Latest news with #MungaruMale
News18
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
This Rs 70 Lakh Kannada Film Made 100x Profit And Faced IT Raid After Success
Last Updated: The romantic drama was so successful that it was remade in multiple languages, including Telugu, Bengali and Marathi. In today's time, many high-budget films have failed to impress the audience. Despite the involvement of an ensemble cast, outstanding visuals, music and massive promotional activities, many recent movies have flopped at the Indian box office, proving that big-budget doesn't guarantee success. The reason behind this can be attributed to weak scripts and a gap between the audience's taste and that of the filmmakers. But every now and then, a small budget film comes along and rewrites the rules. One such classic hit was the 2006 Kannada movie Mungaru Male. Co-written and directed by Yograj Bhat, the romantic drama featured then-unknown actors Ganesh and Pooja Gandhi, alongside veteran actor Anant Nag. Made on a mere Rs 70 lakh, the film earned over a hundred times its budget. Mungaru Male Grossed Over Rs 75 Crore Released in theatres in December 2006, Mungaru Male was a sleeper hit, becoming the first film to run in PVR Bangalore for 460 days, making it the first to be screened continuously for over one year in a multiplex. Back then, it recorded the highest box office collection for any Kannada film and was the first one in the language to cross the Rs 50 crore mark worldwide. By the end of its theatrical run, Mungaru Male grossed over Rs 75 crore, around Rs 57 crore of which came from Karnataka alone. Mungaru Male changed the lives of the lead stars Ganesh and Pooja Gandhi. Their lives turned overnight following the success of the film. They bagged several projects in the coming years, thus becoming some of the most sought-after actors, who ruled the Kannada cinema. Mungaru Male's Producer Faced IT Department Scrutiny Despite Mungaru Male becoming a success and changing the trajectory of both the stars, it was a bittersweet moment for the film's producer, E. Krishnappa. Following the film's success, the Income Tax Department raided the producer, who claimed that the film earned Rs 67.50 crore net and demanded taxes accordingly. Mungaru Male's Story And Remakes The story of Mungaru Male revolves around Preetham (Ganesh) and Nandini (Pooja Gandhi). He meets her in Bangalore and instantly falls in love with her. Soon, he learns that she is engaged to someone else. After initially rejecting his proposal, she falls for him as well. Despite their feelings for each other, Preetham lets Nandini marry her fiancé Gautam as per her parents' wish. The film was such a hit that it was remade in multiple languages. In 2008, the Telugu version Vaana and the Bengali version Premier Kahini were released. The following year, the Odia version of the film, titled Romeo – The Lover Boy, and in 2017, Premay Namaha, a Marathi-language remake, hit the theatres. Moreover, a spiritual sequel to the 2006 hit, titled Mungaru Male 2, was released in 2016. The original film is now available on JioHostar. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
Pink Villa
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Did you know this Kannada film earned 100x its budget, ran in theater for a year and even faced legal trouble?
India has witnessed many high-budget films that have faced some significant commercial failures in recent years. This trend is often attributed to a combination of factors, including high production costs, star fees, poor scripts, and a disconnect with audience preferences. Sometimes, a low-budgeted movie can also do wonders. We are talking about the 2006 Kannada film, Mungaru Male. Mungaru Male was made on a Rs 70 lakh budget With a modest budget of Rs 70 lakh, Mungaru Male, the romantic drama achieved what many blockbuster productions only dream of. It became a monumental commercial hit and broke records while earning over 100 times its original production cost. Directed by screenwriter-filmmaker Yogaraj Bhat, the film starred then newcomers Ganesh and Pooja Gandhi as the main leads. Veteran actor Ananth Nag played a pivotal role in it. Mungaru Male ran in a multiplex for 460 days Interestingly, Mungaru Male ran in a theater for an entire year. It had an impressive 460-day run at a PVR in Bangalore during its release. Reportedly, the Kannada film recorded an estimated worldwide gross of Rs 75 crore, out of which Rs 57 crore came from Karnataka. The Ganesh and Pooja Gandhi starrer was the highest grosser in the home state during its release. It also became the first Kannada movie to surpass the Rs 50 crore gross mark worldwide back then. In a 2018 interview with Bangalore Mirror, Director Bhat once spoke about the success of Mungaru Male by saying that it was all "fate". "How it happened and why it happened will remain a suspense. So many things came together. From almost not being made, the film became a landmark," he had said. When Income Tax Department conducted raid at producer's home Despite the film's immense success, the journey was not without its challenges for producer E. Krishna. The Income Tax department conducted a raid at his home. The IT department alleged that the film collected a staggering amount of Rs 67.50 crore net and demanded tax payment for the same. Mungaru Male has been remade in several langauges such as Telugu film, Vaana, and Bengali movie, Premer Kahini, both of which were released in 2008. It also includes the 2009 Odia film, Romeo- The Lover Boy and the 2017 Marathi film, Premay Namaha.
India.com
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
India's most profitable film, has no big stars, still earned 100 times its budget, ran in theatres for a year, name is..., lead actors are...
