'Neelakanta' catching up with 'Jothe...' on Kannada screen

Bangalore, Dec 28 (IANS) "Jothe Jotheyalli", which will complete 100 days soon, leads the pack of Kannada films this fortnight.

The top five Kannada films are:

1. "Jothe Jotheyalli" - This film starred by Darshan and Prem is still drawing crowds. The film has launched Dinakar as a director.

2. "Neelakanta" - The film was released Dec 22, but the collections of the first five days have been so good that the industry has already declared it one of the biggest hits of 2006. The film's unique selling propositions were extravagant song sequences and actress Namitha's glamourous presence, which turned it into a blockbuster.

3. "Sirivantha" - The film, made on a relatively modest budget, has been a huge success in northern Karnataka and Mysore. The tearjerker continues to draw female and middleclass audiences. Directed by S. Narayan, the film stars Vishnuvardhan and is doing specially well in semi-urban centres.

4. "Hubballi" - The film released in the second week of November had a fantastic opening. But the collections are now beginning to fall. However, the different roles played by Sudeep, it is still managing to draw crowds.

5. "Tenali Rama" - The film is into its third week and the collections are better in Bangalore and Mysore. The comedy has Ramesh Arvind and Jaggesh in lead roles and their on screen chemistry is luring audiences.