Type of site | Online portal |
---|---|
Founded | July 3, 1999 |
Area served | Worldwide |
Founder(s) | K. M. Veeresh |
Industry | Entertainment |
Products | News and updates on Kannada cinema |
URL | chitraloka |
Chitraloka.com is an Indian website focused on the Kannada film industry. Launched on 3 July 1999 by K. M. Veeresh, [1] it was the first dedicated online portal for Kannada cinema. The website provides news, updates, and features on Kannada films and is available in both English and Kannada. [2] Alongside Viggy.com, it was among the few websites in the early 2000s regularly covering Kannada cinema. [3]
K. M. Veeresh, a photographer and journalist, conceived the idea for Chitraloka.com during a vacation in Singapore, where he struggled to access updates on Kannada cinema. After acquiring a personal computer, he aimed to create a website to serve news on Kannada cinema, primarily for Kannada-speaking audiences overseas, particularly in the Gulf and the United States. Initially, he faced challenges in sourcing software that could support Kannada script. [2] The website was launched in 1999, with Parvathamma Rajkumar present at the event. [4] [2]
On its launch day, the website recorded 13,664 visits. [5] In its early years, the website was primarily operated by Veeresh himself, with support from journalist colleagues as needed. [2] During the kidnapping of Rajkumar, Chitraloka.com provided comprehensive updates on the incident. [6] Initially updated biweekly, the website's content is now refreshed frequently. [4]
In 2009, Chitraloka.com was recognized by the Limca Book of Records for showcasing 3,000 Kannada film stills, ranging from Sati Sulochana (1935) to Namyajamanru (2009). [7] In 2020, the website's YouTube channel received the Silver Creator Award, making it one of the few Kannada-language channels to achieve this distinction. [8]
Singanalluru Puttaswamaiah Muthuraj, better known by his stage name Dr. Rajkumar, was an Indian actor and singer who worked in Kannada cinema. Regarded as one of the greatest and versatile actors in the history of Indian cinema, he is considered a cultural icon and holds a matinée idol status in the Kannada diaspora, among whom he is popularly called as Nata Saarvabhouma, Bangarada Manushya, Vara Nata, Gaana Gandharva, Rasikara Raja, Kannada Kanteerava and Rajanna/Annavru. He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1983 and Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1995. He is the only lead actor to win National Award for Playback singing. His 39 movies have been remade 63 times in 9 languages by 34 actors making him the first actor whose movies were remade more than fifty times and the first actor whose movies were remade in nine languages. He was the first actor in India to enact a role which was based on James Bond in a full-fledged manner. The success of his movie Jedara Bale is credited to have widely inspired a Desi bond genre in other Indian film industries. On the occasion of the "Centenary of Indian Cinema" in April 2013, Forbes included his performance in Bangaarada Manushya on its list of "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema". Upon his death, The New York Times had described him as one of India's most popular movie stars.
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. Kannada cinema is based in Gandhi Nagar, Bangalore. The 1934 film Sati Sulochana directed by Y. V. Rao was the first talkie film released in the Kannada language. It was also the first film starring Subbaiah Naidu and Tripuramba, and the first screened in the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom. It was produced by Chamanlal Doongaji, who in 1932 founded South India Movietone in Bangalore.
Sampath Kumar, known by his stage name Vishnuvardhan, was an Indian actor who worked predominantly in Kannada cinema besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam language films. Vishnuvardhan has a prolific career spanning over four decades, during which he has acted in more than 220 films. A popular cultural icon of Karnataka, and holds the status of a matinée idol among the Kannada diaspora. He is popularly called as Sahasa Simha, Dada and The Angry Young Man of Kannada Cinema. Vishnuvardhan's contributions to Kannada cinema have been praised by his contemporaries in the Indian film industry. The Government of Karnataka honoured him with the Rajyothsava Prashasthi in 1990 and the Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 for his contributions to Kannada cinema. He was called The Phoenix of Indian Cinema. In 2008, a poll conducted by CNN-IBN listed Vishnuvardhan as the most popular star in the Kannada film industry.
