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Preethse
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Preethse
DVD cover
Directed byD. Rajendra Babu
Written bySomaraj (dialogues)
Screenplay byD. Rajendra Babu
Story byHoney Irani
Yash Chopra
Produced byRockline Venkatesh
StarringShiva Rajkumar
Upendra
CinematographyP. K. H. Das
Edited byShyam Yadav
Music byHamsalekha
Production
company
Rockline Entertainments
Distributed byRamu Films
Release date
  • 7 January 2000 (2000-01-07)
Running time
147 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageKannada

Preethse (transl. Love Me) is a 2000 Indian Kannada-language psychological thriller film starring Shiva Rajkumar, Upendra and Sonali Bendre. The film was directed by D Rajendra Babu and produced by Rockline Venkatesh. A major part of the film was shot in Australia as well. The film is a remake of the 1993 film Darr. The film was dubbed in Telugu as Sadist.[1] Preethse was the second highest grossing Kannada film of the year 2000 behind Vishnuvardhan's Yajamana. It ran for 25 weeks and became Upendra's third consecutive blockbuster after A and Upendra.[2]

Plot

[edit]

The film begins with Kiran (Sonali Bendre), a college student, returning home to her brother (Ananth Nag) and his wife (Vanitha Vasu) for Holi celebrations and being obsessively stalked along the way by Chandra (Upendra), her classmate who has a crush on her. Kiran's boyfriend Surya (Shiva Rajkumar) is a Commander (Special Forces) and is on a mission to free a child hostage from some terrorists on the high seas. Surya saves the child hostage. Surya's Captain is also the father of Chandra, Admiral Ashok Rao. Chandra tries to be friendly with Surya in order to be closer to Kiran.

When Kiran reaches home, she is continually stalked by Chandra on the phone. This causes much stress to herself and her family. He crashes Kiran's family's Holi celebrations incognito as a member of the band. Surya asks Kiran to offer the band some money for their performance, where Chandra, veiled in Holi colours, whispers "I love you, K-K-K-Kiran" to Kiran, which disturbs her greatly and a foot chase ensues to find the hooligan who's invaded their house, but Chandra soon disappears into the crowd.

When Chandra receives the news of Kiran and Surya's engagement, he tries to shoot and kill Surya when the couple is out shopping for a wedding ring. He misses his aim and Surya begins to chase him. Chandra narrowly escapes being recognized by Surya.

Kiran and Surya get married, but Chandra still refuses to give up on Kiran. He defaces the newly married couple's home with graffiti declaring his love, causing more distress to them. To get away from the stalker, Surya takes Kiran on a surprise honeymoon to Switzerland. Learning their location through devious means, Chandra turns up at their hotel in the Alps. Kiran recognizes him from college and the couple welcomes him to be part of their festivities. That very evening, Surya finds out from Kiran's brother that Chandra is the one who has been Kiran's stalker all along. He sends Kiran away on a boat and confronts Chandra. Chandra tries to run, but Surya catches up with him in a forest where they have a fight. Chandra stabs Surya with a knife after feigning surrender, and leaves him for dead. He then goes to the boat and tries to forcefully abduct Kiran; he wants to marry Kiran without her consent. But Surya comes back and brutally beats Chandra. While Surya is beating Chandra, Kiran tells Surya to kill Chandra which will give her a peaceful life. Those words will make Chandra realise that only his death will give Kiran a peaceful and happy life. He then proceeds to shoot himself with a gun and dies by saying "I LOVE YOU K-K-K-K-KIRAN". Kiran and Surya then return to India and reunite with their family.

Cast

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Production

[edit]

It marks Sonali Bendre's debut Kannada film and also reunited Shivrajkumar and Upendra after Om. [3][4][5] Sunil Kumar Desai was originally chosen as the film's director.[6] The filming was held at Australia.[7]

Soundtrack

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

A critic from Rediff.com wrote that "On the whole, if you can switch your mind off these concerns and are just looking for an afternoon of mindless entertainment, full of loud music, melodrama, passion and fantasy, this movie is worth watching".[8] Online Bangalore wrote "It is to the credit of Director D.Rajendra Babu to have changed some points from the original film to suit the taste of the present day audience and also to reduce the length of the movie by nearly 30 minutes. He has also extracted good performances from all the lead artists and the technical expertise that has gone into the making of the film, can only be termed as top class".[7] Vani Nagendrappa of Indiainfo wrote "Director D Rajendra Babu has once again proved his merit. Talking about creativity maybe out of place in a scene to scene remake like this. With a few unplugged holes here and there, it is a good production, the first of its kind in Kannada moviedom".[9]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Preethse

