Chowka

{{Short description|2017 Indian Kannada-language action drama film}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}} {{Infobox film | name = Chowka | image = Chowka Poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical Poster | director = [[Tharun Kishore Sudhir]] | producer = [[Dwarakish]] Yogish Dwarakish Bungale | writer = [[A. P. Arjun]], [[Simple Suni]], A. V. Chinthan, Anil Kumar, Yoganand Muddan | screenplay = Tharun Kishore Sudhir | story = | based_on = | starring = [[Vijay Raghavendra]] [[Prem (Kannada actor)|Prem]] [[Diganth]] [[Prajwal Devaraj]] [[Aindrita Ray]] [[Priyamani]] [[Bhavana (actress)|Bhavana]] [[Deepa Sannidhi]] [[Kashinath (actor)|Kashinath]] [[Chikkanna]] | narrator = [[Chikkanna]] | music = [[Gurukiran]] [[Arjun Janya]] [[V. Harikrishna]] [[Anoop Seelin]] [[Sridhar V. Sambhram]] | cinematography = [[Satya Hegde]] [[S. Krishna]] Santhosh Rai Pathaje Shekar Chandru Sudhakar S. Raj | editing = K. M. Prakash | studio = {{Plainlist| * [[Dwarakish|Dwarakish Chitra]] * '''Co-produced by:''' * [[United Spirits]] }} | distributor = Mysore Talkies | released = {{film_date|2017|02|03|df=y}} | runtime = 178 minutes | country = India | language = Kannada }}

'''''Chowka''''' is a 2017 Indian [[Kannada]]-language [[action drama film]] directed by [[Tharun Sudhir]], in his directional debut, and produced by [[Dwarakish]], marking his 50th production film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/south-masala/Five-stars-in-Dwarakishs-50th/articleshow/47991155.cms|title=Five stars in Dwarakish's 50th|publisher=[[Bangalore Mirror]]|date=8 July 2015}}</ref> The film features an [[ensemble cast]] of [[Vijay Raghavendra]], [[Prem (Kannada actor)|Prem]], [[Diganth]], [[Prajwal Devaraj]], [[Chikkanna]], [[Aindrita Ray]], [[Priyamani]], [[Bhavana]] and [[Deepa Sannidhi]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Chowka's Teaser to be out on December 1|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2016/nov/28/chowkas-first-look-teaser-to-be-out-on-dec-1-1543584.html|newspaper=The New Indian Express|access-date=28 January 2017|date=28 November 2016}}</ref>

In the first of its kind, the film boasts of employing five [[music director]]s, five [[lyricist]]s, [[cinematographer]]s, five [[art director]]s and five [[dialogue|dialogue writers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moviemint.com/chowka-multi-starrer-with-many-interesting-facts/|title='Chowka': Multi Starrer with many interesting facts|publisher=Moviemint|date=9 July 2016|accessdate=24 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124155420/http://www.moviemint.com/chowka-multi-starrer-with-many-interesting-facts/|archive-date=24 November 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The film was nominated for the [[Filmfare Award for Best Film – Kannada]] and [[Filmfare Award for Best Director – Kannada|Best Director]] at the [[65th Filmfare Awards South]] and won Best director ([[Tharun Kishore Sudhir]]). <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cineloka.co.in/news/item/1110-cineloka-exclusive-chowka-to-be-remade-in-4-languages.html |title=Cineloka Exclusive : Chowka to be Remade in 4 Languages |access-date=19 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320052422/http://www.cineloka.co.in/news/item/1110-cineloka-exclusive-chowka-to-be-remade-in-4-languages.html |archive-date=20 March 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Plot== '''1986 ([[Bangalore]])''': Hakki Gopala is accused of murdering his gangster mentor Jayaraj's rival Sathyaraj and an [[Sub-Inspector|SI]], who were actually murdered by Jayaraj.

'''1995 ([[Mysore]])''': Krishna Rao, who is blamed for the murder of his pregnant friend Maria, who was actually murdered by his insane neighbour.

