Kishoreganj: While *KGF* took the audience by storm, it wasn’t the film that set the record for the highest earnings in the Kannada film industry. A lesser-known movie, *Mungaru Male*, holds the distinction of being the highest-grossing Kannada film in history, a fact that might surprise many who assumed *KGF* held the crown.
Made on a modest budget of approximately 7 million Indian rupees, *Mungaru Male* grossed around 75 crore, creating an unparalleled milestone. Typically, a film that doubles its budget is considered a “superhit,” and one that earns significantly more is deemed a “blockbuster.” However, *Mungaru Male* shattered expectations by earning over 100 times its budget, setting a rare benchmark. The film also ran in theaters for over a year, another remarkable record.
Directed and written by Yogaraj Bhat in 2006, this romantic drama featured newcomers Ganesh and Pooja Gandhi. Released on December 29, the film gradually gained popularity and celebrated a “golden jubilee.” It ran for 460 consecutive days at Bengaluru’s PVR Multiplex, an unprecedented achievement. *Mungaru Male* became the first Kannada film to gross nearly 50 crore worldwide, with a total collection of 75 crore, of which 57 crore came from Karnataka alone, earning it the status of an “industry hit” in the state.
Moreover, it holds the record as the first film in Karnataka to run for over 865 days and the first Indian film (in any language) to be screened continuously in a multiplex for over a year. Its box office record remained unbroken in the Kannada industry for over a decade.
The film was later remade in Telugu as *Vaana*, in Bengali as *Premer Kahini*, in Odia as *Romeo – The Lover Boy*, and in Marathi as *Premaya Namaha*.
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