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from Grokipedia
Preethse is a 2000 Indian Kannada-language film directed by and produced by . The film stars , Upendra, and in lead roles and runs for 2 hours and 27 minutes (147 minutes). As a of the Bollywood film , Preethse explores a tense in which a falls in with one man while being obsessively stalked by another. The narrative builds suspense around the woman's boyfriend's efforts to confront the stalker, highlighting themes of obsession and pursuit. The soundtrack, composed by , received critical acclaim and earned him the Award for Best Music Director – . Released on 7 January 2000, the film became the second highest-grossing Kannada release of the year, running for 25 weeks in theaters and marking Upendra's third consecutive blockbuster.

Development and pre-production

Project announcement

The project for Preethse was undertaken by producer under his banner Rockline Entertainments, marking another remake effort following his earlier adaptations of Telugu and Tamil films in . The project was announced in late 1999, with underway by January 2000. The film serves as a Kannada adaptation of the 1993 Hindi psychological thriller Darr, directed by Yash Chopra, which centers on themes of obsession within a love triangle involving a woman's romantic interest and a stalker's fixation. Key creative decisions positioned Preethse firmly in the psychological thriller genre, emphasizing suspenseful exploration of emotional turmoil and pursuit. Produced as a big-budget venture for early Kannada cinema, the project allocated resources for international shooting sequences, reflecting Venkatesh's ambition to elevate production scale in the regional industry. Approximately 25% of the film, including three songs, was shot in .

Casting process

was cast in the lead role of , the fiancé and later husband of the female protagonist, drawing on his established reputation as an action-hero in to anchor the film's romantic-thriller elements. To suit the character's youthful dynamics, Rajkumar underwent a physical transformation, shedding weight for a slimmer appearance that marked a departure from his typical rugged persona. Upendra was selected for the pivotal antagonistic role of the obsessive Chandra (also referred to as Chandru), a decision that highlighted his rising versatility following his directorial ventures and acting debut in the late . His portrayal was tailored with a subdued intensity, featuring shoulder-length hair, facial hair, and sunglasses to differentiate from the original remake's flamboyant , emphasizing a more menacing subtlety. Sonali Bendre was chosen as the female lead Kiran, marking her debut in after successes in films, with her selection aimed at infusing the romantic-thriller with Bollywood appeal and strong on-screen chemistry in high-stakes dynamics. Her costumes were styled in a trendy manner, reportedly reflecting her personal input to enhance the character's modern allure. The supporting cast included as Vijay, Kiran's brother, who returned to acting after a two-year break to bring gravitas to the familial role. was assigned the part of the sister-in-law, portraying a lighthearted counterpart to Nag's character. Additional roles featured K.V. Manjayya in a minor capacity and Srinath as Chandra's father, contributing to the ensemble's depth without overshadowing the leads. S. Bhaskar also appeared in a supporting function, rounding out the key assignments. Director oversaw the final casting integrations after initial project developments, ensuring alignment with the remake's narrative from the 1993 film . Producer played a central role in these choices, prioritizing commercial viability by assembling a star-driven lineup to maximize audience draw and entertainment value.

Synopsis and characters

Plot summary

Preethse follows the story of Kiran, a young woman who returns home for celebrations and begins developing a romantic relationship with , a dedicated naval commander. Their budding romance is marked by tender moments and growing affection, setting the foundation for their future together. Parallel to this, emerges as an obsessive fixated on Kiran, having fallen into a deranged love for her after glimpsing her in everyday settings. He begins spying on her relentlessly, following her movements and invading her personal space, such as caressing her in an and carving her name into his chest as a of his devotion. His intrusions escalate from subtle to overt threats and acts of violence, instilling fear in Kiran and disrupting her life. As the tension rises, Surya discovers Chandra's obsessive behavior and confronts him, leading to intense chases and physical altercations that heighten the stakes. Despite their efforts to escape the threat, Chandra's pursuit continues even after Kiran and Surya marry, turning their union into a battleground of fear and protection. The narrative explores themes of unhealthy obsession, terror, and the protective instincts of love, adapted to local Kannada cultural contexts while echoing the structure of its inspirational source. In the climax aboard a ship, and engage in a brutal confrontation. However, , realizing the depth of Kiran's love for , dramatically takes his own life, declaring his existence revolved solely around her. The film concludes with Kiran and finding resolution and solace, free from the shadow of obsession.

