Are you ready for these Kannada films?

Even as big budget and hyped films like Sanju Weds Geetha, Prince and Five idiots are awaiting release, four Kannada films -- Rangappa Hogbitna, Kote, One Day and Suicide -- will hit the screens this week.

Ramesh Arvind has over five releases slated this year and first among them to see the light of the day is Rangappa Hogbitna. The actor, who had an uneventful box office outing last year, hopes to make a comeback with this comedy.

"It's very different from the previous comedies that I have done. In those films, the fact that I was cheating on someone, lying to someone or being mistaken for someone else. But here comedy stems out of an incident that could take place in reality," says Ramesh.

Rangappa Hogbitna is a story of a man who is expected to die any moment. Relatives start arriving in the man's house as soon as word spreads that he is on his death bed. It however turns out that the man is in no hurry to kick the bucket and the growing herd of relatives only proves to be problematic for the man's son.

The story also shows how the relatives want the old man to die as soon as possible as they have a lot to gain from his death. "In this film the incidents around one's death are represented in a comic way," adds Ramesh.

The cast also include Sanjana, and several television stars like Sihi Kahi Chandru and Ravi Kiran. Script writer Prasanna is debuting as a director with this film.

Prajwal Devaraj also hopes to put behind his last debacle Nannavanu. He is back this year with Kote. The film will see him play a youth who fights against injustice.

"Many a time we turn a blind eye to the wrong doings done in the society fearing that our fight for justice may affect our family or our career growth. Kote is a film that will inspire one to bring to book wrongdoers whatever the repercussions," explains Prajwal.

The actor plays a youth who moves from Bangalore to Hubli. There he finds himself pitted against a powerful localite who is a terror among the people. "Through the film we have tried to say that once someone becomes courageous enough to resist atrocities, then many more people will support his/her cause," adds the actor.

And does the actor in person also stand up for the right causes? "Absolutely! There have been days when I have taken on officials if they are wrong. I'm also for following rules and have given a piece of my mind to those who break traffic rules."

Traffic rules remind Prajwal of an incident that took place in Dharwad during the shoot. "We were shooting at a lodge and some time into our shooting, a police officer asked me to come to the terrace. When I went there, I saw that thousands of people had gathered to catch a glimpse of me and the whole junction was blocked. After I spoke to them, they cleared the way and went about doing their business. I was overwhelmed with the affection people have for film stars."

The story of Kote, he hopes will further endear him to people. The film he says is special to him as he plays a role that actor father Devaraj has often played. Now that's anyone's guess then that Prajwal will be seen playing a cop in the film.  

The film has two heroines Dimple Chopde and Gayathri Rao. Ravi Shankar, actor Sai Kumar's brother, is playing villain for the first time in Kannada.

Running a government is not about holding meetings in AC rooms but about responding to the needs of people is the one line story of One Day, this week's other release.

Despite becoming independent, India is long way away from progress, is what the film has to say.

"Nothing can be done until people running our system are clean and upright. In our film, we will show how a man in a day points out what needs to be done to set the situation right. It also shows how people who have climbed the success ladder should contribute to the well being of their less privileged contemporaries," says first time director Naveen. 

The film will also expose the other side of 'Garden City' Bangalore. Appu Venkatesh is the hero. Revanna also plays an important role.

A film urging youngsters against committing suicide is also slated for release. Titled Suicide, the film written and directed by first timer Prasad Guru aims at giving out a message to the youth by asking them to desist from killing oneself.

"We thought of making a film on these lines as off late, the number of suicide cases is increasing among the youth. We want to say that death is not the solution to any problem," says Prasad.

There are three main characters in the film. While one will be shown as an escapist trying to run away from a problem by not recognising it, there is another character shown committing suicide due to depression. The third character is shown coming out of a problem by facing it bravely.

"Even contemplating suicide is a crime, is what the film is trying to say," adds Prasad.

Along with Sangeetha Shetty of Moggina Manasu fame, newcomers Hritwik and Kalyani are in the lead. Actors Sharath Lohitashwa and Suchendra Prasad are part of the supporting cast.