Mungaru Male (transl. Pre-monsoon rain) is a 2006 Indian Kannada-language romantic drama film co-written and directed by Yogaraj Bhat, and produced by E. Krishnappa. It stars Ganesh, Pooja Gandhi and Anant Nag. The film is believed to have shaped and strengthened the careers of Ganesh; Pooja Gandhi; director Yograj Bhat; lyricist Jayant Kaikini, choreographers A. Harsha and Imran Sardaria; composer Mano Murthy; and made Bollywood playback singers Sonu Nigam, Kunal Ganjawala and Udit Narayan popular in Karnataka.[8][9]
Mungaru Male | |
---|---|
Directed by | Yograj Bhat |
Written by | |
Produced by | E. Krishna |
Starring | |
Cinematography | S. Krishna |
Edited by | Deepu S. Kumar |
Music by | Mano Murthy |
Production company | E. K. Entertainers |
Distributed by |
|
Release date |
|
Running time | 132 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Kannada |
Budget | ₹70 Lakh[1] |
Box office | est. ₹ 70.70 crore[1] – ₹75 crore[2][note 1][4][5][7][8] |
It was the first film in India (for any language) to be screened continuously for over one year in a multiplex,[10][11] and holds the record for the longest-running film at a multiplex in addition to having one of the highest recorded box-office collections in Kannada cinema.[10][12] According to the Bangalore Mirror, it was the first Kannada film to cross the ₹50 crore box office collection mark.[13] It was the first film to run for over 865 days in history of Karnataka.[14] and collected an estimated ₹ 75 Crore to become the first South Indian film.[2] The Income Tax department alleged that the movie had collected ₹67.5 crore (US$8.1 million) and demanded tax on that amount.[13] It ran for a record 460 days at the PVR Multiplex.[13] It also holds a national record in Indian Cinema for running more than one year in PVR.[15][1]
It was remade in 2008 in Telugu as Vaana,[16] in 2008 in Bengali as Premer Kahini,[17] in 2009 in Odia as Romeo - The Lover Boy [18] and in 2017 in Marathi as Premay Namaha. A spiritual sequel to the film, titled Mungaru Male 2, was released in 2016.[19]
Plot
editPreetham is on a visit to Eva Mall in Bangalore; amidst a heavy wind, he spots a pretty girl, Nandini. While staring at her, he inadvertently falls into a manhole. Nandini rescues him, but in the process she loses her heart-shaped watch which she had just bought.
While accompanying his mother to Madikeri in Coorg, Preetham confronts a man named Jaanu. Jaanu, who has been following Nandini, hits Preetham, thinking that he is in love with her. Preetham, unaware that Jaanu has vowed not to allow anyone near Nandini, fights Jaanu and his gang in revenge.
In Madikeri, Preetham unexpectedly meets Nandini. He identifies himself and expresses his love for her and offers to put her lost watch on her. Nandini, who is already engaged, rejects his request. Nonetheless, Preetham vows to marry Nandini if she meets him again. In the meantime, Preetham discovers that his nearly-deaf host in Madikeri, Col. Subbaiah, is Nandini's father and that her wedding is only a week away. Dejected, Preetham throws Nandini's watch away. But Nandini calls him and taunts him to return. Delighted, Preetham goes in search of her watch and spots a rabbit, which he names Devadas, and brings it along with the watch.
Since Nandini's friends are due to arrive from Mumbai for the wedding, Preetham takes Nandini to the railway station. The train is delayed by five hours, so Nandini and Preetham decide to visit a nearby hill-temple. While returning from the temple, Preetham and Nandini are caught in the rain. An old couple offers to give them shelter inside their hut. Preetham, still not sure about expressing his love to Nandini, grabs a couple of toddy bottles, goes out in the rain and starts drinking. However, when Nandini walks towards him, offering an umbrella, he drunkenly tells Nandini that he should stay away from Nandini to remain a decent boy, rather than to propose or elope with her. Nandini is now in love with Preetham and is in a dilemma as her wedding is in a few days. She asks him to take her to the top of a waterfall where she expresses her love for him while standing at the edge.
