# Jogi (ಜೋಗಿ)
**Jogi** (ಜೋಗಿ) is a 2005 Indian Kannada-language action drama film directed by Prem, starring Shivarajkumar as Madesha, a village youth who drifts into Bangalore's underworld while trying to support his mother, with Jennifer Kotwal and [Arundathi Nag](https://www.edgepedia.org/arundathi-nag) in the other lead roles.[1](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/jogi-2005/) Produced by Ashwini Productions with music by Gurukiran, it was released on 19 August 2005 and became one of the biggest Kannada box-office successes of its era.[1](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/jogi-2005/) • [2](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/kannada-film-industry-rocks-to-jogic-power/articleshow/1227153.cms)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 19 August 2005, Kannada language; main theater Kapali, where it ran 25 weeks[1](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/jogi-2005/) |
| Director and writers | Story, screenplay, and lyrics by Prem; dialogue by Malavalli Saikrishna[1](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/jogi-2005/) |
| Lead cast | Shivarajkumar (Madesha), Jennifer Kotwal (Nivedhitha), Arundathi Nag (Bhagyakka, the mother)[1](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/jogi-2005/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4944434/) |
| Music | Gurukiran; songs include "Chikku Bukku Railu", "Bin Laden", "Ello Jogappa", and "Beduvenu Varavannu", all with lyrics by Prem[1](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/jogi-2005/) |
| First-week business | Grossed up to Rs 40 million (Rs 4 crore) in its first week on a Rs 30 million (Rs 3 crore) budget, described as the best first-week showing by a Kannada film to that time[2](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/kannada-film-industry-rocks-to-jogic-power/articleshow/1227153.cms) |
| Theatrical run | 50 days in about 63 centers and 100-day runs in 45 theaters, per Filmibeat; Prem cites 100-day runs in more than 61 theaters[4](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/movies/jogi/story.html) • [5](https://www.kannadaprabha.com/cinema/news/2020/Aug/19/did-not-direct-remake-of-jogi-because-couldnt-replace-shivanna-with-any-other-actor-director-prem-426294.html) |
| Awards | Karnataka State Film Awards 2005-06: Best Actor (Shivarajkumar), Best Supporting Actress (Arundathi Rao), Best Screenplay (Prem)[1](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/jogi-2005/) |
## Spoilers
### Story
The film follows Madesha, a simple village man deeply attached to his parents. After his father's death, he goes alone to [Bangalore](https://www.edgepedia.org/bangalore) on his relatives' advice to earn a living and keep his mother happy. While searching for work he becomes entangled in an underworld dispute he does not understand, is forced to take up a sword in self-defense, kills a notorious figure, and is sent to jail; the local dons then decide to finish him off. Meanwhile his mother leaves the village and comes to Bangalore to find her son.[1](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/jogi-2005/) The Kannada-language synopsis on Filmibeat describes the same arc: an innocent young man from a small village unknowingly enters the underworld and becomes its biggest rowdy, while his dying mother searches for him in Bangalore without being able to see him one last time.[4](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/movies/jogi/story.html)
The mother-son bond is the film's emotional core. Shivarajkumar has said the whole film is about that bond, and that the opening card featuring his parents, the actor Rajkumar and Parvathamma, blessing the audience is why he believes the film succeeded.[6](https://tv9kannada.com/entertainment/sandalwood/shivarajkumar-talks-about-jogi-movie-explain-how-jogi-movie-win-cinema-news-in-kannada-rmd-948171.html/amp) Director Prem has said the inspiration came from his own mother, Bhagyamma, and that he wanted to portray a mother's life through Arundathi Nag's role.[5](https://www.kannadaprabha.com/cinema/news/2020/Aug/19/did-not-direct-remake-of-jogi-because-couldnt-replace-shivanna-with-any-other-actor-director-prem-426294.html)
## Production and music
Jogi was the third film from director Prem, after the rowdy drama *Kariya* and the love story *Excuse Me*, and the debut venture of the banner Ashwini Productions.[2](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/kannada-film-industry-rocks-to-jogic-power/articleshow/1227153.cms) • [7](https://vijaykarnataka.com/entertainment/news/iconic-kannada-movies-shiva-rajkumar-prem-jogi-film-completes-20-years/articleshow/123407849.cms) Prem has recalled that the story was ready within about 30 minutes, worked out during a walk from Shivarajkumar's Sadashivanagar house to Vijayanagar.[8](https://vijaykarnataka.com/entertainment/news/director-prem-shivarajkumar-starrer-jogi-movie-completes-15-years/amp_articleshow/77626239.cms)
**Music.** Gurukiran composed the score, with Prem writing all the lyrics. The soundtrack includes "Elumale Meleri" ([S. P. Balasubrahmanyam](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-p-balasubrahmanyam)), "Bin Laden" (Gurukiran and [Sonu Kakkar](https://www.edgepedia.org/sonu-kakkar)), "Chikku Bukku Railu" (Hariharan, [Sunidhi Chauhan](https://www.edgepedia.org/sunidhi-chauhan), and B. Jayashree), "Hodimaga Hodimaga", "Ello Jogappa" (Shankar Mahadevan and Sunitha), and "Beduvenu Varavannu" (sung by Prem).[1](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/jogi-2005/) The audio, released about three months before the film, was already making news for record sales before release.[9](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/jogi/20050822.htm) Yana Gupta appeared in a special appearance in the song "Bin Ladennu Nan Maava".[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4944434/) The song "Beduvenu Varavannu" remains popular years later, according to Prem.