The loss of icon of Kannada cinema Dr. Rajkumar on April 12 2006 has cast a dark shadow on the Kannada film industry. It is yet to recover from the gloom. Producers and cine workers who were at loggerheads since last three months have resulted in a lull, as development and launch of new films are low.

Nearly 70 films (20 are remake films) were released in the year 2006 with a marginal success of 25 percent. Rememeber that in 2005, 75 films got released with a success rate of 30 percent!

Films like My Autograph, Jothe Jotheyalli, Sevanthi Sevanthi, Chellata, Ajay, Thavarina Siri, Honeymoon Express, Cyanide, Sirivantha, Hubballi, Suntaragali, Kannadadha Kandha recorded good profits at the box office.

The average hits were Baa-Rathi, Mata, Sishya, Mohini, Thananam Thananam, Thenali Rama and Rambha.

The disasters at box office were Gandugali Kumara Rama, Sri, Uppi Dada MBBS, 7 O' Clock, Ramya Chaitra Kala, Hatavadhi, Ambi, Julie, Miss California , Jackpot, Savira Mettilu, Shubam, Pandavaru and Thirupathi.

The star of the year is Sudeep. He turned director with that super hit remake from Tamil 'My Autograph'. His 'Hubballi' was average while Thirupathi was a flop. He appeared in a song in Jackpot and in a guest role in 'Care of Footpath'.

Puneeth Rajkumar and Prem shares the second place with Ajay and Jothe Jotheyali respectively turning out to be hits. It is one hit and one miss for Dr.Vishnuvardhana (Sirivantha and Ninnello Naanalle) and Jaggesh the comedy actor succeeded with three good films – Mata, Honeymoon Express and Thenali Rama. It is a partial success for Darshan as Suntaragali and Jothe Jotheyalli were grosser while Mandya, Datta and Thangigaagi failed at the box office.

The year has been disaster for Upendra (Uppi Dada MBBS, Thandege Thakka Maga and Aishwarya), Shivarajkumar (Gandugali Kumara Rama, Ashoka and Thavarina Siri), Ravichandran (Hatavadhi, Odahuttidavalu, Ravishastri) Murali (Gopi), Aditya (Ambi, Mohini, Madhana).

This has been a pretty good year for actress Ramya while Rakshita was dipped in failures and controversies. Jothe Jotheyalli, Thananam Thananam, Sevanthi Sevanthi. Datta and Julie failed to ring the cash registers. For Rakshita Mandya, Odahuttidavalu, Ninello Naanalle, Suntaragali failed. Hubballi did click but not because of her. The success of Thananam Thananam goes to Ramya as she is the main heroine not Rakshita. All the five releases of Radhika are super flops. Daisy Boppanna had given a moderate performance in Thavarina Siri and Aishwarya.

Among the newcomers, Deepika Padukone has given a striking performance in Aishwarya. It is a good year for Comedy time Ganesh of Chellatta and Deepak of Sishya. Dinakar as director from 'Jothe Jotheyalli' and Guruprasad of 'Mata' remained as promising directors. The new producers S.V.Babu, Jagadish Kotyan, Meena Toogudeepa Srinivas and Rekha Prakash tasted success from their debut.

Among producers, it is S.Narayan who struck gold with films such as 'Sirivantha' and 'Sevanthi Sevanthi'. Producers Rockline Venkatesh, Ramu continued their innings with steady performance.

Guru Kiran failed to get good position this year in five films he scored music. Bharadwaj of 'My Autograph' is at the top as the song of the year is Savi Savi Nenapu….., from the film. For Rajesh Ramanath and Sadhu Kokila it was a bad year. Hamsalekha gave music for two films and clicked. Ravi Dattatreya as debutant clicked in 'Care of Footpath but failed in 'Miss California'.

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