Geleya
Geleya is a 2007 Indian Kannada-language crime drama film directed by A. Harsha in his directorial debut, focusing on themes of friendship and urban migration.[1][2] The story centers on two close friends, Guru (played by Prajwal Devaraj) and Vishwa (played by Tarun Chandra), who leave their village for Bangalore in search of jobs and a better life, only to become entangled in the city's underworld by joining rival gangs and rising through their ranks by eliminating their leaders.[1][3] Kirat Bhattal portrays Nandini, Vishwa's love interest, while actors like Duniya Vijay and Pooja Gandhi appear in supporting roles.[2] The film was released on October 19, 2007, with music composed by Mano Murthy, and it received mixed reviews, earning a 5.9/10 rating on IMDb based on over 1,000 user votes.[3][1]Synopsis and characters
Plot
Guru and Vishwa, portrayed by Prajwal Devaraj and Tarun Chandra respectively, are inseparable best friends hailing from a rural village in Karnataka. Vishwa works as a bicycle mechanic and harbors deep affection for Nandini, with Guru wholeheartedly supporting their romance despite familial opposition. An unfortunate incident occurs when Guru accidentally damages the village headman's son's car, inciting the wrath of the locals and forcing the duo to flee to Bangalore in pursuit of employment and a brighter future.[3][4][5] Upon arriving in the bustling city, the friends grapple with poverty and odd jobs to survive. Vishwa secures work at a roadside tea stall covertly connected to the underworld don Jayanna, while Guru aligns himself with the rival gang leader Bhandari. Drawn by the allure of quick wealth and power, they begin serving as couriers and enforcers for these opposing factions, staging a fabricated murder to earn the trust of their respective bosses. With Jayanna's approval, Vishwa marries Nandini, solidifying his position within the gang. However, the fragile alliance shatters when Guru impulsively kills Jayanna during a confrontation, devastating Vishwa and igniting his vengeful response as he eliminates Bhandari in retaliation.[4][5][1] This betrayal transforms the once-unbreakable friendship into a brutal enmity, propelling Guru and Vishwa to the forefront of their gangs as they wage a violent turf war across Bangalore's underworld, marked by ambushes, assassinations, and territorial skirmishes. Nandini, now Vishwa's wife, desperately attempts to mediate and restore peace between the former friends, but her pleas fall on deaf ears amid the escalating bloodshed. A determined police officer, played by Duniya Vijay in a guest appearance, is tasked with dismantling the rival syndicates and intervenes decisively to curb the chaos. Pooja Gandhi features in a brief cameo as a celebrity during a musical sequence, adding a fleeting glamorous interlude to the narrative. The story culminates in a tense showdown between Guru and Vishwa, where unforeseen circumstances ultimately reconcile the duo, reaffirming the bonds of their enduring friendship.[4][6][2][7]Cast
The film features Prajwal Devaraj in the lead role of Guru, an ambitious friend who turns to a life of gangsterism, and Tarun Chandra as Vishwa, his loyal counterpart and a bicycle mechanic who aligns with a rival gang.[2][8] Kirat Bhattal portrays Nandini, Vishwa's wife and a central figure in resolving the ensuing conflicts.[9][2] In supporting roles, Mico Nagaraj appears as Jayanna, the underworld don, Kishore Kumar G. as Don Bhandari, the leader of a rival gang, and Neenasam Ashwath in a supporting role, contributing to the ensemble dynamic of the underworld narrative.[8][9] Duniya Vijay makes a cameo appearance as a tough police officer who attempts to mediate the gang warfare.[2] Pooja Gandhi features in a cameo as a celebrity in a song sequence.[7]Production
Development
Geleya marked the directorial debut of A. Harsha, a renowned choreographer who has worked on over 800 songs across various Indian films, making his directorial debut with Geleya.[10] The screenplay was penned by Preetham Gubbi, who crafted a narrative inspired by themes of rural-urban migration, where two village friends relocate to Bangalore seeking better opportunities, only to become entangled in criminal activities that strain their bond.[11] The production was established under the Sri Mookambika Combines banner, with B. Basavaraju, B. K. Gangadhar, A. Venkatesh, and Kadur Umesh serving as producers, and N. Kumar as the presenter.[2] This setup reflected a collaborative effort typical of mid-2000s Kannada independent productions, focusing on emerging talents like lead actor Prajwal Devaraj in his film debut.[8]Filming
Principal photography for Geleya commenced and wrapped up in 2007, prior to the film's theatrical release on October 19 of that year.[2] The production emphasized dynamic action sequences, leveraging director A. Harsha's prior experience as a choreographer who had already completed numerous dance numbers in Kannada cinema by the time of his directorial debut.[12] Harsha handled the choreography for the film, integrating rhythmic elements into its fight and pursuit scenes to enhance the narrative's intensity.[2] Stunt coordination was overseen by Ravivarma, ensuring the execution of high-energy confrontations central to the story's underworld theme.[2] The visual capture was managed by cinematographer S. Krishna, who employed techniques suited to the Kannada industry's action-oriented style during principal shoots.[2] Post-production editing followed, with Deepu S. Kumar refining the footage into a final runtime of approximately 121 minutes.[2]Music
Soundtrack
The soundtrack for Geleya features six songs composed by Mano Murthy, released in 2007 by Anand Audio with a total runtime of 28 minutes and 36 seconds.[13] The album blends romantic ballads and upbeat numbers, with lyrics primarily by Jayant Kaikini, Kaviraj, and V. Nagendra Prasad, capturing themes of friendship, love, and youthful energy central to the film's narrative.[14] The tracks are as follows:| No. | Title | Singers | Lyricist | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ee Sanje Yakagide | Sonu Nigam | Jayant Kaikini | 5:11 |
| 2 | Nanna Stylu Berene | Rajesh Krishnan, Inchara Rao | Kaviraj | 5:14 |
| 3 | Hudugi Male Billu | Karthik, Priya Himesh | Jayant Kaikini | 4:47 |
| 4 | Manasalle Mathaduve | Rajesh Krishnan | Kaviraj | 4:42 |
| 5 | Putagala Naduvina | Praveen Dutt Stephen | Jayant Kaikini | 4:10 |
| 6 | Chaangu Bala Chaangure | Shankar Mahadevan | V. Nagendra Prasad | 3:32 |