''Nagarahavu'' () is a 2002 Indian
Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
-language
psychological thriller
Psychological thriller is a genre combining the thriller and psychological fiction genres. It is commonly used to describe literature or films that deal with psychological narratives in a thriller or thrilling setting.
In terms of context and co ...
film starring
Upendra
Upendra (Devanagari: उपेन्द्र) is an Indian masculine given name. The meaning of the Sanskrit word ' is "younger brother of Indra" and refers to either Krishna or Vishnu, who as a son of Aditi (or in the Vamana avatar) was born subs ...
and
Jyothika
Jyothika Saravanan (; born 18 October 1978) is an Indian actress, model and film producer who predominantly appears in Tamil films. . The film was directed by S. Murali Mohan and is a remake of the 1993
Hindi film
Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...
''
Baazigar
''Baazigar'' () is a 1993 Indian romantic crime thriller film directed by Abbas–Mustan and produced by Venus Movies. It stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in lead roles, while Raakhee, Shilpa Shetty, Dalip Tahil, Siddharth Ray, and Johnny Le ...
''. The film shocked its
Karnataka
Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...
audience with an unexpected violation of the standard
Kannada film industry
Kannada cinema, also known as Sandalwood, or Chandanavana, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Kannada language widely spoken in the state of Karnataka. The 1934 film '' Sati Sulochana'' directe ...
formula, with an
ambiguous
Ambiguity is the type of meaning (linguistics), meaning in which a phrase, statement or resolution is not explicitly defined, making several interpretations wikt:plausible#Adjective, plausible. A common aspect of ambiguity is uncertainty. It ...
hero. An above-average success at the box office, this was Upendra's second film where he played a negative role after his earlier blockbuster film ''
Preethse
''Preethse'' () is a 2000 Indian Kannada-language psychological thriller film starring Shiva Rajkumar, Upendra and Sonali Bendre. The film was directed by D Rajendra Babu and produced by Rockline Venkatesh. The film major part was shot in Aus ...
''. It was
Jyothika
Jyothika Saravanan (; born 18 October 1978) is an Indian actress, model and film producer who predominantly appears in Tamil films. 's debut film in Kannada film industry. For his work in the film, Upendra won the
Udaya Film Award for Best Male Actor for the second time, along with Jyothika for her Best Female Actor Award.
Plot
Based on Ira Levin's 1953 novel ''A Kiss Before Dying'', it is a contemporary thriller about revenge. The main character is Ajay Sharma (
Upendra
Upendra (Devanagari: उपेन्द्र) is an Indian masculine given name. The meaning of the Sanskrit word ' is "younger brother of Indra" and refers to either Krishna or Vishnu, who as a son of Aditi (or in the Vamana avatar) was born subs ...
). His father, Vishwanath Sharma (
Srinath
Narayana Swamy (born 28 December 1944), known by his stage name Srinath, is an Indian actor and film producer who works predominantly in Kannada cinema. He holds the position of vice-president of the Kannada television channel Udaya TV. He is ...
), once owner of a great business empire, was defrauded by Ashok Patel (
Rajeev), a trusted employee in Vishwanath's company. The Sharma family is ousted from their own company and loses everything they owned. Soon afterwards, Ajay's father and his young baby sister die due to illness, unable to buy medicine because of their destitute state. His mother is now suffering from
mental illness
A mental disorder, also referred to as a mental illness or psychiatric disorder, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. Such features may be persistent, relapsing and remitti ...
and memory loss. Driven over the edge, Ajay becomes obsessed with killing Patel and destroying his family.
Ajay begins dating Keerthi Patel (
Jyothika
Jyothika Saravanan (; born 18 October 1978) is an Indian actress, model and film producer who predominantly appears in Tamil films. ), the daughter of the owner of the Patel business empire. They meet secretly as her father would not approve of a poor son-in-law. Meanwhile, the younger daughter Prema Patel (
Jyothika
Jyothika Saravanan (; born 18 October 1978) is an Indian actress, model and film producer who predominantly appears in Tamil films. , dual role) travels with her father Madan Chopra to Madras (now
Chennai
Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...
), for Ashok's final kart race before he retires permanently. Ashok has never lost before, but comes across Vicky Despande (Ajay Sharma in a disguise of brown contact lenses). Vicky allows Ashok to win by slowing at the last corner and tells him that he couldn't beat his "
guru
Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverentia ...
". Vicky then charms Prema by saying that he lost the race as he couldn't break the heart of a beautiful girl. Thus his ploy of winning in spite of losing (meaning ''Nagarahaavu'') succeeds as he wins Prema's heart. This way, he manages to date both Keerthi and Prema simultaneously using different identities.