Cast and roles

The lead role of , Kiran's protective fiancé who evolves from an unaware lover into a determined avenger confronting the central threat, is played by . Upendra portrays (also referred to as Chandru), the unhinged stalker whose obsessive pursuit reveals shades of a dual personality, descending into escalating madness throughout the narrative. stars as Kiran, the innocent college student and victim ensnared in the obsession, whose arc shifts from initial fear to growing resilience amid the escalating dangers. In supporting roles, plays Vijay, Kiran's elder brother who offers familial support and injects moments of into the tense dynamics. appears as Vijay's wife and Kiran's sister-in-law, enhancing the portrayal of protective household bonds. K.V. Manjayya features in an ancillary role as a elder or associate, contributing to the background interpersonal conflicts, alongside other performers in minor parts such as friends and secondary antagonists who amplify the story's confrontations. No or special appearances are noted in the production.

Production

Principal photography

Principal photography for Preethse took place primarily in 1999, ahead of its January 2000 release. A significant portion of the film, including and coastal sequences, was shot in to capture scenic backdrops for key thriller elements. The production adapted intense action sequences from the film (1993), such as chases, fights, and confrontations, with particular emphasis on Upendra's portrayal of the obsessive character. P. K. H. Das employed thriller aesthetics, utilizing shadows, close-ups, and dynamic framing to heighten tension during these scenes. Shooting wrapped efficiently by late 1999 with minimal reshoots, representing a streamlined process for a at the time.

Music and soundtrack

The music for Preethse was composed by , a prominent figure in known for his melodic and lyrical contributions. He crafted six songs that integrate romantic elements with underlying tension, aligning with the film's narrative centered on obsession. Hamsalekha also penned the lyrics for all tracks, emphasizing emotional depth through a mix of upbeat and introspective compositions. The features a diverse array of singers, including established playback artists from South Indian and Bollywood industries, to enhance the songs' appeal. Recording took place in 1999 at professional studios in Bengaluru, with overseeing the sessions to ensure the melodies captured the film's dual tones of love and suspense. The songs were picturized during , often featuring the lead actors—such as the title track "Preethse Preethse" on Upendra and —to visually reinforce the obsessive romance theme. The full track listing of the soundtrack is as follows:
Track No.TitleSingersDuration
1Holi Holi, , , 6:20
2Preethse PreethseHemanth Kumar5:21
3Sai Sai PreethsaiHariharan, 6:53
4Yaarittari ChukkiHariharan, 6:14
5Surya Obba, , Srinivas5:27
6Yaaru Illa Saati, 2:32
In addition to the songs, composed the background score, which incorporates tense orchestral elements to heighten the thriller's suspenseful sequences without overpowering the narrative. The was released by Akash Audio on 21 2000, generating significant buzz in music circles due to Hamsalekha's reputation and the inclusion of popular singers. It achieved popularity among Kannada audiences, with tracks like "" becoming enduring favorites.

Release

Theatrical distribution

Preethse premiered on January 7, 2000, in theaters across , with distribution handled by Rockline Productions. The film received a U/A rating from the (CBFC), with an approved runtime of 147 minutes. Following its premiere, Preethse achieved a wide theatrical release throughout , primarily in its original language. A dubbed Telugu version, titled Sadist, was also released to expand its reach in Telugu-speaking regions. The film's marketing efforts capitalized on the star power of leads and Upendra, alongside the anticipation surrounding its status as a of the 1993 Hindi thriller . Trailers and promotional posters prominently featured the duo's intense portrayals, underscoring the elements to generate buzz among audiences.

Home media and availability

Following its theatrical release, Preethse was made available on formats, including DVD, distributed by Sri Ganesh Video with audio rights held by Akash Audio. Retailers such as Kannada Store continue to offer the DVD edition, featuring the full film without noted special features like deleted scenes. As of November 2025, the film is accessible via digital streaming on platforms including for subscription viewing in select regions and Apple TV for purchase or rental internationally. Individual songs from the soundtrack are freely available on through the official Akash Audio channel, which has uploaded lyrical videos and audio tracks since 2016. No major remastered versions or re-releases have been produced for home media. The film's extended 25-week theatrical run helped sustain interest in these post-theatrical formats among audiences.

