Exciting Kannada releases this week!

Love Is Poison hit the headlines because bikini model turned actress Poonam Pandey was to perform her first item number in the film.

The actress came to public attention when she promised to go nude if the Indian cricket team won the World Cup in 2011.

The lyrics of the item song she performs in Love Is Poison are related to cricket. Shaane ishta cricket… has hit the charts, sung by Mamata Sharma.

This movie was in the news again when the film’s hero, Rajesh died.

Rajesh, a youngster from a rural village, became a celebrity after he won a television reality show.

He fell to his death from the balcony of his second floor flat, stoking rumours that he had committed suicide after his wife walked out on him barely two months after their marriage. The actor was reportedly suffering from bouts of depression.

Rajesh’s first film was the Kannada film Jungle Jackie which didn’t do well. In Love Is Poison he plays a mechanic who falls in love with a girl. His life takes a tragic turn in the movie.

According to director Nandan Prabhu, the film is about rejection in love. “People who are in love, especially youngsters, have to deal with love failure. The film is an attempt to ensure that youngsters do not take impulsive decisions to end their lives if they encounter love failure,” he said.

Prabhu said the film is not based on a real life incident. He said he has tried to give a twist to the story in the climax which is the opposite of what is happening in society.

The film stars Rajesh, Khushi, Dhoohi Kaushik, Sadhu Kokila, Bullet Prakash, Padma Vasanthi and Honnavalli Krishna, among others.

The music is by Sai Kiran and cinematography by Venus Murthy. The film has been shot on location in Bangalore, Mangalore, Chickmagalur and Honnavara.

Typical Kailasa, the other Kannada film release is said to be a fun film.

According to director B N Mallika, the film is about a lazy, unemployed youth. “The hero is a good-for-nothing fellow who believes he need not work or shoulder responsibility. His life changes when a girl comes into it.”

The film stars Srujan Lokesh, son of the late veteran actor Lokesh. The actor became a household name on television with his stand-up comedy acts.

Vrinda Pavana, who shot to fame with the experimental movie Gombegala Love and Jatta is playing the female lead.

Says Vrinda Pavana, “I play the normal girl next door in this film who realises how strong she is as a person after she becomes a go-getter gradually. I think there is an inherent strength in every woman to get what she wants in life.”

Typical Kailasa stars K S Sridhar, Sunder Raj, Srinivasa Prabhu, Omprakash Rao and Padmaja Rao, among others.

The music is by V Manohar and cinematography by Surya S Kiran. Basavaraja Urs, who has edited the movie, is also one of the 15 producers.

The movie has been shot in Bangalore and in other picturesque locales - Mudigere, Kotegehara, Kumta and Honnavara.