# Karki (film)
**Karki** (Kannada: ಕರ್ಕಿ) is a 2024 Indian Kannada-language drama film directed by Pavithran, a remake of the 2018 Tamil film *Pariyerum Perumal*, that follows a lower-caste law student confronting caste discrimination while pursuing education and justice.[1](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2024/Sep/19/caste-and-social-commentary-to-take-center-stage-in-jai-prakash-reddys-karki) It stars Jai Prakash Reddy as Muthathi Muthuraj and Meenakshi Dinesh as Jyothi Mahalakshmi, with [Sadhu Kokila](https://www.edgepedia.org/sadhu-kokila), Bala Rajwadi, Yathiraj, and Mimicry Gopi in supporting roles.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32857098/fullcredits/) The film was produced by Prakash Palani under the banner Third Eye Media and released in [Karnataka](https://www.edgepedia.org/karnataka) theaters on 20 September 2024.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/karki-is-a-tale-of-resilience-in-a-caste-bound-society/amp_articleshow/113512528.cms) • [4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2024/09/20/karki-2024/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Language and genre | Kannada drama; tagline "Naanu BA, LLB"[4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2024/09/20/karki-2024/) |
| Source material | Remake of Mari Selvaraj's Tamil film *Pariyerum Perumal* (2018)[1](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2024/Sep/19/caste-and-social-commentary-to-take-center-stage-in-jai-prakash-reddys-karki) |
| Director | Pavithran, a veteran Tamil filmmaker, in his Kannada directorial debut[5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/interviews/2024/Sep/17/pavithran-for-a-filmmaker-cinema-transcends-language) |
| Release | 20 September 2024 (India); 153 minutes; CBFC certificate U/A[4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2024/09/20/karki-2024/) |
| Lead cast | Jai Prakash Reddy (Muthathi Muthuraj), Meenakshi Dinesh (Jyothi Mahalakshmi), Sadhu Kokila[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32857098/fullcredits/) |
| Music | Arjun Janya, with lyrics by Kaviraj; background music by Abhay Anand[4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2024/09/20/karki-2024/) |
| Streaming | Sun NXT, from 20 June 2025, about nine months after the theatrical release[6](https://www.ottplay.com/news/latest-kannada-ott-releases-june-16-june-22-to-watch-on-prime-video-jiohotstar-netflix-sony-liv-theatres-and-more/ba67980250723) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and themes
The story centers on Muthuraj, a young man from a lower caste who leaves his village because of limited opportunities and enrolls to study law, where he meets [Jyothi Lakshmi](https://www.edgepedia.org/jyothi-lakshmi), a student from an upper caste.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/karki-is-a-tale-of-resilience-in-a-caste-bound-society/amp_articleshow/113512528.cms) • [7](https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/south/karki-kannada-film-ott-release-date-announced-all-you-need-to-know-article-152000048) Both aspire to become lawyers, and Muthuraj dreams of fighting for the rights of the oppressed; the film depicts the caste-based discrimination and violence they face.[7](https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/south/karki-kannada-film-ott-release-date-announced-all-you-need-to-know-article-152000048) Producer Prakash Palani described the film as a commentary on social justice in a society still grappling with education and caste discrimination, and said the intent was to deliver a societal message within a commercial package without being preachy.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/karki-is-a-tale-of-resilience-in-a-caste-bound-society/amp_articleshow/113512528.cms)
A distinctive element is the bond between Muthuraj and his pet dog, named Kargi, which plays a pivotal role in the story; actor Jaya Prakash described the film as narrating the relationship between Kalabhairava and a dog, the dog being considered the deity's vehicle.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/karki-is-a-tale-of-resilience-in-a-caste-bound-society/amp_articleshow/113512528.cms) • [8](https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/south-masala/karkis-team-all-excited-ahead-of-films-grand-release/articleshow/113465994.cms) The closing line, spoken by Muthuraj to an upper-caste character, translates as a statement that nothing changes in society.[9](https://flickfeeds.com/karki-kannada-movie-review/)
## Production
Pavithran was a prominent Tamil director in the 1990s with films such as *Suryan*, *I Love India*, *Indhu*, and *Kalloori Vaasal*, and had made his mark with his directorial debut *Vasanthakala Paravai*, starring [Ramesh Aravind](https://www.edgepedia.org/ramesh-aravind); *Karki* followed a hiatus that included his 2018 film *Dharavi*.[5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/interviews/2024/Sep/17/pavithran-for-a-filmmaker-cinema-transcends-language) He said key elements were taken from *Pariyerum Perumal* but the story was adapted to fit the Kannada context, exploring class struggle, love, and social commentary while remaining commercially appealing.[5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/interviews/2024/Sep/17/pavithran-for-a-filmmaker-cinema-transcends-language)
