Best Kannada Movies Of 2023 (Credit: Instagram)
Have you seen the list of the best Kannada films of the year? From Raksh*t Shetty's Sapta Sagaradaache Ello Side A and B to Upendra's Kabzaa and the sleeper hit film Hostel Hudugaru Bekagidare to Toby, here's a look at some of the popular Kannada films that made it to the list.
Best Kannada Movies Of 2023:
Daredevil Musthafa
Release date: May 19
Director: Sashank Soghal
Cast: Poornachandra, Nagabhushan, and Mandya Ramesh
This film, which was released in early 2023,
told the tale of students at a government college. The plot revolves around Jamal Abdul Musthafa, who becomes the talking point in his college. Ahead of his arrival, rumours began spreading around about his past among college students. When Musthafa finally arrives, all hell breaks loose.
Bisilu Kudare
Release date: April 21
Director: Hridaya Shiva
Cast: Sampath Maitreya, Malavalli Saikrishna, Kari Subbu
After their father's death, Chikkegowda (Sampath Maitreya) and his elder brother share their property. Chikkegowda sells half an acre of his land at a low price and gives that money as a bribe so that he can own the remaining portion of the land. But the forest department fences his land, and Chikkegowda receives a notice about the encroachment of forest land. Chikkegowda collapses as soon as he hears this. The film explores the reality of agricultural lands.
19.20.21
Release date: March 3
Director: Mansore
Cast: Rajesh Natranga, Balaji Manohar, Avinash, and Krishna Hebbale
The life of a student turns upside down when he is arrested for his connection with the Naxals.
Further, in an attempt to combat naxalites, police and anti-Naxal forces disrupt the lives of people who have called the forest their home.
Pinki Elli
Release date: June 2
Director: Prithvi Konanur
Cast: Akshatha Pandavapura, Deepak Subramanya, and Anoop Shoonya
Bindu Shree (Akshatha Pandavapura) is a single mother who hired a nanny to watch her baby while she was away at work. One day, she returns home to find her baby and the nanny, Sanamma, missing. She then begins to hunt for the two, only to expose a begging racket.
Gurudev Hoysala
Release date: March 30
Director: Vijay N.
Cast: Dhananjaya, Amrutha Iyengar, Rajesh Nataranga, and Raghu Shivamogga
Gurudev (Dhananjaya) is a police officer who helps an orphan inter-caste couple, Bhoomi (Mayuri Natraja) and Ravi (Anirudh Bhat), unite, only to realise later the consequences of the mistake. Dada (Avinash BS, Bhoomi’s father), who is upset with his move, sends goons to bring his daughter. What happens next forms the rest of the story.
Pentagon
Release date: April 7
Director: Kiran Kumar, Guru Deshpande
Cast: Kishore Kumar G, Prakash Belawadi, P. Ravi Shankar, and Pramod Shetty
The film travels around different plots that talk about a relationship, one between a family and another, around a woman who undergoes physical assault. There is also a plot that talks about pro-Kannada protests.
Kabzaa
Release date: March 17
Director: R. Chandru
Cast: Upendra, Kichcha Sudeepa, Shivaraj Kumar, Shriya Saran, Murali Sharma, Posani Krishna Murali, Anoop Revanna, Kabir Duhan Singh, and Dev Gill.
Kabzaa is set in the pre-independence period and revolves around the life of Arkeshwara (Upendra), the son of a freedom fighter. He turns rowdy and becomes a don. He then goes on to build a huge gang. What makes him a big name and why the son of a patriotic father becomes an underworld don form the rest of the story.
Doordarshana
Release date: March 3
Director: Sukesh Shetty
Cast: Pruthvee Ambaar, Ugramm Manju, Veena Sundar, and Raaghu Ramanakoppa
Life is good in a traditional small town; however, things turn upside down when a modern product, a TV, is introduced to them. Does it help the lives of the villagers? Does it cause harm? This forms the rest of the story.
South Indian Hero
Release date: February 24
Director: Naresh Kumar, HN
Cast: Vijay Chendur, Kaashima Rafi, Ashwin Rao Pallakki, and Amith
The movie tells the story of Lucky Lakshman Rao, a popular film star, who goes missing under mysterious circ*mstances, shocking his fans. This later gives us a peek into Lucky’s past life and forms the rest of the story.
