Going by how it is doing, the Sunday collections are going to drop down to around Rs 40 crore, giving the movie a weekend of a little over Rs 225 crore. The Day Wise India Gross Collections Of Coolie Are As Under Day India Gross Collections 1 Rs 75.50 crore 2 Rs 63.50 crore 3 Rs 47.50 crore Total Rs 186.50 crore Coolie's Rs 47.50 Crore Day 3 Is Excellent But Given How It Started, The Numbers Should Have Been Closer To Rs 60 Crore If the Saturday numbers of Coolie are seen, not taking into consideration the fact that it opened to the numbers it did, they are excellent and not many Tamil movies have really been able to manage it. The collections for the Tamil version of Coolie are on a steep fall. It is the Hindi and Telugu version collections that are sustaining to a degree. After Sunday, it is likely that the drops will be significant even for the Hindi and Telugu version. Regardless, the movie has already punched above its weight for these two versions. The underperformance in the home market will end up being the most talked thing about this Lokesh Kanagaraj directorial. If the trend is to be analysed, it will end up doing lower than what Ajith Kumar's Good Bad Ugly did in Tamil Nadu. Coolie Heads For A Rs 500 Crore Range Worldwide Finish Unless Something Surprising Happens Coolie heads for a near Rs 500 crore global finish, but even that is subject to how it holds. The global weekend of Coolie will be around Rs 375 crore and for it to add less than Rs 125 crore after that will not be seen well. All things said, Coolie will still be among the top 5 highest Kollywood grosser worldwide and that just proves how big Rajinikanth continues to be. He will have 3 films in the top 5 list and what's important to note is that it is with 3 different directors. Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more updates.
