{ "id": "ep2age7m6j", "slug": "duniya", "title": "Duniya (ದುನಿಯಾ)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.kannada-films-before-2010", "label": "Kannada films before 2010", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.kannada-films-before-2010" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "India · 2001 to 2020: Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001", "label": "India · 2001 to 2020", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Duniya (ದುನಿಯಾ) is a 2007 Kannada action drama, Soori's directorial debut, starring Duniya Vijay and Rashmi in their first lead roles. Released 23 February 2007, it won Karnataka State and Filmfare South awards and gave both leads their name prefixes.", "snippet": "Duniya (ದುನಿಯಾ) is a 2007 Kannada action drama, Soori's directorial debut, starring Duniya Vijay and Rashmi in their first lead roles. Released 23 February 2007, it won Karnataka State and Filmfare South awards and gave both leads their name prefixes.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.kannada-films-before-2010", "markdown": "# Duniya (ದುನಿಯಾ)\n\n**Duniya** (ದುನಿಯಾ) is a 2007 Indian Kannada-language action drama directed by Soori in his directorial debut, starring Vijay and Rashmi, both in their first lead roles, alongside [Rangayana Raghu](https://www.edgepedia.org/rangayana-raghu), Kishore, and Yogesh.[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/movies/duniya.html) It was released on 23 February 2007 and became one of the notable successes of that year in [Kannada cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/kannada-cinema), running to a silver jubilee in many centers.[2](https://www.webindia123.com/movie/top/regional2007/kannada/movie.htm) The film's success attached the prefix \"Duniya\" to the names of both its lead actor and its director.[3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2018/feb/04/suri-reacts-to-tagaru-getting-duniya-release-date-1768358.html)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | 23 February 2007, Kannada language, India[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-details/duniya/movieshow/61296500.cms) |\n| Director and writer | Soori, in his directorial debut; he also wrote the story, screenplay, and dialogues[5](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/duniya-2007/) |\n| Lead debuts | Vijay's first film as hero and Rashmi's screen debut[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/movies/duniya.html) |\n| Runtime and certificate | 127 minutes (BIFFes listing); CBFC certificate U/A, dated 29 December 2006[6](https://15th.biffes.org/filmdetails/302) • [5](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/duniya-2007/) |\n| Key crew | Music V. Manohar, background score Sadhu Kokila, cinematography Sathya Hegde, editing Deepu S. Kumar[5](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/duniya-2007/) |\n| State awards | Karnataka State Film Awards 2006-07: Second Best Film, Best Actor (Vijay), Best Supporting Actor (Rangayana Raghu), Best Screenplay (Soori), Best Female Playback Singer (M D Pallavi)[5](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/duniya-2007/) |\n| Filmfare Awards South 2008 | Best Actor (Vijay), Best Actress (Rashmi), Best Female Playback Singer (Nanditha, for \"Kariya I Love You\")[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3227034/awards/) |\n| IMDb rating | 7.7/10 from about 341 user votes[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3227034/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nThe film follows Shivalingu (called Shivu), a poor manual laborer who works breaking rock at a stone quarry.[6](https://15th.biffes.org/filmdetails/302) His mother dies because he cannot afford her treatment, and his resolve to earn a large amount of money leads him down the wrong path, turning him into a criminal.[6](https://15th.biffes.org/filmdetails/302) According to the film's detailed plot summary, Shivalingu comes to [Bangalore](https://www.edgepedia.org/bangalore) from his village after burying his mother, with the ambition of building a tomb for her. He saves Poornima, a poor college student, from a group of rapists; when she is driven out of where she has been staying, the two end up living together. Help comes from a drunkard with underworld connections, and Shivalingu's difficult journey in that environment begins. Hounded by both the police and the underworld, he becomes a victim of deceit, and the film ends when Shivalingu and Poornima take their own lives, unable to bear the hurdles before them.[5](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/duniya-2007/)\n\nThe film was released with the Kannada tagline \"ಯಾರ ಘೋರಿ ಮೇಲೂ ಯಾರು ಯಾಕೆ ಸತ್ತರು ಅಂತ ಬರೆಯಲ್ಲ\" (roughly, no one writes why anyone died over whose atrocity), and it tells the story of two orphaned lovers who are destroyed against the backdrop of the underworld.[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/movies/duniya.html) Reviewers framed the subject as the story of the oppressed and suppressed section of society denied access to quality life, education, and decent living space.