Hemanth M Rao: I want to celebrate great talents like Shivanna and Dhananjaya
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.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Siri Ravikumar joins Pawan Kumar in Kannada's new web series Shodha
ZEE5 Kannada 's much-anticipated suspense thriller Shodha has just turned up the intrigue. The homegrown OTT giant recently announced that the six-episode series will premiere on August 22, with acclaimed filmmaker-actor Pawan Kumar in the lead. The buzz has grown stronger with the addition of the talented Siri Ravikumar in a pivotal role. Known for her memorable performances in Kavaludaari, Sakutumba Sametha, Hope, and Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye, Siri is set to bring her trademark depth and charisma to the layered world of Shodha. Backed by KRG Studios, Shodha is helmed by director Sunil Mysooru and written by Suhas Navarathna. The series promises a taut narrative, edge-of-the-seat tension, and compelling character arcs. Reflecting on her involvement, Siri Ravikumar said, "From theatre to films, and from singing to acting in projects that have shaped me as an artist, my journey has always been about embracing compelling narratives. Shodha is one such story, layered, intense, and engaging. I'm thrilled to be part of this gripping thriller on ZEE5." With Pawan Kumar's commanding screen presence and Siri Ravikumar's versatile acting prowess, Shodha is poised to be a must-watch for thriller enthusiasts. The series streams exclusively on ZEE5 from August 22.
New Indian Express
13 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Nine Dasara elephants get ceremonial welcome at Mysuru Palace
MYSURU: In a spectacular first blush of Dasara grandeur, nine majestic elephants were accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Mysuru Palace on Sunday evening in a rare after-dark event that added a new glow to the century-old festival. Led by the Captain Abhimanyu, the jumbos received their honours at 6:50 pm in the auspicious Makara Godholi Lagna. For the first time in recent memory, the palace forecourt echoed with drumbeats and chants under floodlights rather than the morning sun. The Dasara elephants Dhananjaya, Bheema, Mahendra, Kaveri, Kanjan, Prashanth, Lakshmi, and Ekalavya had arrived in the city last Monday from Veeranahosahalli in Hunsur, halting at Aranya Bhavan.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- The Hindu
‘Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1': Rukmini Vasanth revealed as female lead in Rishab Shetty's ambitious prequel
The makers of Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 has confirmed that Rukmini Vasanath will be playing the female lead in the highly-anticipated prequel. Starring Rishab Shetty, who has also directed the much-hyped film, Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 is set to hit the screens worldwide on October 02, 2025. The actor will play Kanakavathi in the movie, a prequel to the sensational 2022 blockbuster. The pan-Indian movie, originally shot in Kannada, is produced by Hombale Films. In the first-look poster, Rukmini appears in a traditional, princess-like avatar. The makers recently released a behind-the-scenes video to announce the completion of the film's shooting. The making video hints at a devotional period drama mounted on a grand scale. Arvind Kashyap is the cinematographer of the movie while Ajaneesh Loknath has composed music for the prequel. Rishab has written the movie with co-writers Anirudh Mahesh and Shaneel Gautham. Dharani Gangepura is the art director and Banglan is the production designer. Kantara starred Rishab, Sapthami Gowda, Kishore and Achyuth Kumar in prominent roles. The movie revolved around Shiva and Deputy Range Forest officer Murali, who are on the same page on issues concerning the protection of native culture and environment, but the paths they choose are different. Kantara, which grossed over 400 crore, was one of the most successful films of 2022. ALSO READ: Rukmini Vasanth eyes a versatile journey in Kannada cinema Meanwhile, Rukmini, who shot to fame with the Sapta Sagaradaache Ello films (Side A and Side B) was last seen in Ace, starring Vijay Sethupathi. She is awaiting the release of her second Tamil project, Madharasi, directed by A R Murugadoss. Headlined by Sivakarthikeyan, the movie will hit the screens on September 05, 2025.
