# Appu (ಅಪ್ಪು) (2002 film)
**Appu** (ಅಪ್ಪು) is a 2002 Kannada-language romantic action film written and directed by [Puri Jagannadh](https://www.edgepedia.org/puri-jagannadh), produced by [Parvathamma Rajkumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/parvathamma-rajkumar) under the Poornima Enterprises banner, and starring [Puneeth Rajkumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/puneeth-rajkumar) in his first leading role opposite Rakshita in her screen debut.[1](https://www.moviebuff.com/appu-2002-kannada) • [2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/puneeth-rajkumars-debut-film-appu-clocks-20-years/articleshow/91099276.cms) Released on 26 April 2002, it was a major commercial success, ran for 200 days in theaters, and was remade in Telugu as *Idiot*, in Tamil as *Dum*, and in Bengali as *Priya Amar Priya* (2008).[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/puneeth-rajkumars-debut-film-appu-clocks-20-years/articleshow/91099276.cms) • [3](https://chiloka.com/movie/appu-2002)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 26 April 2002, Kannada language, India[1](https://www.moviebuff.com/appu-2002-kannada) |
| Director / producer | Puri Jagannadh (also story and screenplay); Parvathamma Rajkumar, Poornima Enterprises[1](https://www.moviebuff.com/appu-2002-kannada) • [4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/appu-2002/) |
| Lead debuts | Puneeth Rajkumar's first film as a leading man; Rakshita's first film[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/puneeth-rajkumars-debut-film-appu-clocks-20-years/articleshow/91099276.cms) • [5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/news/2025/Mar/11/puri-jagannadh-shivarajkumar-introduced-me-to-a-beautiful-soul-puneeth-rajkumar) |
| Music | Gurukiran; the song "Taliban Alla Alla", sung by Puneeth Rajkumar with lyrics by Upendra, became a hit[5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/news/2025/Mar/11/puri-jagannadh-shivarajkumar-introduced-me-to-a-beautiful-soul-puneeth-rajkumar) |
| Runtime and certificate | 140 minutes; CBFC certificate U dated 23 April 2002[4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/appu-2002/) |
| Box office | About ₹15 million (₹1.5 crore) budget; distributors report roughly ₹110 million (₹11 crore) collected[6](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/news/puneeth-rajkumar-first-film-appu-released-23-years-ago-box-office-collection-report-096827.html) |
| Remakes | Telugu *Idiot*, Tamil *Dum*, Bengali *Priya Amar Priya* (2008)[3](https://chiloka.com/movie/appu-2002) |
## Spoilers
### Story
Appu, the title character played by Puneeth Rajkumar, comes from a lower middle-class family and is the son of a police constable. After picking up a fight in college he injures himself, and Suchitra (Rakshita) donates blood to save him; the two fall in love. Her father, a police commissioner, opposes the relationship because Appu is a constable's son, and the story follows how the couple responds to this opposition.[7](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/appu-2002) • [8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12282108/)
## Production and casting
Puneeth Rajkumar, the youngest son of the [Kannada cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/kannada-cinema) star [Dr. Rajkumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/dr-rajkumar), had been a successful child actor before a long break from the screen; *Appu* marked his return and his first film as an adult leading man.[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/opinion-entertainment/puneeth-rajkumar-46th-birthday-7231345/) The title came from his own nickname, chosen by his brother Shivarajkumar.[10](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/feb/27puneet.htm) The heroine, an actress originally named Shwetha, was renamed Rakshita for the film.[10](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/feb/27puneet.htm) Puri Jagannadh, then known as a Telugu director, has said that Shivarajkumar introduced him to Dr. Rajkumar and Parvathamma Rajkumar, which is how the project came about; the film was his Kannada directorial debut.[5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/news/2025/Mar/11/puri-jagannadh-shivarajkumar-introduced-me-to-a-beautiful-soul-puneeth-rajkumar)
The supporting cast included Avinash as the police commissioner and Suchitra's father, Srinivasa Murthy as head constable Venkataswamy, Sumithra, Ashok, Satyajith, Vinayak Joshi, Bullet Prakash, and Honnavalli Krishna.[7](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/appu-2002) Dialogue was written by M. S. Ramesh, with lyrics by [Hamsalekha](https://www.edgepedia.org/hamsalekha), K. Kalyan, Sriranga, and Upendra; cinematography was by K. Dattu, editing by S. Manohar, and stunts by Ram Shetty.[4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/appu-2002/)