Preetam, intent on marrying Nandini, takes Col. Subbaiah for a morning jog to discuss the matter. But Col. Subbaiah, a heart patient, tells Preetham that he is expected to die anytime and his only desire is to get Nandini married to Gautam: an army officer who saved his life during a war. He also could feel Nandini's mother's worry when she realised that Nandini could be in love with someone else because the wedding was to happen the next day and all invitations were already sent out. Her mother also felt that it would be very unfair to a good person like Gautham. Hence, Preetham decides to obey Nandini's parents' wishes and let Gautham marry Nandini. The night before the wedding, an extremely depressed Preetham goes to a road-side bar to drink alcohol and sees Gautam arriving for his wedding ceremony. Gautam asks the bar-owner for directions to Col. Subbaiah's home because of the heavy rains and badly-maintained interior roads of Coorg. Jaanu arrives and tries to kill Gautam, Preetham saves him and convinces Jaanu that Gautam is the best person to marry Nandini.
The next day, Preetham brings Gautam to the wedding after Gautam's car broke down. They reach just in time for the ceremony, but Preetham declines to attend. Gautam asks for the heart-shaped watch as a memento but Preetham leaves, unwilling to part with it. They search for Preetham, but cannot find him. Only Preetham's mother knows the truth of his love for Nandini, and she tries to hide her fear.
Resignedly, Preetham watches the arch proclaiming "Gautham weds Nandini" and the marriage taking place in Kodava style. As he leaves, he spots Devadas and takes the rabbit with him. Driving towards Bangalore, Preetham confides in Devadas as to how much he loved Nandini, and how he wished he had a life with her. He then realises that Devadas has died. The film ends with Preetham burying Devadas.
Cast
edit- Ganesh as Preetam
- Pooja Gandhi as Nandini, Preetam's love interest
- Ananth Nag as Colonel Subbaiah, Nandini's father
- Padmaja Rao as "Bubbly" Babita, Nandini's mother
- Jai Jagadish as Preetam's father
- Sudha Belawadi as Kamala, Preetam's mother
- Diganth as Gautam, Nandini's fiancé
- Neenasam Ashwath as Jolly
- Sanchita Shetty as Nandini's friend[20]
Production
editDevelopment
editDirector Yograj Bhat, who had earlier dabbled in advertising and corporate films, began working on the script of Mungaru Male.[21] He read the script to Puneeth Rajkumar and Ramya who rejected it.[22] Ganesh introduced Yograj Bhat to producer E. Krishnappa, who agreed to finance the film. Bhat cast a relatively unknown actress, Pooja Gandhi, for the lead female role in the film.[23]
Filming
editApproximately 80% of the scenes were filmed in the rain.[1][24] Shooting locations included major part in[24] Sakaleshpura, Madikeri,[24] Jog Falls Sagara,[24] and Gadag. Krishna, the cameraman, was a part-time photographer prior to the film. The song "Kunidu Kunidu" and the climax was shot at Jog Falls.[25][26]
Soundtrack
editMungaru Male | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Soundtrack album by | ||||
Released | 6 November 2006 | |||
Recorded | 2006 | |||
Genre | Feature film soundtrack | |||
Length | 31:30 | |||
Label | Anand Audio | |||
Producer | Mano Murthy | |||
Mano Murthy chronology | ||||
|
Mano Murthy scored the film's background music and its soundtrack, lyrics for which was penned by Jayant Kaikini, Yogaraj Bhat, Kaviraj and Hrudaya Shiva. The soundtrack album consists of seven tracks.[27] Anand Audio bought the distribution rights for ₹500,000.[28] It was released on 6 November 2006 in Bangalore.[29]
Upon the album's release, it topped the charts with the song "Anisuthide" receiving significant radio and TV air time.[30] It was reported that by mid-May 2007, over 200,000 copies were sold in compact discs alone.[31] Hindustan Times reported, "The film has just completed seven weeks, but audio sales have broken all earlier records. Composer Mano Murthy has once again created musical magic with songs like 'Anisuthidhe' and 'Onde Ondu Saari'."[32]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Onde Ondu Saari" | Kaviraj | Kunal Ganjawala, Priya Himesh | 4:32 |
2. | "Mungaru Maleye" | Yogaraj Bhat | Sonu Nigam | 4:49 |
3. | "Kunidu Kunidu Baare" | Jayant Kaikini | Udit Narayan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Stephen | 4:30 |
