Premada Oorali, a Manoj Kumar-directed Kannada drama, has become an unexpected box-office hit in Karnataka, earning about ₹25 crore against a ₹2 crore budget in its first two weeks.
Released on September 25, the film has drawn audiences to single-screen cinemas in smaller towns. The Hindu reported packed houses in Raichuru, Kolar, Bidar, Madhugiri, Shidlaghatta, Ranibennur and Kadur. Some of those theatres had resumed operations after years away.
The film has grown from fewer than 50 shows in its first week to more than 700. Online ticket sales have exceeded 100,000 a day since September 27, according to the report. In Bengaluru, it has held screens alongside major releases including The Paradise, starring Nani, and Drishyam: The Conclusion.
Most of the cast are newcomers, including Thapaswini Poonacha, Shree Raam and Ramika Shivu. Rangayana Raghu is the established name in the ensemble. Set in a village, the story combines a father-son relationship, romance and the plight of farmers. Director Suri, known for Duniya and Tagaru, said audiences sometimes want a simple, emotional film. Harish Mallya, a curator at the Bengaluru International Film Festival, said the film’s serial-like structure may have helped it connect with family audiences. A release outside Karnataka and overseas is planned for October 9.