[5](https://www.kannadaprabha.com/cinema/news/2020/Aug/19/did-not-direct-remake-of-jogi-because-couldnt-replace-shivanna-with-any-other-actor-director-prem-426294.html)
## Box office and reception
The release was preceded by unusual hype: advance bookings for the first four days closed five days before the release date across [Karnataka](https://www.edgepedia.org/karnataka).[9](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/jogi/20050822.htm) The Economic Times reported in September 2005 that the film had grossed up to Rs 40 million (Rs 4 crore) in its first week, described as the first time in Kannada film history that a film had grossed so much in a first week, against a production budget of Rs 30 million (Rs 3 crore).[2](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/kannada-film-industry-rocks-to-jogic-power/articleshow/1227153.cms) A later Daijiworld report put the first week's revenue at over 16.2 million (1.62 crores); the two accounts differ and are attributed here separately.[10](https://daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=43708) A contemporary review on MouthShut reported that tickets with a face value of about Rs 60 were being sold on the black market for up to Rs 1,200, and that the film released simultaneously in more than 80 centers across the state.[11](https://www.mouthshut.com/review/jogi-review-rppploont) Filmibeat Kannada records that the film completed 50 days in about 63 centers and 100-day runs in 45 theaters, and calls it the highest-grossing Kannada film of 2005.[4](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/movies/jogi/story.html)
Critical reception was mixed. Rediff's reviewer wrote that the film justified the hype for fans but might prove soporific for serious movie enthusiasts, and noted that although publicity had suggested an underworld story, the film actually revolves around a mother and son searching for each other in Bangalore.[9](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/jogi/20050822.htm) On IMDb the film holds a rating of 8.1/10 from 721 votes.[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4944434/)
## Legacy
The film's success gave Prem a hat-trick of hits, was described as Shivarajkumar's break into the big league of hits, and marked Jennifer Kotwal's first major Kannada success.[10](https://daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=43708) It is regularly listed among [Kannada cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/kannada-cinema)'s notable gangster films alongside *Om* and *Aa Dinagalu*.[12](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/top-listing/if-you-like-kgf-chapter-2-you-must-watch-these-kannada-gangster-movies-3-1312.html) Prem has said he never directed a remake of the film himself because he could not replace Shivarajkumar with any other actor.[5](https://www.kannadaprabha.com/cinema/news/2020/Aug/19/did-not-direct-remake-of-jogi-because-couldnt-replace-shivanna-with-any-other-actor-director-prem-426294.html) [Anniversaries](https://www.edgepedia.org/anniversaries) of the release have been marked in the Kannada press, with the film described as one of the industry's biggest blockbusters and its songs as having dominated the audio market.[5](https://www.kannadaprabha.com/cinema/news/2020/Aug/19/did-not-direct-remake-of-jogi-because-couldnt-replace-shivanna-with-any-other-actor-director-prem-426294.html)
## References
1. [Jogi – ಜೋಗಿ (2005/೨೦೦೫), Kannada Movies Info](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/jogi-2005/)
2. [Kannada film industry rocks to Jogic power, The Economic Times (11 September 2005)](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/kannada-film-industry-rocks-to-jogic-power/articleshow/1227153.cms)
3. [Jogi (2005), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4944434/)
4. [ಜೋಗಿ ಕಥೆ | Jogi Sandalwood Movie Story, Filmibeat Kannada](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/movies/jogi/story.html)
5. [ನನ್ನಿಂದ ಎಂದಿಗೂ ಇನ್ನೊಂದು 'ಜೋಗಿ' ಚಿತ್ರ ಬರೋಕೆ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ: ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಪ್ರೇಮ್, Kannada Prabha (19 August 2020)](https://www.kannadaprabha.com/cinema/news/2020/Aug/19/did-not-direct-remake-of-jogi-because-couldnt-replace-shivanna-with-any-other-actor-director-prem-426294.html)
6. [Shivarajkumar talks about Jogi movie, TV9 Kannada (11 December 2024)](https://tv9kannada.com/entertainment/sandalwood/shivarajkumar-talks-about-jogi-movie-explain-how-jogi-movie-win-cinema-news-in-kannada-rmd-948171.html/amp)
7. [Iconic Kannada movies: Jogi film completes 20 years, Vijay Karnataka](https://vijaykarnataka.com/entertainment/news/iconic-kannada-movies-shiva-rajkumar-prem-jogi-film-completes-20-years/articleshow/123407849.cms)
8. [Director Prem on Jogi completing 15 years, Vijay Karnataka](https://vijaykarnataka.com/entertainment/news/director-prem-shivarajkumar-starrer-jogi-movie-completes-15-years/amp_articleshow/77626239.cms)
9. [Jogi is good masala!, Rediff.com Movies (22 August 2005)](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/jogi/20050822.htm)
10. [Superhit Kannada Movie 'Jogi' on Zee Kannada, Daijiworld (19 February 2008)](https://daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=43708)
11. [JOGI – The Latest Kannada sensation, MouthShut review (8 September 2005)](https://www.mouthshut.com/review/jogi-review-rppploont)
12. [If You Like KGF Chapter 2, You Must Watch These Kannada Gangster Movies, Filmibeat Kannada (20 April 2022)](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/top-listing/if-you-like-kgf-chapter-2-you-must-watch-these-kannada-gangster-movies-3-1312.html)
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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 Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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