‘Appu’ re-release: How an anti-hero film propelled the rise of Puneeth Rajkumar in Kannada cinema
The Hindu
‘Appu’, Puneeth Rajkumar’s debut as a hero, has had a re-release. The film, directed by Puri Jagannadh, was a blockbuster, completing 100 days at the box office
In 2002, before the release of Puneeth Rajkumar’s debut film Appu, journalist Ravi Belagere whipped up a storm with his cover-page article in his popular tabloid Hai Bangalore. Writing about the buzz around the film, he posed a big question to his readers: Can the final horse from the stables of Dr Rajkumar’s family win the race?
Thespian Rajkumar was an iconic figure in Karnataka, and his eldest son, Shivarajkumar, had become a star. However, Raghavendra Rajkumar, Shivarajkumar’s second younger brother, couldn’t establish himself as an actor despite his first few films (Nanjundi Kalyana) doing well at the box office.
“Can the Rajkumar family produce another star? That was the big question in people’s mind ahead of Appu,” recollects film critic S Shyam Prasad. “Poornima Enterprises (also called Vajreshwari Combines), run by Puneeth’s mother, Parvathamma Rajkumar, was a huge production house. The banner was set to launch Puneeth, and there was some legacy at stake for sure,” he opines.
“Acting in the film felt like shouldering a huge responsibility,” says Rakshita, the film’s female lead who made her acting debut with the movie.
Released on April 26, 2002, Appu mocked those who underestimated the project with its blockbuster run. A new star was born.
Superstar Rajinikanth, talking at the 100-day celebration event of the movie, called Puneeth a simhada mari (lion’s son), hinting at Puneeth’s ability to carry forward his father’s legacy. “It was a dream launch for a heroine,” admits Rakshita. “I am forever grateful to the film team for putting my career in the right direction.”
A remastered 4K version of Appu hit the screens on March 14, 2025, as a part of Puneeth’s 50th birth anniversary celebrations. Today, one can suppose that the excitement around the movie has more to do with the actor’s untimely demise due to cardiac arrest at 46 years old in 2021 than the film itself.
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