Shabdavedhi is a 2000 Kannada-language action drama film directed by S. Narayan and produced by Sri Bhargavi Arts Combines. The film, based on a novel of same name by Vijay Sasanur, stars Dr. Rajkumar, Jayapradha, K. S. Ashwath, Sowcar Janaki and Umashree. The music was composed by Hamsalekha, while the cinematography and editing were handled by R. Giri and S. Manohar. The film marked the last acting venture of Dr. Rajkumar.[1]

Shabdavedhi
DVD Cover
Directed byS. Narayan
Written byVijay Sasanur
Produced byParvathamma Rajkumar
Starring
CinematographyR. Giri
Edited byS. Manohar
Music byHamsalekha
Production
company
Sri Bhargavi Arts Combines
Release date
  • 10 February 2000 (2000-02-10)
Running time
165 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageKannada

Shabdavedhi was released on 10 February 2000 to mixed reviews from critics and became a commercial success at the box office.[2][3]

Premise

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Inspector Sandeep sets on a crusade against drug trafficking by creating an army of teenagers after the police department refused to help him in his crusade.

Cast

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Production

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This film has its credit as the comeback film of Rajkumar after almost six years. This was the first time that S. Narayan, age of 35 directed a film starring the legendary actor. The film was shot locations such as K R Circle in Bangalore, Abhiman Studio on the city's outskirts, Rama Mandira in Rajajinagar, Kashmir. [4] Mysore's police commissioner Kempaiah has given guidance for star's uniforms in the movie.

The producer of the film had originally planned to have Bhanupriya as the female lead, but she was living abroad having married then. Jayaprada was then chosen as the female lead actor.[5][6][7][8]

Soundtrack

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Shabdavedhi
Soundtrack album by
Released1999 (1999)
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length31:48
LabelMagnasound
Hamsalekha chronology
Naga Devathe
(2000)
Shabdavedhi
(1999)
Hagalu Vesha
(2000)

Hamsalekha composed the film's background score and the soundtrack, also writing lyrics for it. The soundtrack album consists of six tracks.[9]

Track list
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Prema Kashmira"HamsalekhaDr. Rajkumar, Chithra5:20
2."Oh Gelathi"HamsalekhaDr. Rajkumar, Chithra5:16
3."Thayare Thayare"HamsalekhaDr. Rajkumar, Chithra5:10
4."Namma Yejamamrau"HamsalekhaDr. Rajkumar, Manjula Gururaj5:33
5."Baaro Baaro Sri Krishna Baro"HamsalekhaS. P. Balasubrahmanyam5:12
6."Janarindha"HamsalekhaDr. Rajkumar5:17
Total length:31:48

Reception

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Shabdavedhi received mixed reviews from critics.[10]

Critical response

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Rediff wrote "The storyline and its handling added to the feeling of deja vu, as it lacked both the slickness and pace that Kannada movies today have. Perhaps director S Narayan and producer Parvathamma deliberately decided to keep to Rajakumar’s old style of films, without realising that audience tastes have changed now."[10] India Info wrote "There are few loopholes from the director and in the story by senior police officer Vijaya Sasanur that could have been avoided. However, this film is a feat to the innumerable fans of Dr. Rajkumar."[11]

Box office

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Shabdavedhi completed 25 week-run in Kapali Theatre and 100 days in various centres across Karnataka.[12] The film was considered as "movies with good quality" by the Government of Karnataka and was given a subsidy of 10 lakhs.[13]

Controversy

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In the first day of release, a technical snag in the audio system at Kapali Theatre reportedly led audience and Rajkumar's fans to ransack the place causing the owners a loss worth 20 lakhs.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "ರಾಜ್‌ ಹಬ್ಬ: ವರನಟನ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳ ಕನ್ನಡಿ". Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  2. ^ Jabeen, Kauser (3 January 2001). "2000 -- The Kannada story". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ "S Narayan to quit filmmaking". The Times of India. 27 March 2012. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012.
  5. ^ "Rediff on the NeT, Movies: Kannada cinema's biggest superstar makes a comeback!". Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  6. ^ Film Review 2006-2007 - James Cameron-Wilson - Google Books. W.H. Allen. 2006. ISBN 9781905287284. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  7. ^ "Will there be another like him?". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 12 April 2007. Archived from the original on 17 March 2008.
  8. ^ "Belgaum Septuagenarian Kannada Actress Renukamma Murgod No More". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  9. ^ "Shabdavedhi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". iTunes. January 1999. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  10. ^ a b M. D. Riti (21 February 2000). "A violent vision". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Indiainfo:Kannada movie reviews". indiainfo. Archived from the original on 2 June 2002. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Dr. Rajkumar - Annavru, Karnataka Ratna, Kentucky Colonel, Padma Bhushan, Nata Saarvabhouma". Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  13. ^ "20 Kannada films selected for subsidy". The Times of India. 6 December 2001. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Kapali damage put at Rs 20 lakh". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 8 June 2000. Retrieved 20 May 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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Shabdavedhi at IMDb