Kannada Cinema’s Crisis—Will YouTube Save It?

When the audience steps into theatres, they expect to be fully immersed in the stories the filmmaker is trying to tell. However, for the third consecutive year, it seems like the Kannada film industry is robbing them of that experience with its dull run.

Apart from a few impressive attempts by newcomers, like Nimma Vasthugalige Neeve Javabdararu, Nodidavaru Enantare, and Edagaiye Apaghatakke Karana, only a handful of projects have truly stood out to theatre-going audiences.

Also Read – Watch: Exploitation Is Real, Girls Must Dress Properly

Frustrated by this, many viewers have now shifted to YouTube to find quality films, albeit in shorter formats.

Amidst the industry’s dry spell, the silver lining has been the growing influx of compelling short stories from aspiring filmmakers.

Also Read – Telugu Cinema Ignoring Its Biggest Warning Sign?

These young creators haven’t compromised on quality, ensuring that their concepts and production values match those of mainstream feature films.

What’s worked in their favour is the support from Kannada stars, who have released these shorts on their official YouTube channels as well.

Also Read – All Attention on Kuberaa U.S. Premiere Talk!

Short films like Jaishankar Aryar’s festival hit Shivamma (2022), a brilliant rural satire on a woman’s rollercoaster journey in a multi-level marketing business, was produced by Rishab Shetty.

Imagine by Abhay, a 15-minute short on the dangers of AI, is streaming on PRK Audio, a YouTube channel helmed by Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar, producer and wife of superstar Puneeth Rajkumar.

The charming mini-series Colors on Rishab Shetty Films and the haunting short Chaaye, available on Raj B. Shetty’s Lighter Buddha YouTube channel, are other recent standouts in the short-form space.

While the theatrical business may seem stuck, the Kannada short film community is buzzing more than ever. It offers hope, not only to committed and gifted young filmmakers who may become the next big names in the industry but also to the industry itself.