[5](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/duniya-2007/)\n\n## Production and crew\n\n**A first film for nearly everyone.** Duniya was produced by T. P. Siddaraju under the Samy Associates banner, with A. T. Lokesh and C. Rudrappa as co-producers.[5](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/duniya-2007/) For director Soori it was the first venture in direction; Vijay, who had been doing small roles in films, was offered a hero's role for the first time, and Rashmi had no previous performing experience.[9](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/3782/kannada/duniya/1072/review.htm) Soori had previously worked as a scriptwriter on Yogaraj Bhat's films *Mani* and *Ranga SSLC*.[10](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssdun/20070226.htm)\n\nThe technical crew included cinematographer Sathya Hegde, an advertising and corporate film cameraman for whom this was a prominent feature-film opportunity; editor Deepu S. Kumar; music director [V. Manohar](https://www.edgepedia.org/v-manohar); and [Sadhu Kokila](https://www.edgepedia.org/sadhu-kokila), who composed the background score.[5](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/duniya-2007/) • [11](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/reviews/2007/duniyareview260207.html) Lyrics were written by V Nagendra Prasad, V Manohar, Ranganath, and Yogaraj Bhat.[5](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/duniya-2007/) The film was certified U/A by the [Central Board of Film Certification](https://www.edgepedia.org/central-board-of-film-certification) on 29 December 2006, with a listed length of 3,656 meters in color Cinemascope.[5](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/duniya-2007/)\n\nThe soundtrack includes the songs \"Kariya I Love You\" (sung by Rajesh Krishnan and Nanditha), \"Nodayya Kwate Lingave\" (M D Pallavi), \"Saala Maadiyaadru Thuppa\", \"Ee Paapi Janara Haalu\", \"Preethi Maaye Hushaaru\", and \"Innomme Neenu Bandu\".[5](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/duniya-2007/) A contemporary review singled out \"Kariya I Love You\", \"Saala Maadidaroo Thuppa Thinnnu\", and the title song as well shot and well composed.[10](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssdun/20070226.htm)\n\n## Reception and awards\n\n**Contemporary response.** Reviewers at the time praised the film's raw, authentic presentation. Rediff's review called it \"refreshingly original\", crediting its presentation, the technical work, and honest performances, and judged Vijay's first lead performance one of the best seen in recent times, with Rashmi \"the real find of this film\".[10](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssdun/20070226.htm) A Filmibeat review described it as raw and authentic, giving a stark display of the slum world and the underworld, and highlighted Sathya Hegde's cinematography, achieved with minimum lighting, along with Sadhu Kokila's background score.[11](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/reviews/2007/duniyareview260207.html) A year-end survey of Kannada cinema named Duniya, Soori's directorial debut, another notable success of 2007, noting its silver jubilee run in many centers.[2](https://www.webindia123.com/movie/top/regional2007/kannada/movie.htm)\n\nThe film won the [Karnataka State Film Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/karnataka-state-film-awards) for 2006-07 in five categories: Second Best Film, Best Actor for Vijay, Best Supporting Actor for Rangayana Raghu, Best Screenplay for Soori, and Best Female Playback Singer for M D Pallavi.[5](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/duniya-2007/) At the [Filmfare Awards South](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards-south) in 2008 it won three awards: Best Actor for Vijay, Best Actress for Rashmi, and Best Female Playback Singer for Nanditha for the song \"Kariya I Love You\".[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3227034/awards/) On IMDb the film holds a rating of 7.7/10 from about 341 votes.[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3227034/)\n\n## Legacy\n\nThe film's success changed how its makers were identified. Vijay became known as \"Duniya\" Vijay, and the film's heroine Rashmi became known as \"Duniya\" Rashmi after her portrayal of an innocent village girl won over Kannada audiences.[3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2018/feb/04/suri-reacts-to-tagaru-getting-duniya-release-date-1768358.html) • [12](https://kannada.oneindia.com/entertainment/duniya-rashmi-now-why-the-kannada-actress-stayed-away-from-movies-after-her-blockbuster-debut-457091.html) Soori likewise carries the prefix \"Duniya\" to his name to this day.[3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2018/feb/04/suri-reacts-to-tagaru-getting-duniya-release-date-1768358.html) In a 2018 interview, when his later film *Tagaru* was scheduled for release on the same February 23 date, Soori said \"Duniya is now a flashback and I am not sure or confident that I can make another Duniya in my film career.