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, Bengaluru. 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 Bengaluru.
Diganth Manchale, known professionally as Diganth, is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Kannada films. Diganth made his acting debut in Miss California (2006) and is best known for his performance in Gaalipata (2008). He is a recipient of two South Indian International Movie Awards along with nominations for four Filmfare Awards South.
Shruthi Chandrasena, known professionally as Hariprriya, is an Indian actress and model who predominantly works in Kannada films. Hariprriya gained wide acclaim for her role in Ugramm and is also known for her work in Ranna, Ricky, Neerdose, Bharjari, Samhaara, Jai Simha, Bell Bottom, Soojidara and D/O Parvathamma.
Rakshit Shetty is an Indian actor and filmmaker working predominantly in Kannada cinema. He is the recipient of one National Film Award, two Filmfare Awards South, two Karnataka State Film Awards and five SIIMA Awards. He debuted with the film Namm Areal Ond Dina (2010) and got his breakthrough with Simple Agi Ondh Love Story and further shot to fame with the cult Blockbuster Ulidavaru Kandanthe (2014) and further established himself as a lead actor in Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu (2015), Kirik Party (2016), Avane Srimannarayana (2019), 777 Charlie (2022), and Sapta Saagaradaache Ello – Side A (2023), with 777 Charlie becoming the highest-grossing film of his career.
Achyuth Kumar is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Kannada cinema, alongside few Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films. He is known for his performances in the KGF, Kantara, Sidlingu, and Lucia. He is the recipient of three Filmfare Awards and two Karnataka State Film Awards, one each in Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor categories.
B. Ajaneesh Loknath is an Indian music composer who works predominantly in Kannada and Tamil films besides few Telugu films. His film music career began with the 2009 Kannada film Shishira. He rose to fame with the film Ulidavaru Kandanthe (2015) for which he received the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director. He is known for his works in films such as Kirik Party (2017), Kurangu Bommai (2017), Avane Srimannarayana (2019), Dia (2020), Vikrant Rona (2022) and Kantara (2022). He is noted for his frequent collaborations with filmmakers Rakshit Shetty, Rishab Shetty and Anup Bhandari.
Prashanth Shetty, known professionally as Rishab Shetty, is an Indian actor, film director, film producer and screenwriter who works in Kannada cinema. He is known for his critical and commercial blockbuster, Kantara, which he directed and also starred in as the main lead. He is the recipient of several accolades, including three National Film Awards, two Karnataka State Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards.
Jayathirtha B. V. is an Indian theater activist, production designer and filmmaker. He is known for his movies Olave Mandara, Tony, Beautiful Manasugalu, and Bell Bottom.
Kirik Party is a 2016 Indian Kannada-language romantic comedy drama directed by Rishab Shetty and produced by G. S. Guptha and Rakshit Shetty. It stars Rakshit Shetty, Rashmika Mandanna, Samyuktha Hegde, Achyuth Kumar, Aravinnd Iyer, Dhananjay Ranjan, Chandan Achar and Pramod Shetty play prominent roles. Rakshit Shetty wrote the story and co-wrote the script with a team called "The Seven Odds", which consisted of Rakshit Shetty, Rishab Shetty, Abhijith Mahesh, Dhananjay Ranjan, Kiranraj K, Chandrajith Belliappa. The film marks the acting debut of Rashmika Mandanna and Samyuktha Hegde.
Raj B. Shetty is an Indian actor, director, and screenwriter who works in Kannada.
Sarkaari Hiriya Praathamika Shaale, Kaasaragodu, Kodugé: Raamanna Rai is a 2018 Indian Kannada-language socio-political comedy film written, directed and produced by Rishab Shetty, presented by Sudeep. The film stars Anant Nag, Pramod Shetty, Ranjan, Sampath, Saptha Pavoor, Mahendra, Sohan Shetty, Prakash Thuminad, Manish Heroor and others.
Katha Sangama is an Indian Kannada-language anthology film composed of seven short films directed by seven directors including Kiranraj K, Chandrajith Belliappa, Shashi Kumar P, Rahul PK, Jamadagni Manoj, Karan Ananth, Jayashankar A. The team has seven cinematographers, musicians, and editors. This movie features Hariprriya, Rishab Shetty, Kishore, Raj B. Shetty, Yagna Shetty, Prakash Belawadi, Avinash, Balaji Manohar, Pramod Shetty, Hari Samasthi and others. This movie was conceptualised by Rishab Shetty as an ode to late Sri Puttanna Kanagal, director of the 1976 movie of the same name. This movie is jointly produced by H.K.Prakash, Pradeep N.R and Rishab Shetty films.
Rachana Inder is an Indian actress who works mainly in Kannada film industry in addition to a few Telugu Films. She debuted as a supporting actress in the film Love Mocktail.
Dheekshith Shetty is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Kannada and Telugu films. He is widely known for Dia (2020), Dasara (2023) and Blink (2024), and the television show Naagini. Shetty won the SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu for his performance in Dasara (2023).
Kantara is a 2022 Indian Kannada-language action thriller film written and directed by Rishab Shetty, and produced by Vijay Kiragandur, under Hombale Films. The film stars Rishab Shetty in a dual role as a Kambala champion who is at loggerheads with an upright forest officer named Murali.
The Football Aficionado is a long-feature social documentary film co-directed by Sharmin Mojtahedzadeh & Paliz Khoshdel and co-produced by Paliz Khoshdel & Sharmin Mojtahedzadeh. The subject of the film targets gender discrimination and women's rights in Iran.
Sapthami Gowda is an Indian actress who works primarily in Kannada Cinema. She made her acting debut with the 2020 film Popcorn Monkey Tiger directed by Duniya Suri and is known for her role of Leela in Kantara, directed by Rishab Shetty in 2022. She is a recipient of a Filmfare Award South and two SIIMA Awards.
Sharmin Mojtahedzadeh (she/her/hers) is an Iranian film director and producer. She was born in Tehran, Iran. She started her carrier as filmmaker on 2012. Her body of work focuses mostly on aspects of humanity, human rights and women issues that have rarely been told.
