Mungaru Male released in December 2006, is probably the highest grossing Kannada film ever. If comparison is a measure of success - then check out this bit from an article on IBNLive
On an average a Kannada film makes anything between Rs 1 and 2 crore at the box office, but trade pundits suggest that Mungaru Male has made Rs 30 crore.

Why am I telling you this? Simply ‘coz this movie has been showing in good ol’ Pune for more than a week now. After a very successful and houseful-on-weekdays run at E-Square, now this movie is running at City Pride (Satara Road), Apollo, and Vijay to packed houses, and is coming soon to City Pride - Kothrud as well!
In May, I was visiting relatives in Karnataka, and I was asked repeatedly, if I had watched the movie! I did not take the recommendaions very seriously, since I knew there was no way they’re gonna show a Kannada movie in Pune. And seriously - who am I kidding - I had seen exactly one Kannada movie before this - Jeevanachaitra starring the late Dr Rajkumar way back in 1992. Imagine my surprise, when it turned up on the Bookeazy search! To add to the wonders, a 100% Maharashtrian friend of mine, jumped with eagerness at the thought of watching a Kannada movie. Mind you, she understands no Kannada. Isn’t it great to have friends always willing for an adventure?
Well, the experience was totally worth it! The movie is good. Kannadigas are touting it as the best film ever, but I’m a little more cautious. Possibly, since I have no benchmarks to go by. The rain-drenched movie looks like a dream… Shot entirely in Karnataka, it has some mind-blowing visuals of the Jog Falls. The cinematography is enhanced by perky and mellifluous numbers - sung by popular artists like Sonu Nigam, Kunal Ganjawala, Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal, and Udit Narayan. The dialogues, are something to watch out for - especially the ones written for the hero Ganesh.
Charming and chubby-faced Ganesh gets some of the best lines. His easy chemistry with his co-stars make him very very likeable as the chilled-out lover-boy Preetam. It wouldn’t be a mistake to say, the movie rests quite steadily on his shoulders. But another force to reckon with is veteran Anant Nag. Many enthusiastic movie-goers will recognise him from the critically-acclaimed Anahat. His act as the hard-of-hearing ex-military man adds comic relief, ably supporting the main lead.
Kannadigas will need no incentives to watch the movie. But for others - do watch the movie, if you’re in for something different. The movie itself is good, irrespective of the novelty quotient of watching a “foreign-language movie”. The actors are good, the story is engaging and the scenic beauty of Karnataka in the rains is refreshing! Take a look, if you don’t believe me
–
~ Anagha Bhat.
Click here to search for and book movie tickets to Mungaru Male.

38 responses so far ↓
1 Rohit Ramachandraiah // Jun 19, 2007 at 9:48 am
Excellent Review Anagha..
For all those who missed the action at E-Square, last week, catch this movie at Citypride (Satara Road), now playing at 9.45 AM and this weekend at City Pride (Kothrud)..
Kannada movies have hardly been released outside Karnataka, mainly due to the lack of interest among kannada film makers. But ‘Mungaru Male’, has proved that Kannada movies do have the stuff, to compete with big bollywood movies outside Karnataka too!!!!
The success of Mungaru Male in Pune has proved this beyond doubt. On sunday, 17th June, 2007 , due to the huge demand for tickets, for Mungaru Male, an extra screening was arrnaged, which was also packed to full capacity.
The youthful dialogues, mesmerising music and eye-catching cinematography, has had the Pune film goers spellbound.
Donot miss this treat..
2 Chidananda // Jun 19, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Fentastic Anagha…
It was really a wonderful show..
3 Anagha // Jun 20, 2007 at 1:36 am
Thanks Rohit!
I hope to watch more other-language movies now!
4 Rohit Ramachandraiah // Jun 23, 2007 at 11:05 am
Thanx to you too, Anagha
Inspite of all the hype about Sivaji, ‘Mungaru Male’, the first Kannada Movie, being released in a Multiplex in Pune, is creating wonders at the box-office.
It is now back with a bang at 5 theatres in Pune from 22nd June, 2007
E-Square 7.30 PM
Citypride (Satara Road) 10 AM, 3 PM
Citypride (Kothrud) 8 PM
Mangala 10 AM
Vijay 3.30 PM
Surely, a great time assured to all Punekars in ‘Pre-Monsoon Rain’ (Mungaru Male)
5 nandy // Jun 24, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Thanks angha fro gr8 review
6 satish // Jun 24, 2007 at 10:44 pm
plz visit www.viggy.com for overwhelming discussion about Mungaru Male which has around 50 pages till now with more that 3000 replies and 50000 views
u will see all information about Mungaru male and its success in Karnataka and still running at 100+ theates even its 27th week
www.
7 Arvind // Jun 29, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Amazing movie. I couldn’t resist writing an IMDB review and awarding it 10 stars.
The title song was cut midway in pune. Is it shown in bangalore?
8 sagar // Jul 1, 2007 at 10:36 am
thanks for giving such grte move
9 satish // Jul 3, 2007 at 4:49 am
IS IT RUNNING HOUSEFULL IN PUNE?
10 satish // Jul 3, 2007 at 4:50 am
THE TITLE SONG IS PLAYED ONLY HALF EVEN IN KARNATAKA..
