Last Updated: November 17, 2023, 15:36 IST
Upendra started writing the story of Om in 1980.
The director of the film once revealed that it wasn’t easy to approach real-life gangsters and make them act in the film.
Shiva Rajkumar starrer Om is one of the iconic films released in 1995. The film, directed by Upendra, was the first Kannada film which was based on gangster drama. The film also starred Prema in the pivotal role revolved around rowdyism and how a gangster quits the negative life and leads a happy life. It’s been 28 years since Om’s release and here are a few trivia about the film that you might have not known.
In 1995, the Kannada cinema had explored many genres but it never touched upon action or crime drama. Om was the first film to do so and became a huge commercial success and created a trend in the industry. Upendra started writing the story of Om in 1980 after hearing a real incident about a don.
Films are the medium for expressing social messages or motivating people and the 1995 film also had the motive for the real-life gangster to leave the underworld life and pursue a clean life. Om had real-life gangsters including Jedarahalli Krishnappa, Bekkina Kannu Rajendra, Korangu Krishna and Tanveer to make sure he delivered the message to people. The director also once revealed that it wasn’t easy to approach them and make them act in the film.
Shiva Rajkumar at that time was an established actor in the Kannada cinema but was not witnessing many hits, but with Om, his career trajectory changed. Since then, the actor and director duo have given many memorable films to the industry.
Om has some evergreen songs composed by Naadha Brahma Hamsalekha which were well received by the audience. ‘Hey Dinakara’ and ‘O Gulaabiye’ are some of the songs which became immortal in the career of the music composer.
Om was re-released in over 400 theatres across Karnataka. In 2015, the film was re-released with Digital Intermediate and DTS for the first time in 100 theatres. It is also a film in Kannada cinema which has been re-released many times. The film’s TV rights were reportedly sold for Rs 10 crore to a private channel. Upendra, Shiva Rajkumar and Prema also won the Karnataka State Film Awards for the film.
