Darshan Thoogudeepa Marks 25 Years In Cinema With This Unique Storytelling Ritual

Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, son of the renowned actor Thoogudeepa Srinivas, needs no introduction in the film industry. He made his remarkable debut in the lead role in the 2001 film Majestic, which turned out to be a blockbuster, setting the stage for a successful career. Since then, Darshan has delivered a string of hits including Kariya, Namma Preethiya Ramu, Kalasipalya, Gaja, Saarathi, Chingari, Kranti Veera Sangolli Rayanna, Bulbul and Ambareesha, among others. Beyond his acting prowess, Darshan possesses another distinctive quality – his penchant for listening to stories.

Having completed 25 illustrious years in the industry and featured in over 50 movies, Darshan has developed a unique habit of meticulously listening to narratives. He emphasises the importance of directors personally narrating the script to him, regardless of who has penned it. According to Darshan, this practice enables him to grasp his character intricately, ensuring a deeper understanding of the storyline and his role within it. He advocates for directors to be actively involved in conveying the vision and essence of their films through storytelling.

In his recent venture, Kaatera, although the script was written by Jadesh Kumar Hampi, Darshan credits director Tharun Sudhir for narrating the entire storyline to him. He believes that such interactions facilitate better comprehension of the project, enabling him to portray his character authentically throughout the film.

Kaatera is an action-packed drama featuring Darshan and Aradhana Ram in her debut, along with Jagapathi Babu, Kumar Govind, Vinod Kumar Alwa, Danish Akhtar Saifi and Shruti in supporting roles. The film boasts music by V. Harikrishna cinematography by Sudhakar, S. Raj and editing by K. M. Prakash. Produced by Rockline Venkatesh, the storyline revolves around a real-life incident set in a 1970s village in Karnataka.

Principal photography for Kaatera commenced on August 5, 2022, with filming locations spanning Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Released on December 29, 2023, the film received acclaim from critics and emerged as the highest-grossing Kannada film of 2023, solidifying Darshan’s stature as a powerhouse performer in the industry.