Here's a look at what transpired in Sandalwood in 2019...

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CE Year in Review: The Kannada Cinema 2019 Report Card - Best Films, Outstanding Performances, Controversies

2019 will certainly go down in the history of Kannada cinema as the year that saw filmmakers, new-gen actors, and the audience lending their support to alternate cinema.

Team CE

Updated:1st Jan, 2020 at 6:00 PM

Sandalwood is bidding adieu to the decade after offering 220 plus films this year and this includes Tulu movies too. The number is comparatively less than last year since over 230 films were released

With November being the busiest month -- with 34 releases -- the Kannada film industry did create a talk at the national level and had its share of controversies.

The industry also gave rise to the dubbing of films in other languages into Kannada, and the release of KGF Chapter 1 in 2018 influenced a lot of filmmakers to go for a pan-India release.

Though the total Kannada films made was 205, only 7 films (Yajamana, Kurukshetra, Bell Bottom, Kavaludaari, I Love You, Pailwaan, Avane Srimannaryaana) turned out to be successful.

The year 2019 belonged to Challenging Star Darshan, who had three releases in the year.

While Yajamana, which marked the directorial debut of composer V Harikrishna, was declared a super hit, the actor’s 50th film, the mythological drama, Muniratna Kurukshetra was a blockbuster.

Darshan's latest film, Odeya is currently having a good run in theatres.

Sudeep also created a buzz with Pailwaan, and the film directed by S Krishna saw a pan-India release.

Sudeep, who was seen in a pivotal role in the Telugu film, Sye Ras Narasimha Reddy, returned to Bollywood after a gap of 10 years with Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg 3.

Sudeep is currently busy hosting the much-talked-about reality show, Bigg Boss Kannada Season 7.

It was a unique year for Puneeth Rajkumar, who started his production house - PRK - and the first film made was Hemanth M Rao’s Kavaludaari.

However, Puneeth had only one release -- Natasarvabhouma, a film made under the banner of Rockline Production and directed by Pavan Wadeyar.

Puneeth also got back to the small screen and hosted the reality show, Kannadada Kotiyadhipathi.

Rishab Shetty, the well-known director, got noted for his acting too. Jayathirtha’s directorial, Bell Bottom, featured him as a full-fledged hero and garnered a stupendous response at the box office.

Another experiment from Rishab Shetty was Katha Sangama, an anthology comprising seven directors -- Chandrajith Belliappa and Shashi Kumar P,.

Rakshit Shetty’s Avane Srimannarayana was the last release of the year. The film, directed by Sachin Ravi, is running to packed houses. This is yet another film having a pan-Indian release.

The other actors who made their presence felt were Upendra with I Love You, and Shivarajkumar, whose films -- Kavacha, Rusthum, and Aayushman Bhava -- got average results.

Ganesh was seen in 99, Gimmick and Geetha, while Ravichandran was seen in Paddehuli, Aa Drushya, and Dasharatha, Jaggesh scored well with Premier Padmini and Kalidasa Kannada Meshtru.

Bharaate was the only release for Sriimurali, and it was the case with Nikhil Kumar, with Seetharama Kalyana.

Among the 21 films, which had an average hit, were Yaana, Singhaa, Aadi Lakshmi Purana, Ellide Elli Tanaka, KISS, Gantumoote, Rangayanaki, Mane Marattakkide, Damayathi, and Mookajjiya Kanasugalu.

It was a significant year for Rachita Ram, Hariprriya and Aditi Prabhudeva who had more than a couple of releases this year.

While Rachita caught viewers’ attention with films like Seetharama Kalyana, Natasarvabowma, Rustum, I Love You and Aayushman Bhava, it was a busy year also for Aditi Prabhudeva, who had five releases.

It was a good year for Hariprriya too. The actor made a cameo appearance in Kurukshetra, and her other releases for 2019 were Bell Bottom Soojidaara, Daughter of Parvathamma, and Ellidde Illi Tanaka,.

Women-centric films had their share of success at the box office. They included Priyanka Upendra’s Devaki directed by H Lohith, Vrithra helmed by Gautam Iyer, and Mahesh Gowda’s directorial, Mahira.

Mansore’s directorial, Nathicharami, created a buzz at the National Film Awards by bagging 5 awards -- best film in Kannada, best lyrics, best writing, best editing, and best female vocalist.

The jury also made a special mention of Sruthi Hariharan’s performance in Nathicharami. However, the court ordered a stay before the award ceremony, since one of the jury members was part of the film.

The other films which bagged awards were KGF Chapter I, starring Yash and directed by Prashanth Neel; the social comedy, Ondalla Eradalla, directed by D Satya Prakash.

Rishab Shetty’s socio-political satire, Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shale, Kasaragodu, Koduge Ramanna Rai, a socio-political satire, and P Seshadri’s Mukkajiya Kanasugalu, among others, also got awards.

The debate about films in other languages not getting dubbed in Kannada got resolved. Oru Aadhar Love, titled Kirik Love Story, was the 1st Malayalam film to be simultaneously dubbed and released.

Also released were Ajith’s Jagamalla, Raghava Lawerence, Kanchana 3, Ram Vharan-starrer, Rangasthalam; Vijay Devarakonda and Rashmika Mandanna-starrer Dear Comrade; and megastar Chiranjeevi’s Sye Raa.

The Hollywood film, Arnold Schwarzenegger Terminator Dark Fate, also had a simultaneous release in Kannada, and the latest one to be out was Salman Khan and Sudeep-starrer, Dabangg 3 in Kannada.

Bhinna director Adarsh H Eshwarppa went a step ahead by not going with a theatrical release for his film, and instead opting to screen it on Zee 5.

The Kannada industry is also laying its hands on web series, and a couple of series, including Hate You Romeo, Honey moon, are in the making.

While Shreyas and Abhishek Ambareesh made their debut with Paddehuli and Amar, respectively, among the newcomer heroines were Rukmini Vasanth, Anupama Parameshwaran, Sanjana Anand, and Sai Dhansika.

The year 2019 came with its own set of controversies, and the one that caught all the attention involved Sumalatha Ambareesh, during the parliamentary election at Mandya.

was supported by two actors -- Darshan and Yash -- and standing opposite Sumalatha in Mandya was JDS contestant and actor Nikhil Kumaraswamy.

I Love You song from Mathanade Mayavade, featuring Upendra and Rachita Ram, was the most talked-about track.

The long-pending Vishnu Memorial got a green signal, but fans wanted a memorial in Bengaluru.

Regional Censor board rejected Dandupalyam 4, however, a certificate was given by the revising committee.

Kotigobba 3 also invited controversy, when the manager was detained by the tour operators at Poland. The issue was later resolved by actor Jaggesh and Union Minister Sadananda Gowda.

Kannada film industry lost a few gems like Jnanpith Award-winning director and actor Girish Karnad, Master Hirannaiah, dialogue writer K Nanjunda, producer Samarth Prasad, director Kodi Ramakrishna.

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