'''2000 ([[Mangalore]])''': Surya Shetty, who is dragged into a false murder case, which arises political tension.

'''2007 ([[Bijapur]])''': Mohammed Anwar, who is blamed for a bomb blast which was actually committed by Anwar's brother-in-law, who is actually a terrorist.

The friends are all linked with their only friend, Manjunatha aka Manja.

'''2017''': They all meet each other in Central Jail of [[Bellary]]. They meet a school teacher, Vishwanath, who not only shows them hope but also stirs up a passion towards reform in them. They learn that Vishwanath was actually framed for the murder of his daughter, Ramya. When they enquire, Vishwanath reveals that Ramya loved Anand, who is the son of [[Member of Legislative Assembly|MLA]] Krishnamurthy. This had enraged Krishnamurthy and led to Ramya's death, the blame falling on Vishwanath for the murder. The four decide to help Vishwanath in his objective.

After various twists and turns, they manage to escape from the jail by fooling the [[Prison officer|Jailor]] Indira Sharma. When they reach a dense jungle at night, the police arrive and a [[shootout|shootout ensues]], in which Vishwanath is shot and taken to the hospital. The four reluctantly escape with the help of Manja and attack [[Suvarna Vidhana Soudha]] premises in [[Belgaum|Belagavi]], but with no harm is caused.

When Krishnamurthy protests, Anwar shoots his arm, where Krishnamurthy divulges everything, and Vishwanath is proven innocent. After proving Vishwanath's innocence, the four are shot by commandos (due to a toy bomb dropped accidentally by Krishna, causing the commandos to think that they are suicide bombers). Pushpa (Gopala's girlfriend), Bhoomika (Surya's girlfriend), Gowri (Anwar's girlfriend), and Vishwanath watch it with utter disbelief and tear-jerking.

==Cast== {{cast listing| * [[Vijay Raghavendra]] as Surya Shetty * [[Prem (Kannada actor)|Prem]] as Hakki Gopala * [[Diganth]] as Krishna Rao * [[Prajwal Devaraj]] as Mohammed Anwar * [[Priyamani]] as Maria D'Souza * [[Aindrita Ray]] as Pushpa, Gopal's girlfriend * [[Bhavana (actress)|Bhavana]] as Bhoomika, Surya's girlfriend * [[Deepa Sannidhi]] as Gowri, Anwar's girlfriend * [[Avinash Yelandur|Avinash]] as [[Member of Legislative Assembly|MLA]] Krishnamurthy * [[Kashinath (actor)|Kashinath]] as Vishwanath * [[Sharath Lohitashwa]] as Jayraj * [[Abhirami (actress, born 1983)|Abhirami]] as Jailer Indira Sharma * [[Giri Dwarakish]] as Seena * [[Chikkanna]] as Manjunath (Manju) * [[Tabla Nani]] as [[Inspector]] * Ravi Chetan as Inspector *Umesh Punga as Police Jeep Driver *Mohan Kumar *Mahesh Raj *Prashanth Seshadri as a film director *Rajesh Rao as Bijapur Police Commissioner *Mallesh Gowda as Mysore Police officer *Venkata Ram as Bangalore Police Inspector *Sudheer Sudhi *Mico Nagaraj as Sathyaraj *Balaji Manohar *Dingri Nagaraj *Bus Kumar as Lawyer *Vanishree as Anwar's mother *Prakash Shenoy *Jyothi Muroor *Nihal Gowda *Yashwanth Shetty *Raghu Pandeshwar as a waiter *Kari Subbu

=== Cameos === * [[Darshan (Kannada actor)|Darshan]] as Robert * [[Manvitha (actress)|Manvitha Harish]] as Ramya, Vishwanath's daughter * [[Dwarakish]] in song "Alladsu Alladsu" * [[Tharun Sudhir]] in song "Alladsu Alladsu" * [[Prabhakar (Telugu actor)|Prabhakar]] as Jungli * Scarlett Wilson in a song "Adoo Aata Adoo" {{citation needed|date=May 2025}} }}