Ajay is (incidentally) photographed lurking outside the birthday party of Keerthi by one of her friends. Later, Ashok Patel arranges for Keerthi to be married off to another business family. Keerthi is heartbroken, and Ajay decides that they will write identical suicide notes and commit suicide. After they each write their suicide notes, he tells her that the suicide note was just a test. He says that only cowards commit suicide and destroys his note, while keeping Keerthi's. They decide to marry secretly the next day. When they arrive, the registrar is closed, so they go up to the roof of the building for sightseeing. He makes her sit on the parapet and tells her the truth about himself, after which he throws her to her death from the rooftop of the building. He then posts the suicide note and leaves, but arrives later (as Vicky) with Prema. He helps the Patel family with the funeral. The letter written by Keerthi implies that she has committed suicide, and the murder investigation is closed. Prema cannot believe that, and asks her father to re-open the case. However, he disagrees, saying he doesn't want to lose his reputation due to Keerthi's affair. Prema then asks Arjun (Rockline Venkatesh), who is her former classmate and a current police inspector, for help.
Prema tries to investigate Keerthi's death, however her attempts prove unsuccessful. Rajesh, Keerthi's college friend, offers to help her, but is brutally killed by Vicky. As Vicky forces him to sign a suicide note before hanging him, Arjun thinks that Rajesh must have been in love with Keerthi and hence her murderer. Later, Prema and Vicky meet Keerthi's college friend, Sangeetha, who becomes suspicious of him. When she finds out that he was Keerthi's boyfriend back in college, she calls the Sharma household during Vicky's and Prema's engagement party. Vicky intercepts the phone and impersonates Ashok Patel, and then arrives at her place. He strangles her, then fits her body in a suitcase and throws it in the river.
Vicky vows to destroy Ashok Patel's confiscate his assets and throw him out of his office and onto the street, just like Patel did many years ago to Ajay's father. Patel needs to go on a business trip, and knowing that Vicky's his soon to be son-in-law, gives Vicky the
Power of attorney
A power of attorney (POA) or letter of attorney is a written authorization to represent or act on another's behalf in private affairs (which may be financial or regarding health and welfare), business, or some other legal matter. The person auth ...
. Vicky does a carbon copy of the previous montage of Patel, and within days seizes everything. One day in a club Vicky takes Prema to calm her mind, where they meet Ajay's childhood friend, who greets him as ''Ajay''. While Vicky tries to ignore him, Prema tells the man that he is mistaken, and that Ajay is Vicky Despande. Ajay's friend repeatedly tries to remind Vicky (who is actually ''Ajay'') about their friendship. Vicky feels trapped and tries to get out of the mess by abusing him and gets in a scuffle with him. Prema visits Ajay's friend and the whole truth is revealed to her.
When Patel returns, Vicky reveals himself as Vishwanath Sharma's son Ajay and gives him the exact sendoff that Patel did 15 years ago. Prema finds Ajay's home address, and finds out his real identity. Ajay comes in and they argue about Keerthi's murder. Ajay wins her over by telling her the history of their two families. Ashok Patel charges in with a group of thugs and shoots Ajay in the shoulder before he is severely beaten and wounded. Ajay's mother is then knocked unconscious trying to defend Ajay. This prompts him to recover and fight Ashok and his gang all alone. Patel eventually picks up a stake and stabs Ajay. However, Ajay manages to impale him with the same stake by walking into him, and they jump off a small cliff. Patel dies, Ajay tells his mother that he has reclaimed what is rightfully theirs. Mrs. Sharma is cured of her illness, but is beset by sorrow, along with Prema crying beside her, because her father cheated her, as Ajay moves in with his mother and Prema.
Cast
*
Upendra
Upendra (Devanagari: उपेन्द्र) is an Indian masculine given name. The meaning of the Sanskrit word ' is "younger brother of Indra" and refers to either Krishna or Vishnu, who as a son of Aditi (or in the Vamana avatar) was born subs ...
as Ajay Sharma
*
Jyothika
Jyothika Saravanan (; born 18 October 1978) is an Indian actress, model and film producer who predominantly appears in Tamil films. as Keerthi / Prema
*
Rajeev as Ashok Patel
*
Ambika
Ambika may refer to:
Mythology
* Ambika (goddess), an avatar of the Hindu goddesses Durga, Parvati, and Shakti
* Ambika (Jainism), a Jain Yakshini goddess
* Ambika (Mahabharata), the wife of Vichitravirya was also the mother of Dhritarashtra, ...
*
Sadhu Kokila
Sahaya Sheelan Shadrach (born 24 March 1966) known by his screen name Sadhu Kokila, is an Indian musician, actor, comedian, film director and producer, and an occasional screenwriter and lyricist who works in Kannada cinema. He began his care ...
*
Doddanna
Doddanna (born 11 November 1949) is an Indian actor in the Kannada film industry who has acted in about 800 films. He started his career as a theatre actor. During this time, he entered the Kannada film industry as a character actor.