U FEEL THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD IF THE WHOLE SONG WAS PICTURISED
11 rashmi nayak // Jul 5, 2007 at 3:08 am
excellent movie..
nearly houseful in Citypride
12 sudha // Jul 7, 2007 at 12:33 pm
hai ganesh acting was very much i am enjoying the movie all the best ganesh.
13 shannon // Jul 11, 2007 at 7:22 pm
it is the re-entry of the glory of kannada movies after 20 years.
mungaru male the launch pad for other kannada movie producers.
ganesh the heart of movie already got the title
golden ganesha from comedy ganesha as previously known.
14 gladvin murphy.t // Jul 13, 2007 at 4:45 am
one of the best modern movies ever seen in the world hatts off for the author & both the actors,director we the people are speech less i wish i could see the up coming movies but no kannada movies in canada.i miss my country&karnataka a lot.
gladvin murphy
toronto, Canada
15 dolly // Jul 16, 2007 at 3:33 am
Mungaru Male completing 200 days in Karnataka today
16 sanjana // Jul 16, 2007 at 3:33 am
will mungaru Male be re-released in E square?
17 venki72 // Jul 24, 2007 at 1:21 am
munguru male is equal to movie GEETA
if geeta is still ever green for me/everyone so mugaru male is equal to that………just fantastic…………..i would luv to tell me children to hear to mugaru male rather than geetha, coz it’s to my genertation………to my children genreration its MUGARU MALE… only………..
18 venki72 // Jul 24, 2007 at 1:24 am
MUNGARU MALE is just superb and fantastic…………as our generation still remembers GEETA movie………the next generation, ie my children will remember MUNGARU MALE forever………coz the songs are just great and melodious , WE JUST LUV munguru male………forever
19 Tejaswi // Jul 26, 2007 at 6:36 pm
MANOMURTHY IS THE PERSON FOR THE VICTORY OF THIS FILM I ADMIRE HIS TALENT
20 amul khandekar // Jul 29, 2007 at 1:40 am
Mungaru Male grand 50 days in Pune.. first kannada movie to run for 50 days// g8 achievement
hope it will have 100 days run
21 Ganesh Nag // Jul 31, 2007 at 12:29 pm
hi am also i fan of mungaru male.. i have watched it 5 times in Tumkur(karnataka). am am in pune.. i really missed his two films.. Hudugata and ch4eluvina chittara.. could u plz try to put that film in pune.. so that v can watch those film to.. cheluvina chittara is superrr,,, its a remake of tamil film..
22 Ganesh Nag // Jul 31, 2007 at 12:30 pm
plz mail to my id.. ganesh.naga@bcone.com on any news regarding kannada film in pune.. plzzz
23 DARSHAN.R // Aug 16, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Ganesh you have made Kannada Industry Proud. Keep up the good work and wish you all the best.
24 Santhosh Kumar // Aug 21, 2007 at 10:42 am
Its the best movie that i have seen in my life time. i am really proud that our kannada film industry has given such an outrageous movie to the world. whole of the industry should be very thankful to the Mungaru Male Team for giving such a movie to the industry and lifting the industry when it was in a very disgusting position. My special Thanks and Congratulations to Ganesh. You are our own guy. Show your middle finger to Punith Rajkumar and tell him “look where i am now” He cant reach you at any cost. all the best and have bright future.
25 padma // Sep 14, 2007 at 2:33 pm
this is very nice, bestoflack
26 prasanna // Sep 20, 2007 at 1:52 pm
kannada film industry is giving superb films.please try to release nice movies through out south india like telugu ,tamil movies.there is lakhs of kannada moviegors waiting for kannada movies
27 charan RVCE // Sep 27, 2007 at 1:17 pm
wonderfull sceneries,songs,superb acting
28 veeresh // Oct 2, 2007 at 12:49 am
i am really esctatic to know that a kannada movie is doing well even outside karnataka. i wish more such movies are produced as this is one of the ways to promote kannada language and culture.
veeresh from hubli
29 Prakash // Oct 3, 2007 at 9:12 pm
For the information,Mungaru Male is released in Kerala and in cities like Kochi,Trivendrum etc the movie had got native viewers.
even in Tamil Nadu,this movie is released?
Now i think kannada films are really taking a upward graph.kannada language may be easily understood by anyone from Andhra,Tamil Nadu,Kerela etc.
for,I can easily understand most of the kannad films as the language got similarity to both Tamil and Telegu.
30 rajath // Nov 8, 2007 at 3:17 pm
hi how are you happy deepawail
31 Thara.K // Nov 16, 2007 at 4:01 pm
hi!!!!!!!!!! I am Thara This is from Hassan
I great fan Mr:Ganesh I miss u Ganesh
32 shanmukha S // Jan 29, 2008 at 4:30 pm
hi ganesh it is realay good film. no body execpting the film mungur male
33 S K G Rao // Feb 13, 2008 at 10:14 pm
If all movies are made like this we can beat Bollywood.
We will be Bangallwood or something.
34 Sharan Aiyanna // Feb 14, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Realay good film & I love Ganesh
35 ranganath // Apr 3, 2008 at 9:44 pm
this is a relay good film all should watch it their is something on this film which all can learn something from it
36 Rajashekar // Apr 25, 2008 at 10:50 am
A beautiful movie that every body has to enjoy.
37 ananya // Jun 17, 2008 at 4:07 pm
superb movie.exellent acting by ganesh and pooja gandhi.
38 Anil // Jul 11, 2008 at 11:25 am
Happy to see all these comments…
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