Love Birds
Release date: Feb 17
Director: P. C. Shekhar
Cast: Darling Krishna, Milana Nagaraj, Sadhu Kokila, and Avinash
Deepak (Darling Krishna) and Pooja (Milana Nagraj) first match on a matrimonial site online. Soon, the two get married and settle. However, differences about various issues crop up. Constant heat among them makes them decide to part ways. Does the marriage fail or survive? This forms the rest of the story.
Orchestra Mysuru
Release date: January 12
Director: Sunil Mysuru
Cast: Poornachandra Mysuru, Dileep Raj
Poorna (Poornachandra Mysore) works as an assistant at a dental clinic. His only dream is to become the lead singer of a band. Can he win over the difficulties and get closer to the mic? This forms the rest of the story.
Mr. Bachelor
Release date: January 6
Director: Naidu Bandaarru
Cast: Darling Krishna, Nimika Ratnakar, Milana Nagaraj, and Chikkanna
Karthik (Darling Krishna) is a happy-go-lucky guy who is keen on getting married. His parents tell him to get an education and get a job to find the right match. However, things take a twist when an astrological prediction lands him in trouble.
Mayanagari
Release date: December 16
Director: Shankar Aradhya
Cast: Shravya Rao, Chikkanna, and Avinash
Mayangari follows the troubled path of Shankar, an aspiring associate director with dreams of making a successful film. Things take a turn when he discovers information about a haunted house.
Garadi
Release date: November 10
Director: Yogaraj Bhat
Cast: Darshan, Yashas Surya, and P. Ravi Shankar
Set in a Rattehalli village, Garadi shines light on the sport of wrestling. The film also highlights the life of Soorya, who proves his mettle as a wrestler.
Ghost
Release date: October 19
Director: Srini
Cast: Shivarajkumar, Jayaram, Prashanth Narayan, and Anupam Kher
Ghost (Shivarajkumar) takes control of a jail when there is renovation, and he wants his demands met. Will he get what he wants? Is he good or bad? Is he a god or a ghost? What do the people think of him? This forms the rest of the story.
Toby
Release date: August 25
Director: Basil Alchalakkal
Cast: Raj B. Shetty, Chaithra Achar
Tony (Raj B. Shetty) leads a peaceful life with his family; however, several times he is used as a murderer-for-hire by the village chief, Ananda (Deepak Shetty). But when Ananda decides to mess with Toby’s prized possession, Jenny (Chaitra J. Achar), the beast in him awakens.
Kshetrapati
Release date: August 17
Director: Shrikant Katagi
Cast: Achyuth Kumar, Naveen Shankar
Basava (Naveen Shankar) is an engineering student who quits his studies to pursue farming after his father, who was a farmer himself, ends his life because he is pressed by financial problems. But the politics around farming present him with terrible challenges.
Namo Bhoothathma 2
Release date: August 4
Director: Murrali
Cast: Komal Kumar, Lekha Chandra, and Govinde Gowda
Troublemakers Arjun (Komal) and Garuda (Govinde Gowda) and their team, who work for a TV channel, get into a tricky situation after their prank with a bunch of goons goes wrong. They flee to Chikmagalur to hide from them. But an eerie spirit is waiting for their arrival.
Damayana
Release date: July 14
Director: Shreemukha
Cast: Shreemukha, Anagha, Akshay Revankar, and Praneeth Ninasam
Damodara, a social media addict, is from a village. In order to finish his education, he moves to a city. However, he doesn't enjoy a smooth ride there, as he finds it very difficult to adjust to the fast-paced life in the city.
Sapta Sagaradaache Ello, Side A
Release date: August 31
Director: Hemanth M. Rao
Cast: Raksh*t Shetty, Rukmini Vasanth
Priya (Rukmini Vasanth) is a middle-class girl who enjoys simple things in life with her partner, Manu (Raksh*t Shetty). Together, they see a life of hope. However, Manu’s dream is mostly to ensure that he gives Priya the life she deserves and dreams of with her. In order to achieve that, he crosses a line and lands in jail.
Bera
Release date: June 16
Director: Vinu Balanja
Cast: Yash Shetty, Shine Shetty
Bera is a film set in a communally sensitive area in the coastal region where the Muslim and Hindu communities don't get along with each other.