4. | "Anisuthide" | Jayant Kaikini | Sonu Nigam | 4:36 |
5. | "Suvvi Suvvali" | Hrudaya Shiva | Hemanth | 4:38 |
6. | "Ivanu Geleyanalla" | Hrudaya Shiva | Shreya Ghoshal | 3:47 |
7. | "Araluthiru Jeevada Geleya" | Jayant Kaikini | Shreya Ghoshal | 4:38 |
Total length: | 31:30 |
The success of the film's soundtrack, especially the track "Anisutide", further propelled Nigam's playback singing career in Kannada cinema.[30] With the song, lyricist and writer Jayant Kaikini's reputation as a writer of romantic songs further elevated, and is considered one of his best.[33]
Critical response
editRediff.com's critic awarded it a three-star rating and praised its cinematography, technical values, and the acting of Ganesh and Anant Nag.[34]
Indicine.com's critic rated the film 4 out of 5, describing Ganesh as the "life and soul of the movie". Other praise was directed at Gandhi, "Sanjana makes a confident debut. Veteran actor Anant Nag with his brilliant comic timing provides able support".[35] S. Shiva Kumar of The Hindu wrote, "Anant Nag never ceases to amaze. Playing a deaf, trigger-happy ex-serviceman, his dialogue delivery and sense of timing are spot on. TV anchor turned actor Ganesh has a casual style, which audiences seem to be lapping up."[36]
Box office
editMade with a production budget of ₹70 lakh (US$84,000),[1] the film collected ₹50 crore (500 million) in 300 days.[37][38] Then film went on to gross ₹50[3][4]–75 crore[5] (₹500–750 million) by the end of its theatrical run of 865 days.[14][39] The film has also been released with 150 prints in Karnataka.[40] This was the first Indian film which ran over a year in a multiplex: PVR cinemas Bangalore.[41] Mungaaru Male was being screened at full theatres, one year after its release.[42] According to reports it was the first Kannada film to touch ₹50 crore club in history of Kannada film industry.[1][43][13]
Overseas
editMungaru Male was released to 10 countries including the United States, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, UK, Hong Kong and Dubai. It was the highest-grossing Kannada film overseas.[citation needed] It had made ₹36 lakh (equivalent to ₹1.2 crore or US$140,000 in 2023) in the US alone.[44][45]
Home media
editThe satellite rights were acquired by television channel Star Suvarna for ₹36 million.[46] The DVD of the film with 5.1 surround sound was distributed by Anand Video.[47]
Awards and nominations
editThe film was awarded the Best Kannada Film award for the year 2006–07 by the Government of Karnataka (seven awards in total from the Government of Karnataka). It won three Filmfare awards: best music, best direction and best film. However, it did not win a single national award from the Government of India.[48]
| ||||||||||||||
Totals | ||||||||||||||
Awards won | 8 | |||||||||||||
Nominations | 13 |
Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Karnataka State Award | Best Film | Mungaru Male | Won | [49] [50] |
Best Director | Yogaraj Bhat | Won | ||
Best Dialogue Writer | Yogaraj Bhat | Won | ||
Best Cinematographer | S. Krishna | Won | ||
Best Music Director | Mano Murthy | Won | ||
Best Sound Recording | Tukaram | Won | ||
Best Lyricist | Jayanth Kaikini | Won | ||
54th Filmfare Awards South | Best Director | Yogaraj Bhat | Nominated | [51] |
Best film | Mungaru Male | Won | ||
Best Playback Singer – Male | Sonu Nigam | Nominated | ||
Best Actor | Ganesh | Nominated | ||
Best Debut Actress | Pooja Gandhi | Nominated | ||
Best Playback Singer – Female | Shreya Ghoshal | Nominated |
Legacy
editThe success of Mungaru Male turned Ganesh and Pooja Gandhi into most sought-after actors in Kannada cinema.[52] Ganesh had back-to-back commercial successes in Cheluvina Chittara (2007), Hudugaata (2007) and Krishna (2007). Ganesh and Bhat delivered two consecutive films that emerged as commercial successes, the other being Gaalipata (2008).[53] The film also proved to be a launchpad for the career of actress Pooja Gandhi.[54] Gandhi also delivered back-to-back commercially superhit films such as Milana (2007), Krishna (2007), Taj Mahal (2008) and Budhivanta (2008).[55][56] Jog Falls attained popularity and became a tourist spot after the film's release.[25]
Producer E Krishnappa and distributor Jayanna were raided by the Income Tax department multiple times, who claimed that the film had collected ₹67.5 crore and demanded tax for that amount. After Mungaru Male, two of Ganesh's next films also became super hits.[13]
