Gharga
| Gharga | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | M. Shashidhar |
| Written by | M. Shashidhar |
| Produced by | Asshwini Ramprasaad |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Guru Prasad Narnad |
| Edited by | M. Shashidhar |
| Music by | Score
|
Production company | ARC Musicq Pvt Ltd |
Release date |
|
Running time | 118 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Kannada |
Gharga is a 2026 Indian Kannada-language mystery thriller film written and directed by M. Shashidhar and, produced by Ashwini Ramprasad.[1] The film features Arun Ramprasad, P. Sai Kumar and Sampath Raj in important roles.[2]
The film was released theatrically on 6 February 2026.
Plot
The film follows a novelist and researcher who travels to a mysterious village named Gharga while investigating unexplained incidents connected to a missing writer. As he delves deeper into the secrets of the region, he encounters hidden identities, folklore-driven beliefs and criminal conspiracies.
Cast
- Arun Ramprasad as Vikram Adiga aka Aryan
- P. Sai Kumar as Gajanana Aithala
- Sampath Raj
- Rahul Dev
- Dev Gill
- Sravan Raghavendra
- Arun Sagar as Pundarika
- Mithra
- Raagavi Gowda
Music
The soundtrack is composed by Gurukiran, R. P. Patnaik, Shri Hari and C. Girinadh. The background score is composed by Sukumar and Shri Hari
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Vennela Thunaka" | V. Nagendra Prasad | Shri Hari | Nadeera Banu | 3:11 |
| 2. | "Bangi Sediro" | V. Nagendra Prasad | Gurukiran | Vijay Prakash, Gurukiran | 4:29 |
| 3. | "Neenu Nanage" | A. P. Arjun | R. P. Patnaik | Yazin Nizar | 3:53 |
| 4. | "Call Of Rudra" | C. Girinandh | Deepak | 2:22 |
Release and reception
Gharga was released in theatres on 6 February 2026 across Karnataka.[3]
A Sharadhaa of Cinema Express rated it 3 out of 5 and was positive towards the screenplay.[4] Y Maheshwara Reddy of Bangalore Mirror rated it 2.5 out of 5 and stated that, "it is filled with actors, but the roles are so shallow that it is not clear why they appear and disappear from the screen".[5] Susmita Sameera of The Times of India stated it as "an ambitious mystery lost in its own shadows" and gave a rating of 2 out of 5.[6] Deccan Herald rated it 1.5 out of 5 and described it as an ambitious mystery drama that struggles with narrative coherence.[7]
References
- ^ Sharadhaa, A. (5 February 2026). "Gharga producer Asshwini Ramprasad: Cinema is always a gamble". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- ^ "Ashwini Ramprasad's son Arun to debut in a horror thriller". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ^ "Gharga trailer unveiled; Arun Ramprasad's debut locks release date". Cinema Express. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ^ Sharadhaa, A. (6 February 2026). "Gharga Movie Review: Crime and myth effectively come together in this compelling film". Cinema Express. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- ^ Reddy, Y Maheswara (7 February 2026). "Kannada Movie Review–Seat Edge: Part funny, part frightening". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- ^ Sameera, Susmita (7 February 2026). "Gharga Movie Review, Trailer, & Show timings at Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- ^ "Gharga movie review: Ambitious mystery drama lost in chaos". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 11 February 2026.