‘Appu’ re-release: Theatres witness festive environment as followers cheer for Puneeth Rajkumar
Followers celebrating the re-release of Puneeth Rajkumar’s ‘Appu’ at a single display in Bengaluru on Friday.
| Photograph Credit score: SUDHAKARA JAIN
Kannada movie Appu, launched on April 26, 2002, catapulted its debut hero Puneeth Rajkumar to stardom. The movie was re-released on March 14, s part of the late actor’s fiftieth beginning anniversary celebrations.
A promise stored
PRK Productions, helmed by Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar, the actor’s spouse, has promised followers a re-release of 1 Puneeth movie yearly. Puneeth, identified for blockbusters reminiscent of Appu (2002), Abhi (2003), Jackie (2010), and Raajakumara (2017), handed away on the age of 46 following a cardiac arrest in 2021.
On Friday, followers flocked to the theatre to look at their favorite star, who debuted in an action-packed love story directed by Telugu filmmaker Puri Jagannadh. Rakshita, who starred reverse Puneeth in Appu, additionally made her performing debut with the movie. The film was produced by Parvathamma Rajkumar, Puneeth’s mom, below the banner Poornima Enterprises (often known as Vajreshwari Combines).
A dream launch
“It was a dream launch for a heroine,“ mentioned Rakshita, daughter of legendary cinematographer B C Gowrishankar and actor Mamatha Rao. “To work below the celebrated banner was an enormous accountability for me. I’m endlessly grateful to the workforce for placing my profession in the appropriate route.”
A re-mastered 4K model of Appu, with audio clean-up, was launched throughout Karnataka on 200 screens. Greater than 20,000 tickets have been offered on the opening day of the re-release. Reveals opened as early as 6:30 am, and 1000’s of followers flocked to single screens and multiplexes throughout the State.
“I keep in mind watching Appu in Shivamogga when it was launched. I grew to become an enormous fan of Puneeth after that,“ mentioned Ashwin Kumar PT, an HR skilled. “Right this moment was a vacation due to Holi, so I watched the movie thrice right this moment, twice at Veeresh theatre (Magadi Highway) and as soon as at Narthaki (KG Highway),“ he mentioned.
‘Prince‘ Manu, a movie publicist, remembers assembly Puneeth close to the Dr Rajkumar Memorial on the Kanteerava Studio in 2009. “He (Puneeth) wished me on birthdays and even visited our household restaurant. I watched Appu twice right this moment. My favorite movies of Puneeth are Paramathma (2011)and Veera Kannadiga (2004),“ he mentioned.
Live performance-like atmosphere
Film halls witnessed a concert-like environment as followers danced to evergreen numbers reminiscent of Jolly Go Jolly Go (lyrics from Hamsalekha) and Talibaan Alla Alla (written by Upendra). Music composer Gurukiran spoke concerning the expertise of composing the hit album, which had bagged the audio rights for Rs 40 lakh.
“I wished the songs within the movie to have a youthful power,” mentioned Gurukiran. The composer was apprehensive of English lyrics within the songs. “I didn’t know the way Dr Rajkumar, sir, and Parvathamma ma’am would react. However Puneeth was the bridge between us, and he ensured our concepts acquired accepted.”
Puneeth, who had succeeded as a baby actor, transitioned easily right into a hero with Appu. Watching the re-release, followers re-lived their fond reminiscences of watching the actor on the large display as they cheered the actor’s dance steps, punch dialogues, and stunt sequences.
Printed – March 14, 2025 09:45 pm IST