Book
editBhat wrote about the making of Mungaru Male in the book Haage Summane, which was released on day of the silver jubilee celebration for the movie.[57][clarification needed]
Remakes
editThe movie was remade in Telugu in 2008 as Vaana,[16] in Bengali in 2008 as Premer Kahini , in Odia in 2009 as Romeo - The Lover Boy [18] and in Marathi in 2017 as Premay Namaha.[58][59]
Sequel
editIt was announced in July 2014 that Shashank would be directing the sequel of the film, titled Mungaru Male 2. Ganesh reprised his role in the film, produced by J. Gangadhar under the banner of E. K. Pictures.[19] The sequel was released in 2016.
Notes
edit- ^ Industry sources indicated an approximate gross of ₹50 crore for Mungaru Male,[3][4] whereas the higher ₹75 crore figure was attributed to the critic Prahlad Rao [5] Financial claims made by primary sources (directors, producers, distributors, actors) should be treated with circumspection, as primary sources often have conflicts of interest and incentives to inflate box office figures.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Did you know? 'Mungaru Male' was the first film to cross Rs 50 crore at the box office as well as run for a year in a multiplex". M.timesofindia.com. 27 April 2020. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ a b [1]
- ^ a b "Stage set for Mungaru Male sequel". The Hindu. 24 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ a b c "Ganesh all set for Mungaru Male 2". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ a b c "Ganesh Bal: The outsider on the inside". Daily News & Analysis. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ Gupta, Priya. "Box Office column discontinued". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- ^ "Stage set for Mungaru Male sequel". The Hindu. 24 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ a b "Man with the golden touch". www.thehindu.com. 21 April 2016. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
- ^ "Frequent twist and turns in Pooja's real life is grabbing more attention these days". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 25 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
- ^ a b "'Mungaru Male' National record". IndiaGlitz. Archived from the original on 7 December 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2007.
- ^ "Yogaraj proves his brand value". www.sify.com. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016.
- ^ "'Mungaru Male' girl's second innings in politics". thehindu.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Records stand even after 12 years". Bangalore Mirror. 29 December 2018. Archived from the original on 29 December 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ a b "'Mungaru Male' the first film to Celebrate 865-days in Karnataka". newindianexpress. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
- ^ "'Payana' love journey - Kannada News - IndiaGlitz.com". 5 December 2007. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Mungaru Male in Telugu". Idleburra.com. April 2007. Archived from the original on 21 June 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- ^ "Premer Kahini - ScreenIndia.Com". www.screenindia.com. Archived from the original on 12 November 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
- ^ a b "Kannada movies remake: ಅತೀ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಭಾಷೆಗೆ 'ರಿಮೇಕ್' ಆದ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಿನಿಮಾಗಳ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿದೆ! - Vijaya Karnataka". Vijaykarnataka.com (in Japanese). 30 March 2020. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Mungaru Male 2 To Be Directed By Shashank". oneindia.com. 25 July 2014. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
- ^ "The story makes a star: Sanchita Shetty". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
- ^ "WebHost4Life - Web Hosting, Unix Hosting, E-Mail, Web Design". Archived from the original on 12 January 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ "viggy.com Kannada Film Discussion Board – exclusive platform for Kannada cinema – Mungaru Male Earned 7.5 crores". Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- ^ "Pooja Gandhi of 'Mungaru Male' Celebrates her Birthday". Daijiworld Media. 8 October 2007.
