The first month of 2010 January is a cause for worry for the Kannada filmdom from the point of view of box office. Out of 12 films released only ‘School Master’ and ‘Porkhi’ faired better at the box office with good initials. The December 2009 releases ‘Raam’ of Puneeth Rajakumar and Golden star Ganesh ‘Maleyali Jotheyali’ given some hope for the Kannada film box office. ‘Maleyali Jotheyali’ reached 50 days while ‘Raam’ of Puneeth Rajakumar is a super hit nearing 50 days.

Out of 12 films in January ‘Suryakanthi’ the much hyped film could not do well while all the sundry films like Police Quarters, Minugu, Naan Madidh Thappa, Samagama, Preethiya Theru, Anischitha, Niranthara, Ku Ku... and Aparadhi are disasters in the box office.

The demise of Dr KS Ashwath, Chindodi Leela, Still photographer Nagdev, cameraman Surendranath Begur and novelist cum renowned journalist BV Vaikunta Raju (two of his novels were made into films) put the already in mourning mood (for fag end of 2009 Dr Vishnu, Dr C Ashwath deaths) of Kannada cinema industry further dip in sorrow.

It is in the month of January three films – Tulu film Gaggara, Kannada film Vimukthi and children film ‘Gubbachchigalu’ bagged the national honours. The Kannadiga from Mysore VK Murthy for his contribution to Hindi cinema got the Dada Saheb Phalke award. Smt Arundhathi Nag the founder of ‘Ranga Shankara’ got the Padma Sri award for her contribution to theatre.

Will February bring in some hope?