Puneeth Rajkumar, affectionately known as Appu, was an Indian actor, playback singer, film producer, television presenter and philanthropist who worked in Kannada cinema. He was the youngest son of legendary actor and matinee idol Dr. Rajkumar. He was one of the most popular actors in Kannada cinema. He appeared as a lead in 32 films. As a child, he appeared in many films. His performances as a child actor in Vasantha Geetha (1980), Bhagyavantha (1981), Chalisuva Modagalu (1982), Eradu Nakshatragalu (1983), Bhakta Prahaladha (1983), Yarivanu (1984) and Bettada Hoovu (1985) were praised. He won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for his role of Ramu in Bettada Hoovu. He also won Karnataka State Award Best Child artist for Chalisuva Modagalu and Eradu Nakshatragalu. Puneeth's first lead role was in 2002's Appu. In a career spanning three decades, he has won one National Film Award, four Karnataka State Film Awards, six Filmfare Awards South and five SIIMA awards. He was conferred with the Doctorate by Mysuru University. The Karnataka Government conferred the state's highest civilian award, Karnataka Ratna, to Puneeth Rajkumar on 1 November 2022, posthumously.
Jogi is a 2005 Indian Kannada-language action film written and directed by Prem. It stars Shiva Rajkumar, Jennifer Kotwal and Arundathi Nag. The movie released on 19 August 2005. Record box office collection was reported across Karnataka and the movie completed 100 days in more than 61 theaters. The film was noted for its technical prowess, colloquial Kannada dialogue and lyrics. Its story revolves around an old lady who comes to the city from her village in search of her presumably lost son. It was remade in Telugu as Yogi and in Tamil as Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram.
A. N. Prahlada Rao is an Indian author and Kannada-language crossword compiler/ Constructor.
Vamshi is an Indian Kannada-language action drama film directed by Prakash and produced by Parvathamma Rajkumar under Sri Chakreshwari Combines. The film stars Puneeth Rajkumar, alongside Lakshmi, Nikita Thukral, Ravi Kale, Avinash Yelandur and Rajendra Karanth. The music was composed by R. P. Patnaik, while the cinematography and editing were handled by Krishna Kumar and Deepu. S. Kumar respectively.
Om, stylized as ॐ, is a 1995 Indian Kannada-language action crime film written and directed by Upendra. The film was produced by Parvathamma Rajkumar under the production company Sri Vajreshwari Combines. The film stars Shiva Rajkumar and Prema with Srishanthi, G. V. Shivanand, Sadhu Kokila in supporting roles with real-life gangsters - Bekkina Kannu Rajendra, Tanveer, Korangu Krishna and Jedaralli Krishnappa - portraying the role of gangsters in a small but important portion of the movie.
The Dr. Vishnuvardhan Award, instituted in 2011 for the 2008–09 Karnataka State Film Awards is an award given by the government of Karnataka to long-serving film personalities in Kannada cinema. The award previously called Lifetime Contribution to Kannada Cinema Award, was named Dr. Vishnuvardhan Award in honour of Vishnuvardhan, one of Kannada cinema's actors, after his demise in 2009. The award carries a purse of ₹200,000 and a gold-plated plaque.
Vajrakaya is a 2015 Indian Kannada-language action film directed by A. Harsha. It stars Shiva Rajkumar, Nabha Natesh and Karunya Ram in the lead roles, with Avinash, Ravi Kale and Suman as supporting cast. With Dileep, Sivakarthikeyan,Ravi Teja and others in cameo appearance
Shiva Rajkumar is an Indian actor who appears in Kannada films. He is the eldest son of actor Rajkumar. Shiva has acted in more than 125 films in lead roles.
Actor is a 2016 Indian Kannada psychological thriller film written, produced by KM Veeresh and co-produced and directed by Dayal Padmanabhan. The film features Naveen Krishna and Sihikahi Geetha as the only two characters appearing on screen. K. M. Veeresh has produced the film for Chitraloka Movies banner. The film re-collaborates director Dayal with actor Naveen after their critically acclaimed previous venture Haggada Kone.
Tagaru (transl. Goat) is a 2018 Indian Kannada-language action crime film directed by Duniya Soori and produced by K. P. Srikanth. The film features Shiva Rajkumar, Bhavana and Manvitha Kamath, Dhananjaya, Vasishta N. Simha and Devaraj, while Shivakumara Swami, Jayanth Kaikini and Charan Raj makes a guest appearance. The soundtrack and background score were composed by Charan Raj, while the cinematography and editing were handled by Mahendra Simha and Deepu. S. Kumar.