BANGALORE: The first ever commercial Kundapur Kannada film Gargar Mandla, presented by Panak Makkal Movies, was declared a super hit within two days of its release. Music director-turned-feature film director Ravi Basrur is thrilled with the response to his first venture. “I did this film mainly because my love for the Kundapur language. We released the film in two theatres (Vinayaka theatre at Kundapur and Shankar theatre in Byndoor) expecting it to be a normal show, but surprisingly, it is running to packed houses. And on demand, these two theatres, which regularly run four shows, have started an extra show,” he says.
Ravi is glad that his film has coaxed people out of their houses and head to the theatres. “I heard from the theatre owners that they had to use their ‘house full’ board after 12 to 13 years. It was surprising to know that the theatres did not have a ‘house full’ board, as they thought they would never need one. When the crowd increased, they had to make a board to tell people that the theatre was filled. People who have not watched films in several decades have gone to theatres to watch my film. I am in bliss and I don’t know how to react right now,” he says.
Ravi plans to release the film in other places including Bangalore. People who know Kundapur language are everywhere and there is a lot of demand for the film in other places too. I plan to wait for two weeks and will hand over the film to distributors,” says Ravi.