## Music
Gurukiran composed the soundtrack, released on Akash Audio. Songs included "Jolly Go Jolly Go" ([Shankar Mahadevan](https://www.edgepedia.org/shankar-mahadevan)), "Ellinda Aarabhavo" and "Baare Baare Kalyana" ([Udit Narayan](https://www.edgepedia.org/udit-narayan) and [K. S. Chithra](https://www.edgepedia.org/k-s-chithra)), "Aa Devara Haadidu" and "Panavidu Panavidu" (Dr. Rajkumar), and "Thaliban Alla Alla", sung by Puneeth Rajkumar with lyrics by Upendra.[4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/appu-2002/) The songs were hits before the film's release, and "Taliban Alla Alla" in particular spread among young audiences; the soundtrack's success contributed to the film's strong opening.[6](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/news/puneeth-rajkumar-first-film-appu-released-23-years-ago-box-office-collection-report-096827.html) • [5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/news/2025/Mar/11/puri-jagannadh-shivarajkumar-introduced-me-to-a-beautiful-soul-puneeth-rajkumar)
## Reception and box office
The film opened on 26 April 2002 in more than 150 theaters, according to distributor-sourced reporting, and drew house-full shows on its first day.[6](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/news/puneeth-rajkumar-first-film-appu-released-23-years-ago-box-office-collection-report-096827.html) It ran for 200 days in theaters.[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/puneeth-rajkumars-debut-film-appu-clocks-20-years/articleshow/91099276.cms) A year-end trade roundup in *Chitraloka* called it a mega hit and one of the year's silver jubilee (A film running 25 weeks in theaters, a hit milestone) films.[11](https://archive.ph/COObv) Distributor-sourced figures put the production cost at about ₹15 million (₹1.5 crore) and the collection at about ₹110 million (₹11 crore).[6](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/news/puneeth-rajkumar-first-film-appu-released-23-years-ago-box-office-collection-report-096827.html)
## Remakes and influence
Puri Jagannadh remade the film in Telugu as *Idiot* (2002) with [Ravi Teja](https://www.edgepedia.org/ravi-teja), which itself became a success and was remade further across Indian languages; the Tamil version was *Dum* with Simbu, and a Bengali version, *Priya Amar Priya*, followed in 2008.[12](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/puri-jagannadh-the-man-who-launched-careers-is-now-trying-to-relaunch-his-own-10897991/) • [3](https://chiloka.com/movie/appu-2002) The film gave Puneeth Rajkumar the affectionate title "Appu", by which he was known for the rest of his career.[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/puneeth-rajkumars-debut-film-appu-clocks-20-years/articleshow/91099276.cms)
## Re-release and availability
On 14 March 2025, marking what would have been Puneeth Rajkumar's 50th birth anniversary, PRK Productions re-released *Appu* in theaters in collaboration with Jagadeesh Films.[5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/news/2025/Mar/11/puri-jagannadh-shivarajkumar-introduced-me-to-a-beautiful-soul-puneeth-rajkumar) The film is available for streaming on JioHotstar, free with advertisements.[7](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/appu-2002)
## References
1. [Appu (2002) on Moviebuff.com](https://www.moviebuff.com/appu-2002-kannada)
2. [Puneeth Rajkumar's debut film 'Appu' clocks 20 years, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/puneeth-rajkumars-debut-film-appu-clocks-20-years/articleshow/91099276.cms)
3. [Appu (2002) Kannada movie: Cast & Crew, Chiloka](https://chiloka.com/movie/appu-2002)
4. [Appu – ಅಪ್ಪು (2002), Kannada Movies Info](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/appu-2002/)
5. [Puri Jagannadh: 'Shivarajkumar introduced me to a beautiful soul – Puneeth Rajkumar', Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/news/2025/Mar/11/puri-jagannadh-shivarajkumar-introduced-me-to-a-beautiful-soul-puneeth-rajkumar)
6. [Puneeth Rajkumar first film Appu released 23 years ago box office collection report, Kannada Filmibeat](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/news/puneeth-rajkumar-first-film-appu-released-23-years-ago-box-office-collection-report-096827.html)
7. [Appu streaming: where to watch movie online?, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/appu-2002)
8. [Appu (2002), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12282108/)
9. [On Puneeth Rajkumar's 46th birthday, we look at the star's hits and misses, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/opinion-entertainment/puneeth-rajkumar-46th-birthday-7231345/)
10. [The return of the son, Rediff Movies (2002)](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/feb/27puneet.htm)
11. [2002 Year Round Up, Chitraloka](https://archive.ph/COObv)
12. [Puri Jagannadh: The man who launched everyone else's career is now trying to relaunch his own, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/puri-jagannadh-the-man-who-launched-careers-is-now-trying-to-relaunch-his-own-10897991/)
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*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*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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