Pushpa 2 actor Dhananjaya to lead Kannada magnum opus Nadaprabhu Kempegowda

Actor-producer Dhananjaya announced his next project on Thursday, titled Nadaprabhu Kempegowda. This film, the most expensive in Dhananjaya's career, may also become one of the most expensive productions in the history of Kannada cinema.

"Magnum opus project of Kannada history... The Bengaluru’s Historical Saga begins!" tweeted Dhananjaya. The poster shows Dhananjaya in the getup of Kempegowda against the backdrop of a battleground.

Seasoned filmmaker TS Nagabharana will write and direct this historical movie, marking his second collaboration with Dhananjaya. Previously, the actor-director duo worked together on Allama, inspired by the 12th-century philosopher Allama. Allama was a critical success and won multiple National Film Awards.

Nadaprabhu Kempegowda appears to be designed as a spectacle film, with the first look poster suggesting many ancient battle scenes.

Nadaprabhu Kempegowda is celebrated as the founder of Bengaluru city, which has now grown into a global technology hub. Kempegowda lived in the 16th century and served as a chieftain under the Vijayanagara Empire. He laid the foundation for the city by building the Bangalore Fort. He is also celebrated for constructing around 1,000 lakes in Bengaluru, which served as a source of drinking water and irrigation for agriculture. Additionally, he is noted for his various social reforms, which abolished regressive cultural practices.

Kempegowda holds a special place in the hearts of all people across Karnataka, especially among the natives of Bengaluru.

On the career front, Dhananjaya is awaiting the release of Pushpa 2: The Rule. Starring Allu Arjun in the lead role, Pushpa 2 is one of the most-awaited movies across the country. Dhananjaya played a key supporting role in the film, which is written and directed by Sukumar.

Pushpa 2 was expected to be released in cinemas on August 15. However, it was recently postponed due to production reasons.

Dhananjaya's recent Kannada movie Kotee was released in cinemas last week and has garnered positive reviews.

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