What was meant to be a celebratory trailer launch for Karavali, ahead of its July 24 release, quickly descended into one of the Kannada film industry's biggest controversies. Instead of celebrating the film, the event witnessed protests by a section of Prajwal Devaraj's fans, heated exchanges near the stage, and allegations over dubbing, remuneration, and communication. Within hours, the conversation had shifted from the film to the fallout behind it. is produced by Gurudatha Ganiga through his production banner Gurudatha Ganiga Films, in association with VK Films and Suram Movies.
The controversy has reignited a familiar question: Where does fan loyalty end and professional accountability begin?
We were ready to resolve It, but Prajwal has not been responsive: Gurudatha Ganiga
Director Gurudath Ganiga maintains that everything had been planned for Prajwal Devaraj's presence at the trailer launch. According to him, the actor had confirmed his attendance until the previous night, and passes had even been arranged for his fans.
When Prajwal failed to attend, a section of his fans disrupted the event, demanding answers. Ganiga alleged that the team has been unable to reach the actor for nearly two months despite repeated calls and messages, with his manager only conveying that Prajwal was busy.
The director further claimed that a dubbing studio had been booked for Prajwal to complete pending portions after the trailer launch, but there was no response. "We tried every possible way to resolve the issue," he said, adding that distributor Suprith, through KVN Productions, had even attempted to initiate talks through a mutual friend, but the discussions never materialised.
The ₹1.25 Crore Remuneration Claim
The producers also revealed details of Prajwal's remuneration, claiming he had signed the film for ₹1.25 crore. Of that, ₹1 crore has already been paid, with ₹25 lakh pending. Ganiga insisted the outstanding amount was never denied and maintained that the production had honoured its commitments. He further claimed that after watching an early cut, Prajwal had described Karavali as "a landmark film in my career."
Raj B Shetty was never the issue
Responding to speculation that Raj B. Shetty's presence caused friction, the filmmakers dismissed the claim. Ganiga said Prajwal had been informed from the outset that another leading actor could join the project and had agreed to the decision. He also pointed out that Prajwal remained the face of the film's promotions, with Raj B Shetty's name absent from several posters.
No actor Is bigger than cinema: Raj B Shetty
Raj B Shetty chose restraint over controversy, distancing himself from the Karavali dispute and insisting that cinema is bigger than any individual. Clarifying that he was never the film's first choice and only played an extended guest role, Raj said he never sought prominent billing or publicity. “Even if my name doesn’t appear on the poster, I have no problem. The film is bigger than me,” he said.
He also stressed that humanity should always come before cinema, expressing his wish to meet Prajwal Devaraj personally and resolve any misunderstandings. Raj argued that egos and fan-fuelled rivalries often hold the Kannada film industry back from achieving greater success.
His strongest message was against celebrity worship. “I have never asked anyone to put up my cut-outs. If a day comes when people are fighting over my cut-outs, that should be the day I quit the film industry,” he remarked.
As Karavali heads towards release, the spotlight remains firmly on the controversy rather than the film itself, and now, it depends on how both sides choose to move forward.