Early lif ...
*
Rockline Venkatesh
Thirupathi Narasimhalunaidu Venkatesh (born 23 March 1963), better known by his stage name Rockline Venkatesh, is an Indian actor and producer known for his works in Kannada, and Hindi cinemas. He is the founder and owner of the production and d ...
*
Srinath
Narayana Swamy (born 28 December 1944), known by his stage name Srinath, is an Indian actor and film producer who works predominantly in Kannada cinema. He holds the position of vice-president of the Kannada television channel Udaya TV. He is ...
as Vishwanath Sharma
* Shivadhwaj
* Shanker Bhat
*
Mandeep Roy
Mandeep Rai is an Indian actor in the Kannada film industry. Some of the notable films of Mandeep Rai as an actor include '' ...Re'' (2016), '' Aaptha Rakshaka'' (2010), ''Amrithadhare'' (2005), '' Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu'' (2001).
Career
Mande ...
* Suchendra Prasad
Nagarahavu Cricket Cup
Rockline Venkatesh
Thirupathi Narasimhalunaidu Venkatesh (born 23 March 1963), better known by his stage name Rockline Venkatesh, is an Indian actor and producer known for his works in Kannada, and Hindi cinemas. He is the founder and owner of the production and d ...
, producer of the film, organised a celebrity cricket match to promote the film's release. The event was held at KSCA Stadium,
Bangalore
Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...
. Cast and crew of the film, including
Upendra
Upendra (Devanagari: उपेन्द्र) is an Indian masculine given name. The meaning of the Sanskrit word ' is "younger brother of Indra" and refers to either Krishna or Vishnu, who as a son of Aditi (or in the Vamana avatar) was born subs ...
, and other celebrities of the
Kannada film Industry
Kannada cinema, also known as Sandalwood, or Chandanavana, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Kannada language widely spoken in the state of Karnataka. The 1934 film '' Sati Sulochana'' directe ...
like
Vishnuvardhan,
Ambarish
In Hindu mythology, Ambarisha ( sa, अम्बरीषः, ) is an Ikshvaku king, and the son of Mandhata.Pargiter, F.E. (1972) 922 ''Ancient Indian Historical Tradition'', Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p.92. He is believed to have conquered t ...
,
Shivrajkumar
Nagaraju Shiva Puttaswamy (born 12 July 1962) known by his screen name Shiva Rajkumar, is an Indian actor, producer and television presenter, predominantly works in Kannada cinema. ,
Puneeth Rajkumar
Puneeth Rajkumar (17 March 1975 – 29 October 2021), colloquially known as Appu, was an Indian actor, playback singer, television presenter, and producer, who worked in Kannada cinema. He was the youngest son of actor and matinee idol Dr. Rajk ...
,
Devaraj
Devaraj (born 20 September 1953) is an Indian actor and theatre actor who works in Indian film industry. He has largely featured in Kannada films performing various roles as a lead character, supporting character and villainous character. He ha ...
,
Ramesh Arvind
Ramesh Aravind is an Indian actor, director, screenwriter and television presenter who predominantly works in Kannada films and television. In a career of over 34 years, Aravind has been appeared in over 140 films including several Tamil and T ...
,
Bharathi Vishnuvardhan
Bharathi Vishnuvardhan (born 15 August 1950), also known mononymously as Bharathi, is an Indian actress known primarily for her work in Kannada cinema and television serials. She began her career in 1966, as a lead actress, with the Kannada mov ...
,
Anu Prabhakar
Anu Prabhakar, also known by her married name Anu Prabhakar Mukherjee, is an Indian actress, who predominantly appears in Kannada films and a few Tamil films.
Early life
Anu was born in Bangalore to M. V. Prabhakar, an employee with Bharat He ...
,
Tara, and many others took part in the match, which was attended by thousands of fans.
Soundtrack
The music for the movie was composed by
Hamsalekha
Gangaraju (born June 23, 1951), professionally known as Hamsalekha, is an Indian film composer and a songwriter who works in South Indian cinema, predominantly in the Kannada film industry since the late 1980s. He is also a screenplay writer, di ...
.
Box office
The film was an above average success at the box office.
Awards
*
Udaya Film Award for Best Male Actor –
Upendra
Upendra (Devanagari: उपेन्द्र) is an Indian masculine given name. The meaning of the Sanskrit word ' is "younger brother of Indra" and refers to either Krishna or Vishnu, who as a son of Aditi (or in the Vamana avatar) was born subs ...
*
Udaya Film Award for Best Female Actor –
Jyothika
Jyothika Saravanan (; born 18 October 1978) is an Indian actress, model and film producer who predominantly appears in Tamil films.
References
{{Reflist
2000s Kannada-language films
2002 films
Kannada remakes of Hindi films
Films scored by Hamsalekha