‘Premada Oorali’: Is this Kannada film worth the hype?

The Kannada film ‘Premada Oorali’, an emotional family drama directed by National Award-winner Manoj Kumar, is enjoying a surprise success in theatres, despite leaning on familiar emotions and missing a modern touch in its making

Updated - September 29, 2026 06:47 pm IST

Shree Raam and Thapaswini Poonacha in ‘Premada Oorali’. | Photo Credit: JRM Studio/YouTube

The biggest challenge of watching a movie after it’s been hyped on social media is shutting out the noise and focusing on the film itself. The Kannada movie Premada Oorali(meaning ‘In the Land of Love’)hit the screens on Friday (September 25, 2026). According to reports, the movie’s offline promotions were great, with posters plastered on autorickshaws and massive hoardings adorning busy areas of Bengaluru. The movie hadn’t spurred conversations on social media before the release.

However, by Sunday night, something remarkable had happened. X (formerly Twitter) was buzzing with reviews of Premada Oorali, with many calling it “the film of the year”. The Kannada film fraternity hadn’t felt this kind of excitement around a small-scale film since the Raj B Shetty-produced Su From So (2025). That said, the comparisons between the two movies end there.

Kannada film watchers are increasingly demanding simple stories. Perhaps they are tired of movies fumbling the pan-India template. This sentiment could be favouring Premada Oorali, which has got a whopping 250-plus shows in Karnataka on its fifth day, after starting its theatrical run with just 60. Manoj Kumar, a National Award winner for his debut Akshi (2021), delivers a simple film that blends a father-son bond with a love story complicated by trust issues.

Ramika Shivu and Shree Raam in ‘Premada Oorali’. | Photo Credit: JRM Studio/YouTube

The village drama has elements that will resonate with the rural crowd, which is perhaps the makers’ target audience. Naganna (Rangayana Raghu) raises his son Santhu (Shree Raam) as a single parent after the death of his wife. The father-son relationship takes the usual over-sentimental route we see in generic dramas. Naganna, who raises Santhu to be a passionate farmer, wants an educated daughter-in-law, given his son’s lack of academic achievement. What if Santhu falls for an urban girl (Thapaswini Poonacha)?

Manoj Kumar’s filmmaking has the familiar, straightforward quality of a television soap. The emotions lack subtlety, and almost every important scene is heightened by a strong background score. As if the characters’ tears weren’t enough, they express sadness in the pouring rain. The movie might work with regular viewers of television dramas, who are used to this form of entertainment. Incidentally, the lead cast — Shree and Ramika Shivu — are popular small-screen actors.

ALSO WATCH Watch: Rangayana Raghu interview: I love roles that make me think

Old-school village dramas are never out of fashion, but one expects a modern touch, at least in the filmmaking, to make the movie feel fresh. Premada Oorali has no memorable shots, nor does it handle its theme with nuance. The film wants to champion farmers’ cause, but the treatment remains superficial. The trust issues between the lead couple remind you of Anant Nag’s Gaali Maathu (1981), which dealt with the destructive nature of societal gossip. But the movie never ventures into the complex areas of this conflict, and sticks to excessive melodrama.

ALSO READ: ‘Heggana Muddu’ movie review: Poorna is brilliant in a relationship drama undone by its contradictions

Despite the backdrop’s conservative reality, village dramas can be lively and even riveting, but Premada Oorali remains a bland experience. The humour is listless, and the conflicts are resolved by convenient coincidences.

Premada Oorali squanders a great opportunity to explore an urban young woman’s perspective on village life. It would have worked well as a love triangle if Ramika Shivu’s character had more prominence. Though she is written as a typical tomboyish character, Ramika delivers a spirited performance, and so does Shree. It’s the performances that kept me invested in the movie, with Rangayana Raghu giving his all yet again. Sunaad Gowtham’s melodious songs are the real pillars of the movie, which perhaps is enjoying more hype than it deserves.

Premada Oorali is currently running in theatres

Published - September 29, 2026 05:34 pm IST

Kannada cinema / Indian cinema / entertainment (general) / reviews / cinema / cinema / Kannada

Terms & conditions | Institutional Subscriber

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.