== Production == Since it was [[Dwarakish]]'s 50th film as a producer, several actors agreed to costar in the film. [[Sudeepa]] and [[Chiranjeevi Sarja]] were initially set to star in the film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/sudeep-and-chiranjeevi-together-in-a-movie/articleshow/48000560.cms|title=Sudeep and Chiranjeevi together in a movie!|via=[[The Times of India]]|date=23 September 2014|work=[[Bangalore Mirror]]|access-date=21 August 2025|first=Shyam Prasad|last=S.}}</ref>

==Soundtrack==

{{Infobox album | name = Chowka | type = Soundtrack | artist = [[V. Harikrishna]], [[V. Sridhar]], [[Arjun Janya]], [[Gurukiran]], [[Anoop Seelin]] | cover = | border = yes | alt = | caption = Soundtrack cover | released = {{Start date|2017|1|25|df=yes}} | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]] | length = {{Duration|m=24|s=56}} | label = [[Anand Audio]] | producer = | chronology = [[V. Harikrishna]] | prev_title = [[Santhu Straight Forward]] | prev_year = 2016 | next_title = [[Raajakumara]] | next_year = 2017 | misc = {{Extra chronology | artist = [[V. Sridhar]] | type = Soundtrack | prev_title = [[Krishna-Rukku]] | prev_year = 2015 | title = Chowka | year = 2017 | next_title = Sarvasva | next_year = 2017 }} {{Extra chronology | artist = [[Arjun Janya]] | type = Soundtrack | prev_title = [[Chakravarthy (2017 film)|Chakravarthy]] | prev_year = 2017 | title = Chowka | year = 2017 | next_title = [[Raaga (2017 film)|Raaga]] | next_year = 2017 }} {{Extra chronology | artist = [[Anoop Seelin]] | type = Soundtrack | prev_title = [[Smile Please (2017 film)|Smile Please]] | prev_year = 2017 | title = Chowka | year = 2017 | next_title = Bangalore Underworld | next_year = 2017 }} {{Extra chronology | artist = Gurukiran | type = | prev_title = [[Nagarahavu (2016 film)|Nagarahavu]] | prev_year = 2016 | title = Chowka | year = 2017 | next_title = [[Aake (film)|Aake]] | next_year = 2017 }} }}

[[V. Harikrishna]], [[V. Sridhar]], [[Arjun Janya]], [[Gurukiran]], and [[Anoop Seelin]] have composed the film's background and scored its soundtrack. Lyrics for the soundtrack were penned by [[Jayant Kaikini]], [[Yograj Bhat]] Siddayaiah Puranic, Santhosh Naik, and Chethan Kumar. The soundtrack album consists of six tracks. It was released on 25 January 2017.

{{Track listing | headline = Track listing | extra_column = Singer(s) | total_length = {{Duration|m=|s=}} | title1 = Turthinalli Geechida | extra1 = [[Sonu Nigam]], [[Antara Mitra]] | music1 = [[Sridhar V. Sambhram]] | lyrics1 = [[Jayanth Kaikini]] | length1 = 4:08 | title2 = Alladsu Alladsu | extra2 = [[Vijay Prakash]] | music2 = [[V. Harikrishna]] | lyrics2 = [[Yogaraj Bhat]] | length2 = 4:13 | title3 = Appa I Love You | extra3 = [[Anuradha Bhat]] | music3 = [[Arjun Janya]] | lyrics3 = [[V. Nagendra Prasad]] | length3 = 4:53 | title4 = Aadoo Aata Aadoo | extra4 = [[Chaitra H. G.]] | music4 = [[Gurukiran]] | lyrics4 = Santhosh Naik | length4 = 4:03 | title5 = Vande Mataram | extra5 = [[Ranjith (singer)|Ranjith]] | music5 = Arjun Janya | lyrics5 = Siddaiah Puranik | length5 = 4:23 | title6 = Party Party Nightu | extra6 = [[Puneeth Rajkumar]] | music6 = [[Anoop Seelin]] | lyrics6 = Chetan Kumar | length6 = 4:21 }}

