Chitraloka.com is an Indian website focused on the Kannada film industry. Launched on 3 July 1999 by K. M. Veeresh,[1] it was the first dedicated online portal for Kannada cinema. The website provides news, updates, and features on Kannada films and is available in both English and Kannada.[2] Alongside Viggy.com, it was among the few websites in the early 2000s regularly covering Kannada cinema.[3]
Type of site | Online portal |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 3, 1999 |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Founder(s) | K. M. Veeresh |
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Products | News and updates on Kannada cinema |
| URL | chitraloka |
History
editK. M. Veeresh, a photographer and journalist, conceived the idea for Chitraloka.com during a vacation in Singapore, where he struggled to access updates on Kannada cinema. After acquiring a personal computer, he aimed to create a website to serve news on Kannada cinema, primarily for Kannada-speaking audiences overseas, particularly in the Gulf and the United States. Initially, he faced challenges in sourcing software that could support Kannada script.[2] The website was launched in 1999, with Parvathamma Rajkumar present at the event.[4][2]
On its launch day, the website recorded 13,664 visits.[5] In its early years, the website was primarily operated by Veeresh himself, with support from journalist colleagues as needed.[2] During the kidnapping of Rajkumar, Chitraloka.com provided comprehensive updates on the incident.[6] Initially updated biweekly, the website's content is now refreshed frequently.[4]
In 2009, Chitraloka.com was recognized by the Limca Book of Records for showcasing 3,000 Kannada film stills, ranging from Sati Sulochana (1935) to Namyajamanru (2009).[7] In 2020, the website's YouTube channel received the Silver Creator Award, making it one of the few Kannada-language channels to achieve this distinction.[8]
References
edit- ^ mahesh (1 July 2014). "ಚಿತ್ರಲೋಕ 15ರ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ, ಮರಕಿಣಿ ಟಚ್ ಸ್ಕ್ರೀನ್ ರಿಲೀಸ್ [Chitraloka 15th Celebration, Marakini Touch Screen Release]". Oneindia (in Kannada). Archived from the original on 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d Riti, M. D. (1 July 2000). "Kannada film industry goes online". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ "Shivu Adda: Promoting Kannada films since a decade". NewsKarnataka.com. 15 March 2018. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Sandalwood in web maze". Bangalore Mirror. 3 July 2009. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ ಎಸ್ಕೆ.ಶಾಮಸುಂದರ (10 July 2013). "ಮೂರನೇ ಕ್ಯಾಂಡಲ್ ಬೆಳಕಲ್ಲಿ ಚಿತ್ರಲೋಕ ! [Chitraloka in the light of the third candle!]". Filmibeat (in Kannada). Archived from the original on 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ "ರಾಜ್ಕುಮಾರ್ ಅಪಹರಣದ ರೋಚಕ ಕಥೆ;ಅಂತೆ ಕಂತೆಗಳಿಗೆಲ್ಲಾ ತೆರೆ ಬೀಳಲಿದೆ! [The exciting story of Rajkumar's kidnapping; all the scandals will be exposed!]". Asianet News (in Kannada). 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Bangalore: Chitraloka.com Website Enters Limca Book of Records Again". Daijiworld Media. 1 December 2009. Archived from the original on 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ Nagaraja (2 December 2020). "'ಚಿತ್ರ ಲೋಕ' ಗೆ ಯು ಟ್ಯೂಬ್ ಸಿಲ್ವರ್ ಕ್ರಿಯೇಟರ್ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ [YouTube Silver Creator Award for 'Chitraloka']". Kannada Prabha (in Kannada). Archived from the original on 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.