The debut film of Kaada Nataraj and Deepthi (a couple) is introducing a new method of marketing for Kannada films. Kaada Nataraj, hailing from the marketing field, makes his debut with several brand collaborations for the film Karikaada, which will eventually help in its promotion.
At the trailer release event of Karikaada by Crazy Star V. Ravichandran’s son Manoranjan at MMB Legacy, the production house revealed its innovative approach. A very breezy trailer of Karikaada received best wishes from Manoranjan and former KFCC President Bama Harish. Actor-cum-director Amith was also present as one of the guests at the event.
Bollywood trade marketing expert Girish Wankhade, who is active in the Marathi and Hindi film industries, appreciated the growth of Kannada films across the world and praised Kaada Nataraj’s vision for Karikaada. He is working on marketing and promotions along with Sri Murali and Vasudev, in association with Reliance Mart, Big Basket, Vidhya Acer Pure, NDTV, Hathway, Yatra, and Mid Day — nine brands in total are partnering with Karikaada on a barter system, which will be highly beneficial for the film’s promotion.
The film features seven lovely songs composed by Shashank Sheshagiri and Athishay Jain. Shashank lauded Nataraj’s dedication, noting that he continued working even while recovering from a leg fracture.
Stunt master Jaguar Sannappa, overwhelmed with Nataraj’s performance, described the difficult shots performed by the hero. He mentioned that he could have done even more if additional time had been allotted.
Popular comedy actor Vijay Chendur, who appears throughout the film alongside the hero, praised Nataraj’s preparation and hard work. Veteran actor Kari Subbu expressed curiosity to watch the film, as post-production is happening in his studio; he has also played a one-day role in the film. Manju Mysuru and Vipin shared their experiences working on Karikaada during the event.
Deepti Damodar, wife of producer and hero Nataraj, explained that after her husband’s fracture, she became very cautious, which limited the time available for the stunt director. She expressed her admiration for her husband’s immense passion.
Diwakar, a longtime colleague of Nataraj, said that they had often discussed filmmaking over the years and were proud to have reached this level. The female protagonist, Nireeksha Shetty, thanked the team for the opportunity and said the film offered her a good scope for performance.
Director Venkatesh explained that the shoot took place in Mysuru, Chikkamagaluru, and Bengaluru, describing the project as a musical action film.
Scheduled for a mid-December release, the protagonist and producer Kaada Nataraj thanked everyone for adjusting their schedules to accommodate him. The team plans to release Karikaada in five languages across over 1,500 screens. They have also received a strong deal from Lahari Music, which will market the songs in all languages. Nataraj mentioned that the price quoted by Lahari Music serves as a backbone for the film’s team.
The cast includes Riddhi, Manju Swamy, Yash Shetty, Govinda Gowda, Deevakar, Comedy Kiladi Surya, the late Rakesh Poojary, Vijay Chendur, Chandraprabha, Kari Subbu, Giri, Balaraj Awadi, Master Aryan, and others.
Dialogues, Story & Direction: Gilli Venkatesh, Music: Athishay Jain & Shashank Sheshagiri
Cinematography: Jeevan Gowda, Editing: Deepak C.S., Production House: Riddhi Entertainments, Producer: Deepti Damodar,Co-Producer: Ravikumar S.R.
Karikaada — a Kannada film gearing up for a five-language release — is a musical journey with adventurous elements. Three months ago, the team made waves with the title teaser, and now the official teaser has drawn wide attention. The teaser looks promising, portraying a visual poem of adventure, a tale of love, and the essence of native soil. Though it hints at a revenge drama, the cast and technical aspects stand out prominently.