Reception and legacy

Critical response

Upon its release, Preethse received mixed reviews from critics, who appreciated certain performances while critiquing its formulaic narrative as a . A review from described the film as "an afternoon of mindless entertainment, full of loud music, , passion and fantasy," highlighting its appeal as light viewing despite its lack of depth. The same critique praised Upendra's portrayal of the obsessive Chandru as intensely compelling, noting it as a major draw for audiences. Critics lauded Shiva Rajkumar's depiction of the heroic Surya for his enhanced screen presence and charismatic authority, particularly in action sequences that showcased his slimmer, more dynamic physique compared to prior roles. Sonali Bendre's performance as the vulnerable Kiran was also commended for bringing emotional nuance to her Kannada debut, though her trendy costumes were seen as a visual highlight rather than a narrative strength. However, weaknesses were evident in the predictable twists borrowed directly from the source material Darr, with the plot's reliance on familiar thriller tropes diminishing suspense and originality. Thematically, Preethse explores and obsession within the context of Indian romantic thrillers, but it softens the horror of these elements by romanticizing the stalker's pursuit, leading audiences to sympathize with him rather than view his actions as threatening. This adaptation localizes the story for audiences by incorporating naval themes, such as Surya's role as a commander on a high-seas mission, which adds a layer of patriotic heroism. Such portrayals reflect broader trends in regional Indian cinema, where is often dramatized through cultural lenses like military valor to heighten emotional stakes. In retrospective assessments, Preethse has garnered a positive user rating of 7.7 out of 10 on as of 2025, with viewers appreciating its thriller elements and intense pacing in the dynamic. The film received the Award for Best Music Director – Kannada for Hamsalekha's , though Upendra's obsessive performance continued to earn acclaim for its psychological depth and star power.

Commercial success and impact

Preethse achieved notable commercial success as a super hit within the film industry, capitalizing on the star power of Shivarajkumar and Upendra in their first major on-screen collaboration. The film's remake status from the Bollywood Darr contributed to its strong audience appeal, particularly among urban viewers in familiar with the original narrative of obsession and romance. The success of Preethse marked a pivotal point in Upendra's career trajectory, following his directorial successes with A (1998) and Upendra (1999), and demonstrated his versatility by transitioning to an intense antagonistic role as the obsessive . Although it did not secure major awards, the film established a commercial benchmark for psychological thrillers, influencing the genre's exploration of dark romantic themes like in subsequent productions. Its enduring popularity is evident through ongoing fan engagement and availability on home media platforms.

References

  1. https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/movies/preethse.html
  2. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-details/preethse/movieshow/65240966.cms
  3. https://chiloka.com/movie/preethse-2000
  4. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11374042/
  5. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11374042/plotsummary/
  6. https://www.facebook.com/MovieMartMedia/posts/876214436198329
  7. https://www.rediff.com/movies/2000/jan/31preet.htm
  8. https://www.rediff.com/entertainment/2000/jan/31preet.htm
  9. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11374042/fullcredits/
  10. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/did-you-know/sonali-bendre-has-acted-with-shivarajkumar-and-upendra/articleshow/44922852.cms
  11. https://bookmetickets.com/content/upendra-movies/
  12. https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/preethse/0-0-101696
  13. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/phoren-craze-leaves-producers-dry/articleshow/34201238.cms
  14. https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/preethse/KEQ7KHG-Hfg_
  15. https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/08/10/preethse-2000/
  16. https://music.apple.com/us/album/preethse-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1072704917
  17. https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/preethse-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-hamsalekha/mwu1i84sqrgza
  18. https://open.spotify.com/album/6HkzuOqe38jVUZ8i1RqEqM
  19. https://www.kannadastore.com/preethse-2000-dvd-p-1163.html
  20. https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/preethse
  21. https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/preethse/umc.cmc.h5g4wen3hlall9w1ax7ct2sd
  22. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3y2iA3d9Bo-RxSD3n484Jw
  23. https://www.rediff.com/entertai/2000/jan/31preet.htm
  24. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/photo-features/best-friends-in-kannada-film-industry/photostory/65300414.cms
  25. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/valentines-special-kannada-films-that-show-the-dark-side-of-love/photostory/80786591.cms
  26. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bangalore-times/meet-upendra/articleshow/9992566.cms
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