\"[3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2018/feb/04/suri-reacts-to-tagaru-getting-duniya-release-date-1768358.html)\n\nDuniya is regularly cited as a turning point in Kannada cinema's mid-2000s wave of original filmmaking, alongside Yogaraj Bhat's *Mungaru Male* (2006).[10](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssdun/20070226.htm) Film-studies accounts list it among the commercially successful Kannada films since 2005, together with *Jogi* (2005) and *Mungaru Male* (2006), that marked a shift toward big-budget filmmaking in the industry.[13](https://www.msuniv.ac.in/images/distance%20education/learning%20materials/ug%20pg%202023/pg%202021/MA%20journalism%20mass%20communication%202023/SJME22-IISem-Film_Studies.pdf) Soori and Vijay worked together again on *Junglee* (2009), a commercial hit, and reports in 2024 indicated a planned reunion of the pair fifteen years later.[14](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/Apr/08/duniya-duo-suri-and-vijay-kumar-to-join-hands-for-another-film) The film's protagonist is also remembered outside the film itself: Vijay gained wide recognition in 2007 for his portrayal of Shivlingu, and the actor has said he still keeps the clothes, bag, and shoes used in the film.[15](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2023/epaper/january/hyderabad-english-edition-2023-01-06.pdf) • [16](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/sandalwood/duniya-vijay-still-keeps-clothes-bag-and-shoes-used-in-duniya-movie-ss87q9)\n\n## References\n\n1. [ದುನಿಯಾ (Duniya) movie page, Filmibeat Kannada](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/movies/duniya.html)\n2. [Hit Kannada Films of the year 2007, Webindia123](https://www.webindia123.com/movie/top/regional2007/kannada/movie.htm)\n3. [Suri reacts to 'Tagaru' getting 'Duniya' release date, The New Indian Express (2018)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2018/feb/04/suri-reacts-to-tagaru-getting-duniya-release-date-1768358.html)\n4. [Duniya Movie: Showtimes, Review, Songs, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos, eTimes / Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-details/duniya/movieshow/61296500.cms)\n5. [Duniya – ದುನಿಯಾ (2007/೨೦೦೭), Kannada Movies Info](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/duniya-2007/)\n6. [ದುನಿಯಾ film details, 15th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes)](https://15th.biffes.org/filmdetails/302)\n7. [Duniya (2007) – Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3227034/awards/)\n8. [Duniya (2007), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3227034/)\n9. [Duniya Movie Review by RGV, Nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/3782/kannada/duniya/1072/review.htm)\n10. [Duniya is refreshingly original, Rediff.com Movies (2007)](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssdun/20070226.htm)\n11. [Duniya Review, Filmibeat (2007)](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/reviews/2007/duniyareview260207.html)\n12. [ಸಿನಿಮಾ ಹಿಟ್‌ ಆದ್ರೂ 'ದುನಿಯಾ' ರಶ್ಮಿ ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗದಿಂದ ದೂರ ಸರಿದಿದ್ದೇಕೆ?, Oneindia Kannada](https://kannada.oneindia.com/entertainment/duniya-rashmi-now-why-the-kannada-actress-stayed-away-from-movies-after-her-blockbuster-debut-457091.html)\n13. [Film Studies course material, M.S. University (SJME22-II Sem)](https://www.msuniv.ac.in/images/distance%20education/learning%20materials/ug%20pg%202023/pg%202021/MA%20journalism%20mass%20communication%202023/SJME22-IISem-Film_Studies.pdf)\n14. [Duniya duo Suri and Vijay Kumar to join hands for another film?, The New Indian Express (2024)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/Apr/08/duniya-duo-suri-and-vijay-kumar-to-join-hands-for-another-film)\n15. [The Pioneer, Hyderabad edition, 6 January 2023](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2023/epaper/january/hyderabad-english-edition-2023-01-06.pdf)\n16. [Duniya Vijay still keeps clothes, bag and shoes used in Duniya movie, Asianet Suvarna News](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/sandalwood/duniya-vijay-still-keeps-clothes-bag-and-shoes-used-in-duniya-movie-ss87q9)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Kannada films before 2010*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/duniya", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/duniya.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Duniya (ದುನಿಯಾ)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/duniya. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Duniya (ದುನಿಯಾ)](https://www.edgepedia.org/duniya)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/duniya](https://www.edgepedia.org/duniya). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Duniya (ದುನಿಯಾ)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/duniya. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Duniya is a 2007 Kannada action drama, Soori's directorial debut, starring Duniya Vijay and Rashmi in their first lead roles." }