Another large-scale Indian film, Koragajja, made in six languages — Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Tulu — has completed its shooting over the past one and a half years and held a grand audio launch event at Mangaluru’s Ocean Prince Hotel on Tuesday morning.
For the first time, Zee Music has acquired the audio rights for this Pan-India film. This marks a record because Koragajja features 31 songs composed by the talented music director Gopi Sunder, with lyrics penned by the film’s director Sudhir Athavar.
Zee Music Vice President Keerthi Rai, a native of Mangaluru, remarked during the event that he understands the power and potential of Koragajja and expressed confidence that it would be a success for Success Films.
The traditional style of the audio launch and the massive gathering of media representatives from six different languages were standout features of the event, organized by producer Trivikram Saphalya, executive producer Vidhyadhar, and visionary director Sudhir Athavar.
The event began with a Yakshagana troupe performing a Ganesha song, followed by the Karnataka state anthem “Naadageethe – Jayabharata Jananiya Tanujate.”
Soon after, Sudhir Athavar and his team commenced the main event, which lasted for more than two hours, including a question-and-answer session with the media.
Noted actor, producer, and director Jai Jagadish and his wife Vijayalakshmi Singh were honored at the event. The couple had initially started a project with the same title Koragajja but were unable to complete it due to certain complications. Gracefully, the title was later transferred to producer Trivikram Saphalya’s banner, Success Films.
Veteran actor Jai Jagadish, who has acted in over 650 films, recalled that he had begun working on the film years ago but had to abandon it due to a certain “fear factor.” Vijayalakshmi Singh explained that Koragajja was first conceptualized in 2014 with director Chandrahasa. Although they filmed for a few days under their banner, the project could not continue. “We offered prayers to Koragajja and dropped the idea. Now, with a capable director and a good production house, I sincerely wish this version great success,” she said. “I hope people everywhere witness the divine power — the Mahime — of Koragajja.”
Producer Trivikram Saphalya of Success Films described Koragajja as a story rooted in folk tradition and faith. He expressed gratitude for the massive response to the motion poster, which had already garnered millions of views.
Following the announcement that Zee Music had acquired the audio rights, the album was officially launched by veteran actresses Bhavya and Shruthi, both of whom also star in the film. The release was done in a unique, traditional way, using an antique gramophone system. The first song, “Gaali Gandha” — beautifully sung by Shreya Ghoshal and Armaan Malik — was screened, followed by the Guliga song choreographed by the renowned Sandeep Soparrkar.
Soparrkar, who has worked in Hollywood, Bollywood, and French films, shared that this four-and-a-half-minute song holds special significance for him because his grandmother hails from Dakshina Kannada district.
Director Sudhir Athavar skillfully handled questions and challenges from over 120 journalists representing Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Kochi, Bengaluru, and Mangaluru — managing the session for nearly two hours without allowing any controversy to arise.
Veteran actress Bhavya, who plays an important role alongside national icon Kabir Bedi, fondly recalled her shooting experience. She also thanked Karnataka’s Home Minister Dr. Parameshwar for his support during challenging times when the production faced external pressures. “Koragajja is our superhero,” Bhavya stated. “This film is the result of three years of effort, and I hope it brings a positive experience to audiences.”
Another senior actress, Shruthi, with nearly 150 films to her credit, expressed hope that audiences would appreciate the essence and cultural fragrance of Koragajja, especially in the Kannada version. “Just as we enjoy films from other languages, I want people to feel the soul of Kannada through this movie,” she said. “It’s by the blessing of Goddess Saraswathi that I could act in this film. The role of Bhairaki is one of the most special in my career.”
Director Sudhir Athavar also explained that divine worship in the region has roots in shamanism, which originated in Siberia and evolved among the coastal Nalike tribe. The tribe’s Seminoid ancestors spoke a semi-language and entered trance states — painting their faces yellow, wearing a back ornament (ani), and a large crown (kirita) — to reveal past and future events. From these traditions, Bhootakola and Kerala’s Theyyam rituals later developed.
Finally, co-producer Vidhyadhar concluded by saying that the entire journey of working on Koragajja had been intense and stressful — “I had to act as a speed breaker,” he said with a smile, reflecting the hard work and dedication behind the project.