India's most profitable film, has no big stars, still earned 100 times its budget, ran in theatres for a year, name is..., lead actors are... In an industry, where hefty amounts are poured in to make a film with star-studded casts, a silent breakthrough emerged in Karnataka in 2006. A small-budget Kannada film was made in just Rs 70 lakh. However, what happened next was nothing short of extraordinary- the film went on to earn 100 times its budget, becoming India's most profitable film till date. Yes, we are talking about writer-director Yograj Bhatt's romantic drama, Mungaru Male , which released in 2006. The film starred newcomers Ganesh and Pooja Gandhi, along with seasoned actor Anant Nag. The film became a sleeper hit when released, emerging as the highest-grossing Kannada film. Moreover, it became the first Indian film ever to run for year in multiplex, clocking 460 days. Moreover, it became the first Kannada film to cross Rs 50 crore worldwide. Also, by the end of its run, it earned approx. Rs 75 crore overseas. An impressive Rs 57 crore came from Karnataka, where the film emerged as a blockbuster.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Not KGF. This small-budget Rs 70 lakh film with no big stars changed Kannada cinema: Meet the director who shaped Yash and Puneeth Rajkumar's career
How this movie changed Kannada cinema forever? Yogaraj Bhat's journey in cinema In cinema, where crores are often poured into high-budget films with star-studded casts, a quiet revolution was born in 2006 in Karnataka. A small Kannada film titled Mungaru Male was made on a shoestring budget of just Rs 70 lakh. Yet, what followed was nothing short of historic; the film went on to earn over Rs 75 crore globally, a return of over 100 times its budget. To this day, it holds the distinction of being India's most profitable film ever in terms of return on mastermind behind this success was Yogaraj Bhat , a then relatively unknown filmmaker, who directed a poetic romantic drama set against the lush monsoon backdrop of Karnataka. The story followed a heartbroken boy meeting a spirited girl, with rain playing both a backdrop and metaphor. But Mungaru Male was more than just a love story, it was a turning point in Kannada the film hit theatres in December 2006, no one expected what came next. Not only did Mungaru Male become a blockbuster, it broke records left and right. It was the first Indian film to run continuously for over a year in a multiplex, completing 460 days at PVR Bangalore, a record still rarely matched. It also became the first Kannada film to cross Rs 50 crore in box office collections, an unimaginable feat at the made this achievement even more remarkable was the fact that the film had no big stars. Ganesh, who played the lead role, was known mostly for TV and supporting roles. Pooja Gandhi, his co-star, was a newcomer. But their on-screen chemistry, combined with stunning visuals and emotional depth, struck a chord with audiences. The film turned both actors into overnight the film's success didn't come without consequences. The exact earnings of Mungaru Male remain unclear. Initially, the movie was released with just 13 prints (physical film reels that allow screenings in theatres). However, at the height of its popularity, the number of prints grew to 150 across Karnataka and neighbouring regions. As reported by Bangalore Mirror, due to the huge success, producer E Krishnappa and distributor Jayanna faced multiple Income Tax raids, as authorities claimed the film had grossed Rs 67.5 crore and demanded taxes its earnings, Mungaru Male left a lasting cultural legacy. Its soundtrack, composed by Mano Murthy with lyrics by Yogaraj Bhat, became a sensation. Songs like Mungaru Maleye, sung by Sonu Nigam, are still played today and are considered modern classics in Kannada Yogaraj Bhat, Mungaru Male was just the beginning. He followed it up with several acclaimed films, such as Gaalipata, Manasaare, Pancharangi, and Drama. Each of these films carried his signature mix of philosophy, humour, and cultural depth. He became a unique voice in Kannada also became known for launching or redefining the careers of several major stars. He introduced Ganesh to superstardom, played a key role in Yash 's rise with Drama, and later collaborated with Puneeth Rajkumar in Paramathma. While not every film was a box office smash, many of them gained cult status for their storytelling and themes that were often ahead of their from directing, Bhat is also an acclaimed lyricist, having penned songs like Bombe Adsonu, Life-u Ishtene, and Kathlalli Karadige, known for their thoughtful yet relatable lyrics. It's a rare gift in mainstream cinema.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
India's most profitable film earned 100x its budget with no stars, ran for a year in multiplexes, producer faced IT raid
To a layman, a successful film may look like a hit. The words superhit and blockbuster are also casually thrown around these days. But largely, the entertainment industry has parameters to define these terms. Any film making twice its landing cost at the box office can be termed a superhit. Anything more is blockbuster territory. Very few films ever go beyond 5x of a budget. Then what of this one film that earned over a hundred times its budget, and ran in theatres for over a year. This is the story of India's most profitable film. India's most profitable film was made for just ₹ 70 lakh. India's most profitable film In 2006, writer-director Yograj Bhatt made a romantic drama titled Mungaru Male. The low-budget Kannada film starred up-and-coming actors Ganesh and Pooja Gandhi, along with veteran thespian Anant Nag. The film was mounted on a budget of ₹70 lakh. Upon its release in December, Mungaru Male became a sleeper hit, celebrating golden jubilees in many places and becoming the highest-grossing Kannada film ever. It became the first film to complete one year in a multiplex as it ran in PVR Bangalore for 460 days, and also became the first Kannada film to cross ₹50 crore worldwide. By the end of its run, Mungaru Male was estimated to have earned ₹75 crore worldwide. A staggering ₹57 crore of it came from Karnataka, where the film was labelled an industry hit. Mungaru Male's impact and legacy Both Ganesh and Pooja Gandhi were relatively unknown when the film was released. But its success turned them into overnight stars. Both actors gave other hits in the years to come, becoming the most sought-after male and female stars in Kannada cinema over the next half a decade. However, the success was bittersweet for the film's producer, E. Krishna. The Income Tax department claimed that Mungaru Male had earned ₹67.50 crore net, and demanded that tax be paid on that. They even raided the producer for it. Mungaru Male's box office records stood for over a decade until many were broken by KGF Chapter 1. The film was remade in Telugu, Bengali, Odia, and Marathi and spawned a spiritual sequel, Mungaru Male 2, which was released in 2016. Mungaru Male has enjoyed a cult following among Kannada audiences, elevated by its repeated reruns on TV and recent OTT release.
