Latest news with #HemanthMRao
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Kannada film ‘Agnyathavasi', produced by Hemanth M Rao, set for OTT premiere
Critically acclaimed Kannada mystery-thriller Agnyathavasi will be premiering exclusively on ZEE5. The film, directed by Janardhan Chikkanna, is produced by Hemanth M Rao of Sapta Sagaradaache Ello fame. The film is co-produced by Prachura P P, and Jayalakshmi. Rangayana Raghu plays the lead role in the movie. Agnyathavasi hit the screens on April 11, 2025. Charan Raj is the music director while Advaitha Gurumurthy is the cinematographer. Set in the village of Nalkeri in the Malenadu region of Karnataka, Agnyathavasi follows the life of a reclusive police inspector (Rangayana Raghu), who has spent years tending to his farm as his station lay dormant—until the sudden, suspicious death of a respected village scholar, Srinivas Iyer, shatters the silence. The investigation into the murder slowly peels back the layers of a community haunted by secrets, superstitions, and something darker known only as Pashambara. ALSO READ:Interview | Can Hemanth M Rao revolutionalise Kannada cinema? Rangayana Raghu said Agnyathavasi has been one of the most special journeys of his career. 'Playing a police inspector who's more comfortable with cows than crime, in a station that hasn't seen action in decades, was both refreshing and deeply emotional. The kind of love fans have shown during the theatrical release has been overwhelming—I've had people message me saying the film gave them chills and made them cry, all in the same scene.'
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Agnyathavasi OTT Release Date: When and where to watch Rangayana Raghu & Ravishankar Gowda's Kannada film online
Agnyathavasi OTT Release Date: After a long wait, Kannada cinema lovers finally have some good news! Agnyathavasi, the much-awaited murder mystery starring Rangayana Raghu and Paavana Gowda, is not only running in theatres but is also set for its digital release soon. Here's everything you need to know about the OTT release, what the film is about, and why the delay happened. When and where can you watch Agnyathavasi online? If you missed catching Agnyathavasi in theatres, don't worry! According to OTTPlay, the movie is all set to premiere on Zee5 on May 16, 2025. Along with the digital release, it will also be shown on television on Zee Kannada. Zee Network had picked up both the satellite (TV) and digital (OTT) rights even before the movie was released, which is a big deal for Kannada films these days. Why was Agnyathavasi delayed for so long? At the trailer launch, producer Hemanth M Rao revealed that they had finished the film over a year ago but decided to wait before releasing it. They were hoping for better market conditions and wanted to get a good deal for the post-theatrical rights, which they eventually did with Zee Network. While waiting was a gamble, it seems to have worked out. Now, fans of director Janardhan Chikkanna, who made a mark with Gultoo, are excited to see his next big story unfold. What is Agnyathavasi all about? Agnyathavasi is set in the peaceful backdrop of a sleepy Malnad village in the 1990s. The story kicks off when a local landlord dies under mysterious circumstances. A sharp police inspector smells something fishy, but with no clear evidence and no major crimes reported in years, cracking the case becomes a real challenge. Other than the lead duo, Agnyathavasi also stars Ravishankar Gowda, Siddu Moolimani, Sharath Lohithashwa, and Arvind Kuplikar, among others. This Charan Raj musical is directed by Janardhan Chikkanna. Producer Hemanth M Rao, best known for movies like Sapta Sagaradaache Ello, has backed Agnyathavasi under his banner, Dakshayini Talkies. Interestingly, Janardhan chose Rangayana Raghu as the lead because he was impressed by his performance in Cyanide, a film based on real-life events after the Rajiv Gandhi assassination.
