Tribute to Soundarya: 'Aaptha Mithra' on top - Kannada Boxoffice

Bangalore, Sep 15 (IANS): It is a posthumous peak for Soundarya. "Aaptha Mithra", her swan song, has Karnataka spellbound.

The following are the top Kannada movies:

1. "Aaptha Mithra": The film is turning out to be the biggest hit of all Vishnuvardhan starrers. The expectation is that the film will gross Rs.10 million in the Bangalore distribution circuit within seven weeks. The film is also proving to be a massive success in other distribution circuits like Mysore, Mandya, Hassan, Davanagere, Chitradurga and Bellary. Heroine Soundarya's tragic death has created a wave of sympathy that has helped the film hugely. But so has the quality of the film. Women are flocking the theatres screening the film.

2. "Bhagawan": Young Hero Darshan has proved his charisma once again at the box office. "Bhagawan", not at all seen as a possible success at its release, has become a surprise winner. Produced by Sa. Ra. Govindoo and directed by Vasu, the film enjoys support from the young audience. May be, the fact that there has been no release of non-Kannada films has helped.

3. "Kanti": Kanakapura Srinivas, busy releasing his "Onkaara", should thank his stars that "Kanti" has not brought him heavy losses, despite its indifferent quality. The film with young Murali and glamorous Ramya in the lead is a slow and surprise winner at the box office. The hope is that the film may do well in the B and C centres also, because of the songs' popularity and the exposure through satellite TV channels for the film. The film got a good opening because of the censor problems it had faced.

4. "Monalisa": The film has proved its worth even in subdistrict centres where it is being released after a hundred days in Bangalore. Now it is inching towards a 150-day run in Bangalore and the collections have still not fallen. The fact that there has been no release of non-Kannada films might have helped in this case, too.

5. "Shuklambaradharam": Despite its quality, the movie did not get a deserved return in many centres. The fact that it has been shot in Gokak in northern Karnataka has made it an attractive proposition for the distributors from that region.