Dandupalya (film)
A crime film based on a real gang, with a fictionalized female leader
**Dandupalya (film)** is a 2012 Indian Kannada-language crime film directed by Srinivas Raju. It stars Pooja Gandhi, Ravi Kale, Makarand Deshpande, P. Ravishankar, and Raghu Mukherjee. The story is inspired by the real-life activities of the Dandupalya gang. The film was a moderate success at the box office, becoming one of the higher-grossing Kannada movies of its time and the top-earning Kannada film led by a female actor. It launched the Dandupalya franchise.
The plot follows a gang that commits a series of brutal crimes, including rape, murder, and theft, often for small payments from a corrupt lawyer. Inspector Chalapathi, a determined officer, investigates the pattern of throat-slitting murders. After a tip-off, he captures a gang member selling stolen temple items, leading to the arrest of others. Despite intense torture, the gang remains silent until the inspector uses food to get them to confess. The case goes to court, where a rape survivor testifies, and the judge convicts the gang.
Pooja Gandhi was asked to play Lakshmi, the gang’s leader. She accepted the role reluctantly, fearing negative reactions in the Kannada film industry for portraying such a character. The film received an "A" certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification and was released across Karnataka on June 29, 2012. Telugu and Tamil dubbed versions followed in 2013 and 2014, respectively. The film and its dubbed versions earned a moderate sum domestically against a ₹3 crore budget, running for over 100 days in many centers. The Telugu version, *Dandupalyam*, was well received in Andhra Pradesh, completing a 100-day run in Guntur and Ongole. The Tamil dub, *Karimedu*, produced by Sri Thenandal Films, was released on May 24, 2013, and re-released on September 3, 2021.
A critic from *The Times of India* gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, praising Pooja Gandhi’s performance as Lakshmi, Makarand Deshpande’s acting, Ravi Kale’s work, and Ravishankar’s role as the police inspector. Music by Arjun Janya and cinematography by Venkat Prasad were also highlighted.
A sequel, *Dandupalya 2*, was announced in July 2014 and began production on March 24, 2016. Director Srinivas Raju, music director Arjun Janya, cinematographer Venkat Prasad, and Pooja Gandhi all returned. It released on July 14, 2017, to decent reviews. *Dandupalya 3* (2018) was shot simultaneously with part 2, featur
- Release year
- 2012
- Language
- Kannada
- Director
- Srinivas Raju
- Lead actress
- Pooja Gandhi
- Genre
- Crime film
- Box office
- Moderate success; not a major blockbuster
- Production budget
- ₹3 crore
Lore & Background
The film's plot follows the Dandupalya gang, who commit a series of brutal crimes including murder, rape, and theft. In a fictionalized twist, the gang is led by a woman named Lakshmi, played by Pooja Gandhi—though in reality, the real Dandupalya gang was led by a man named Madesha. Inspector Chalapathi, a hard and intelligent cop, investigates the crimes and eventually captures the gang members after a lengthy interrogation involving torture. The film ends with the gang being sentenced in court, with a sequel promised.
Pooja Gandhi was asked to play the female lead as Lakshmi, the gang leader, and agreed reluctantly due to potential negative talk in the Kannada film industry regarding such female characters. The film was certified 'A' by the Central Board of Film Certification and released across Karnataka on 29 June 2012. Telugu and Tamil dubbed versions were released in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
Reader's Guide
Dandupalya is significant as a commercially successful Kannada crime film that brought attention to the real-life Dandupalya gang. It was a major box office hit, grossing over ₹25 crore against a ₹3 crore budget, and ran for over 100 days in multiple centers. The film is notable for featuring Pooja Gandhi in the lead role, making it the highest-grossing female-led film in Kannada cinema at the time. It sparked controversy for its portrayal of women and a scene where Gandhi appeared topless, which she defended as not being nudity. The film's success led to a franchise, with sequels Dandupalya 2 (2017), Dandupalya 3 (2018), and Dandupalya 4 (2019). Critical reception was mixed, with praise for Gandhi's performance but criticism for its gore and portrayal of police.
Did You Know?
- The film was based on the real-life exploits of a notorious gang named Dandupalya.
- Pooja Gandhi's role as the gang leader Lakshmi made it the highest-grossing female lead film in Kannada cinema at the time.
- The film was dubbed in Telugu as Dandupalyam and in Tamil as Karimedu.
- A sequel, Dandupalya 2, was announced in July 2014 and began production on 24 March 2016.
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