THE BIG PICTURE

Even as KGF does wonders for the Kannada film industry, other Kannada films might find it difficult to replicate its success formula

- PRATHIMA NANDAKUMAR

A dialogue by Rocky bhai from the Yash-starrer, KGF Chapter 2— “Violence, violence, violence. I don’t like it. I avoid. But violence likes me. I can’t avoid”—has set the internet on fire, ahead of the film’s pan-India release on April 14. It will be released in five languages—Kannada, followed by dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam— across 6,000 screens in India. In KGF 1 (2018), a hugely successful Kannada period-action film, the underdog Rocky bhai, rises from poverty to rule the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) after felling the villain Garuda (Ramachandra Raju). In the sequel, Rocky will fiercely defend his empire from the antagonist, Adheera (Sanjay Dutt), and the country’s prime minister, Ramika Sen (Raveena Tandon).

After the gargantuan success of KGF 1, which grossed more than ₹250 crore at the box office, there is great anticipation over the sequel. This time, the film has been made on a larger scale and is expected to break all records, including that of S.S. Rajamouli’s RRR, which touched the ₹1,000 crore mark at the worldwide box office. KGF 2’s official trailer crossed 109 million views within 24 hours.

The film, helmed by Prashanth Neel and produced by Vijay Kiragandur under the banner of Hombale Films, is bound to remind one of Rajamouli’s Baahubali parts 1 and 2, starring Prabhas. The cult film made the audiences in the Hindi belt sit up and take notice of south Indian films, while ringing in big moolah at the box office.