Gandhada Gudi is a 2022 Kannada docudrama film starring Puneeth Rajkumar, directed by Amoghavarsha J. S., and produced by Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar.
It serves as the final, posthumous film appearance of beloved actor Puneeth Rajkumar.
October 28, 2022, released just before the first death anniversary of Puneeth Rajkumar
A true-to-life non-fiction feature where Puneeth Rajkumar and his friend Amoghavarsha journey through the wild, rivers, and hills to celebrate the rich biodiversity, nature, and heritage of Karnataka.
Derived its name from Dr. Rajkumar's iconic 1973 block-buster film Gandhada Gudi.
Kantara (2022) is a massive cultural blockbuster written, directed, and led by Rishab Shetty. It was made on a budget of ₹16 crore, filmed in just 96 days in Shetty's native village of Keradi (Kundapura), and went on to gross over ₹400 crore worldwide.
The spine-chilling, guttural roar in the climax was recorded by Rishab Shetty himself, blending raw emotion with an otherworldly tone.
Shetty underwent immense physical training for the role, including fasting during the grueling, muddy, and wildly energetic Bhoota Kola climax sequence.
The famous chase sequence and fierce fight following the Kambala buffalo race were performed by Shetty himself without a body double, shot in 2-foot-deep real mud.
The film centers on the worship of Panjurli Daiva (a boar-faced guardian deity) and Guliga Daiva, deeply tied to Tulu Nadu folklore and animistic traditions.
While the movie portrays divine possession, the actual Bhoota Kola tradition in coastal Karnataka is an ancestral bond restricted to specific hereditary communities like the Nalike, Pambada, and Parawa.
The cinematic attention prompted the Karnataka Government to announce a monthly allowance for Bhoota Kola performers over 60 years of age.