== Reception == S Viswanath of ''[[Deccan Herald]]'' wrote "Each technical team leaves its indelible imprint. The film climaxes in Ballari jail where the four protagonists are interned following their arrests, and thereafter at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, Belagavi. Veteran actor-director Kashinath, as the maligned father, does a commendable job as the pivot for the foursome’s escape from jail and bringing to book the corrupt Finance Minister played by Avinash. A worthy weekend watch for family".<ref>{{Cite web |title=A rousing call to citizens |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/594709/a-rousing-call-citizens.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202071749/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://www.deccanherald.com/content/594709/a-rousing-call-citizens.html |archive-date=2 February 2022 |access-date=2 February 2022 |website= deccanherald.com}}</ref> A Sharadhaa of ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' wrote "Even Challenging star Darshan’s cameo is justified as he faces off with Baahubali Kalakeya. Senior actor Kashinath and Manvitha’s roles are a surprise. The heroines - Aindrita Ray, Priyamani, Bhavana and Deepa Sanidhi - share less screen space, but add to the charm of the film. Technically all of them have contributed to the film. Credit should go to the music directors for the beautiful songs. Especially the track, Appa I love You, which certainly makes tears rolling down. Watch Chowka for its pragmatic message to all of us"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chowka Review: Many stories, one impressive message |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2017/feb/03/chowka-review-many-stories-one-impressive-message-1566624.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202072021/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2017/feb/03/chowka-review-many-stories-one-impressive-message-1566624.html |archive-date=2 February 2022 |access-date=2 February 2022 |website= newindianexpress.com }}</ref>

Sunayana Suresh of ''[[The Times of India]]'' wrote that "For a film that is three hours long, one does not get tired with narrative's pace and stays with the story till the end. Watch this film if you like multi-starrers that provide commercial entertainment, while not bowing down to being just mindless fun".<ref>{{Cite news |title=CHOWKA MOVIE REVIEW |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/chowka/movie-review/56956577.cms?from=mdr |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202072757/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/chowka/movie-review/56956577.cms?from=mdr |archive-date=2 February 2022 |access-date=2 February 2022 |newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref> Shashiprasad SM of ''[[Deccan Chronicle]]'' wrote "Chowka’ (means four) characters have accepted to live with it. In between, the repetition of a dialogue which is an advertisement for a consumer brand is another low point. Then, a great escape from jail hogs the rest of the journey. An innocent school master serving jail, a sole friend linked to all the four is ‘unbelievable’. An average in the end, ‘Chowka’ is a highly diluted spirit with hardly any kick in it. May be a paisa vasool for the brand associated with it".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chowka movie review: Packaged 'diluted' drama |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/040217/chowka-movie-review-packaged-diluted-drama.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202073054/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/amp/entertainment/movie-reviews/040217/chowka-movie-review-packaged-diluted-drama.html |archive-date=2 February 2022 |access-date=2 February 2022 |website=[[Deccan Chronicle]]}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|20em}}

==External links== *{{IMDb title|6284474}}

[[Category:Indian action drama films]] [[Category:Films scored by Arjun Janya]] [[Category:Films scored by Gurukiran]] [[Category:Films scored by V. Harikrishna]] [[Category:Films scored by Sridhar V. Sambhram]] [[Category:Films scored by Anoop Seelin]] [[Category:Hyperlink films]] [[Category:Indian nonlinear narrative films]] [[Category:Films set in Bengaluru]] [[Category:Films shot in Bengaluru]] [[Category:Films set in 1980]] [[Category:Films set in 1990]] [[Category:Films set in 2000]] [[Category:Films shot in Mysore]] [[Category:2017 action drama films]] [[Category:2017 Kannada-language films]] [[Category:2017 Indian films]] [[Category:Films produced by Dwarakish]]