Kannada Block Buster Film “Namoora Mandara Hoove” staring Hatrick Hero Shivrajkumar , Ramesh Aravind , Prema , Suman Nagarkar ,Ramesh Bhat ,Sanket Kashi , Vinayak Joshi , Renukama Maragod etc completed its 30 years of Theatrical Release on August 09 [ Wikipedia and other mediums wrongly mentioned as August 05 ] Film was run away hit & critically acclaimed when released in the year 1996.

In the Film Red Maruthi Gypsy used also played like major character where in specific comedy scene with Sanketh Kashi got huge response from the audiences [ it was lifted from the English film “God Must Be Crazy ” ] and also a Cap with “Mandara” written wore by Shivrajkumar became trend among his fans.

The Film was Written & Directed by Sunil Kumar Desai, Produced by Jayashri Devi , Music by Maestro Ilayaraaja ,Cinematography by Sundar Nath Suvarana & Editing by R.Janardhan and Music on Lahari label.

The film which had tag line of A wave of Freshness ” was really a fresh experience film because of its narrative & treatment though plot was routine triangle love story formula and many of its first combinations not only in the team but for Kannada Film Industry

It was full fledge Musical Triangular Love Story of its Director Sunil Kumar Desai who earlier was known for his thriller Genre films like Tarka , Utkarsaha & Nishkarsha with Guna Singh Scoring the background Music though he earlier first attempted soft unique love story with Anathnag in “Beledingale Bale” with limited songs.

The new blockbuster pair of Shivrajkumar & Prema of “Savya Sachi” & “Om” films was joined by Ramesh Aravind later this team did many films together.

Ramesh Arvind who just started his Thayaraja [ Sacrifice ] image with the film “Anuraga Sangama” after Namoora Mandara Hoove” it went to peak and did many films under this image and was default or natural choice by the film makers for many years.

Though Music Maestro Ilayaarja after long years came back to the Kannada Film Industry with Shiva Sainya film this film used all his melodious music and BGM to his maximum potential which later made him again became busy in Kannada Films also as fact in Tamil Film Industry it was an era of A.R.Rahaman , Deva etc started.

It was Turing point and big break to the lyricist K.Kalyan who after this film never turn back in his 30+ years of film career.

The majority of film was shot & explored in Uttara Karnataka places like Sirsi , Yana , Sathodhi falls etc and also some portions to match was shot in Kushalnagara and Bengaluru.

Yana which is inside forests near Sirsi and don’t have proper roads access to travel via vehicles only by trekking of around 12+ kms need to be done which is risky inside the forest area and also climate conditions, for the shooting logistics the Film Production Team only built to maximum extent road and that remained permanent for later also for local and tourist vehicle access.

The film also used Native Havyaka language speaking for the characters in the Sirsi.

Film also showed the spontaneous creative skills of Sunil Kumar Desai who incorporated some real continuity missing crisis into opportunities like Ramesh Aravind who had his moustache shaven for his another film “Rangena Halliyage Rangada Rangegowda”lady get up here it was incorporated in a powerful dialogue and justified why he shaven and used same get up till climax.

Film ending titles credit shots was also shooting done in Prasad Recording Studios ,Bengaluru with large orchestra set up and also original Aryabhata Cultural Awards function at Ravindra Kalashetra where Shivrajkumar & Prema won awards for their film “Om” shots was incorporated here with Prema winning as Best Singer in the end.

The climax portions was also spontaneously shot in Kushalnagara with lead cast Shivrajkumar , Ramesh Arvaind & Prema with single lengthy shot with Round Trolley set up is a master class for perfect blend of acting , dialogue delivery , Cinematography & Direction.

The dialogues in the climax comparing love and friendship with ಚಪ್ಪಾಳೆ [ claps ] and ಚುಟಿಗೆ [ Snap of the finger ] got thunder applause and whistles in the theaters from the fans and audience.

Film completed 100 days at many centers in Karnataka and also to extent reached Mass areas which in terms of Business those times classified as B & C Centers but due to its content and no fights or masala it was termed as Class film of Urban centric A Centers block buster film.

The Film lead Distributor was YashRaj of Yashraj films who later become man of Midas touch with Upendra Staring as Hero & Directed “A” film

For Shivrajkumar career it proved his versality & to extent it helped him to reach Elite class audiences but vice versa his die hard fans who liked him after his blockbuster “Om” did not watch it repeatedly like his action films.

Film also won various awards including Karnataka State Film Awards.

It also tried to reach & expand by screening in non Kannada single screens those times in the theaters like Galaxy in Bengaluru Residency Road which was know for English & later Hindi films centric theater.

Its audio cassettes later CD by Lahari Music did huge sales those times and also piracy issue was in the news where Lahari Music with Police force raided many Music Shops across Karnataka.

Post film release people across Karnataka mainly youths rushing to the Tourist Spot of “Yana” was huge in numbers also faced wrath from the locals for losing its sanctity & irresponsible tourism.

Just to add on earlier films like Dr Rajkumar & Shankarnag combo “Ondhu Muthina Kathe” and Suresh Heblikars “Aguntaka” was shot in Yana.

Film is perfect example of what called “Film Tourism” today but for various reasons Tourism Department or local authorities failed to convert into opportunity and incorporate into responsible and sustainable manner.

As many old classic films re releasing in todays digital era feels “Namoora Mandara Hoove” should also re release where its ” A wave Of Freshness” is not become old or its fragrance not lost.

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Ajay.K.R