- ^ a b c d "Indicine.com – Mungaru Male movie review". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2007.
- ^ a b "Movie link enhances Jog's deadly spell". Deccan Herald. 16 August 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ "Ganesh and Yograj Bhat relive Mungaru Male memories". 13 July 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ "Mungaru Male (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". iTunes. 29 November 2006. Archived from the original on 11 October 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
- ^ "'Mungaru Male' reigns over Kannada music market". Sify. 1 June 2007. Archived from the original on 10 October 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
- ^ "'Mungaru Male' Audio Launch". IndiaGlitz.com. 7 November 2006. Archived from the original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
- ^ a b "'Mungaru Male' still tops the charts". The Hindu. 17 May 2014. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
- ^ "'Mungaru Male' album a mega hit". Hindustan Times. 18 May 2007. Archived from the original on 10 October 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
- ^ "'Mungaru Male' can be Kannada audio of 2007". Hindustan Times. 24 February 2007. Archived from the original on 10 October 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
- ^ "He spells victory". The Hindu. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- ^ "Mungaru Male is interesting". rediff.com. 2 January 2007. Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
- ^ "Mungaru Male – Movie Review". www.indicine.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2007.
- ^ Kumar, S. Shiva (5 January 2007). "All's well that ends well". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "'MUNGARU MALE' NATIONAL RECORD AND COLLECTED 50 CRORE IN 300 DAYS". m.indiaglitz.com. 6 December 2007. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- ^ Khajane, Muralidhara (21 April 2016). "Man with the golden touch". The Hindu. m.thehindu.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- ^ "Ganesh". www.dnaindia.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ "Mungaru Male - A mega blockbuster". Sify. Archived from the original on 7 April 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ When it rains, it pours - The Hindu
- ^ "Karnataka's heartthrob Ganesh secretly marries". Archived 14 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine IBN Movies. 12 February 2008. "...Mungaaru Male, which broke all records, totally grossed Rs 75 crores. and even completed 50 days at Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu"
- ^ "Mungaru Male Actor - Ganesh Shashank". Bangalore Mirror. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "FIRST HIT". bangaloremirror.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ "This success is very special to me". Sify. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016.
- ^ Prasad S., Shyam. "My leading men talk like me: Yogaraj Bhat". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 August 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
- ^ "Mungaru Male – 2006 DVD". Kannada Store. Archived from the original on 10 October 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
- ^ "State awards". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
- ^ "Deccan Herald - State cine awards: Mungaru Male sweeps six awards". 29 September 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Karnataka State Film Awards – 2006-2007 Archived 2011-08-31 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Filmfare 54th South Indian Awards". Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ "Mungarumale 2 recreate the magic of prequel". newskarnataka. 10 September 2016. Archived from the original on 11 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ^ Lokesh, Vinay (17 September 2013). "Ganesh in Yogaraj Bhat direction?". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
- ^ "Neha Shetty is Mungaru Male 2 Heroine". Sify. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015.
- ^ "Kannada superstar Pooja Gandhi joins JD(S)". firstpost. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Sriramulu steals star power from Yeddyurappa as Pooja Gandhi joins BSR Congress". indiatoday. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Events – 'Mungaru Male' Grand Silver Jubilee". IndiaGlitz. 11 July 2007. Archived from the original on 16 July 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ^ Matkari, Ganesh (3 March 2017). "Film: Premay Namaha". Pune Mirror. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "From 'School Master' to 'U Turn': A look at Kannada films remade in other Indian languages". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
External links
edit- Mungaru Male at IMDb