Fri Dec 19 18:14:16 UTC 2025: Summary:

The Hindu’s Lit for Life Unplugged event in Bengaluru, a precursor to the main event in Chennai in January 2026, hosted a Kannada Cinema Roundtable discussion on December 19, 2025. The panel, featuring directors, actors, a film critic, and a streaming platform executive, discussed the successes and challenges of the Kannada film industry. Topics included the unexpected popularity of small-budget films, the need to attract audiences back to theaters with quality content, the balance between regional and universal appeal, actors’ career approaches, and the role of data in OTT platform programming. The panelists emphasized the importance of rooted storytelling, originality, and consistency to revitalize the industry.

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Kannada Cinema Leaders Discuss Future of Industry at The Hindu’s Lit for Life Unplugged

Bengaluru, India – December 19, 2025 – Despite chilly weather, a crowd of film enthusiasts gathered in Bengaluru last night for a lively discussion on the state of Kannada cinema. The event, a Kannada Cinema Roundtable, was part of The Hindu’s Lit for Life Unplugged series, a precursor to the main Lit for Life event scheduled for January 2026 in Chennai.

The panel, featuring prominent figures including debutant directors Punit Rangaswamy (“Elumale”) and J.P. Thuminad (“Su from So”), actor Chaithra J. Achar (“3BHK”), writer-actor Shaneel Gautham (“Kantara Chapter-1”), film critic Kairam Vaashi, and Zee5’s Head of Content Pradeepa, delved into a range of topics affecting the industry.

Thuminad highlighted the surprising reach of his low-budget comedy, emphasizing the audience’s willingness to embrace films regardless of regional language or dialect. Rangaswamy challenged filmmakers to reclaim audiences by producing compelling content that lures them back to cinemas. Shaneel Gautham touched upon the approach to Kantara Chapter-1, which they kept independent from Kantara.

Chaithra J. Achar spoke of her multilingual approach to her career, while Pradeepa discussed Zee5’s data-driven programming strategy and its goal to convert viewers into subscribers. A key takeaway from the discussion was the importance of consistency and rooted storytelling in reviving the Kannada film industry’s fortunes. Film critic Kairam Vaashi expressed optimism about debutant directors bringing originality to the forefront, and Shaneel Gautham noted the growing awareness among new filmmakers of the need to connect with their cultural heritage.

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