Producer Prakash Palani, a fan of the actor Dr Rajkumar, had previously produced and distributed about 20 films mostly in Tamil; *Karki* was his first Kannada production, and he declined suggestions to make it in Malayalam, saying he was from Karnataka and wanted it in Kannada.[1](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2024/Sep/19/caste-and-social-commentary-to-take-center-stage-in-jai-prakash-reddys-karki) • [8](https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/south-masala/karkis-team-all-excited-ahead-of-films-grand-release/articleshow/113465994.cms) The crew included cinematographer [Rishikesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/rishikesh), editors Sri Crazy Mindz and Raaj Krss, and composer [Arjun Janya](https://www.edgepedia.org/arjun-janya), whose songs carry lyrics by Kaviraj.[4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2024/09/20/karki-2024/)
The film was shot across Karnataka, including Shivamogga, Davanagere, Hubballi, Kolar, Bengaluru, and Channapatna; sequences involving dogs were filmed in Kyasinakere, a village the team chose after searching for dog caretakers, and in [Tirunelveli](https://www.edgepedia.org/tirunelveli) in [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu).[10](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2025/karki-ott-release-date-platform-when-where-to-watch-pavithran-social-drama-film-online-468929.html) • [8](https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/south-masala/karkis-team-all-excited-ahead-of-films-grand-release/articleshow/113465994.cms) Jai Prakash Reddy, known as JP, began as a child artist in K Balachander's Kannada film *Sundara Swapnagalu* (1986) and had his lead break with *Whatsapp Love* (2019); for *Karki* he lost six kilograms for the role of Muthuraj.[1](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2024/Sep/19/caste-and-social-commentary-to-take-center-stage-in-jai-prakash-reddys-karki) • [3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/karki-is-a-tale-of-resilience-in-a-caste-bound-society/amp_articleshow/113512528.cms)
## Release and reception
*Karki* reached theaters on 20 September 2024 with a certified runtime of 153 minutes.[4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2024/09/20/karki-2024/) The *New Indian Express* reviewer A Sharadhaa called it a thoughtful, heartfelt adaptation that stays true to the original, praising Jayaprakash's performance as the determined law student and Meenakshi's portrayal of the upper-class girl, while finding Sadhu Kokila's comic relief flat and noting that the cinematography did not consistently match the film's emotional depth; she rated it 3 of 5.[11](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/review/2024/Sep/21/karki-movie-review-this-thoughtful-heartfelt-adaptation-stays-true-to-the-original) The Flick Feeds review, rating the film passable, highlighted the climax image of a flower landing between two glasses of coffee as signifying that good wins over evil.[9](https://flickfeeds.com/karki-kannada-movie-review/) On IMDb the film holds a user rating of 7.3 out of 10 from 235 votes.[12](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32857098/)
The theatrical run drew little attention at the time, and the film reached streaming on Sun NXT from 20 June 2025, about nine months after release; Filmibeat reported the streaming date as 11 July 2025.[6](https://www.ottplay.com/news/latest-kannada-ott-releases-june-16-june-22-to-watch-on-prime-video-jiohotstar-netflix-sony-liv-theatres-and-more/ba67980250723) • [10](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2025/karki-ott-release-date-platform-when-where-to-watch-pavithran-social-drama-film-online-468929.html) • [7](https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/south/karki-kannada-film-ott-release-date-announced-all-you-need-to-know-article-152000048) Pavithran also stated that the same story would be adapted into Hindi under the title *Dhadak 2*.[5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/interviews/2024/Sep/17/pavithran-for-a-filmmaker-cinema-transcends-language)
## Other films with the same title
A separate Nepali-language film, *Karki Saina* (also reported as *Karki Shaila* or *Karki Saila*), directed by Rajendra Basnet and starring Jitu Nepal and Priyanka Acharya, was filmed in Dhankuta and Sunsari in eastern Nepal and released in cinemas on 18 September 2026; it follows a porter who resolves to marry within seven days after being teased for remaining single.[13](https://english.ratopati.com/story/75069/teaser-of-karki-saila-which-depicts-the-neglect-of-villagers-and-the-pain-of-marriage) • [14](https://english.nepalnews.com/s/main-left/nepal-news-evening-briefing-monday-august-17-2026/) • [15](https://www.thefilmnepal.com/movie/karki-shaila)
## References
1. [Caste and social commentary to take center stage in Jai Prakash Reddy's 'Karki', The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2024/Sep/19/caste-and-social-commentary-to-take-center-stage-in-jai-prakash-reddys-karki)
2. [Karki (2024) – Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32857098/fullcredits/)
3. ['Karki is a tale of resilience in a caste-bound society', The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/karki-is-a-tale-of-resilience-in-a-caste-bound-society/amp_articleshow/113512528.cms)
4. [Karki – ಕರ್ಕಿ (2024), Kannada Movies Info](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2024/09/20/karki-2024/)
5. [Pavithran: For a filmmaker, cinema transcends language, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/interviews/2024/Sep/17/pavithran-for-a-filmmaker-cinema-transcends-language)
6. [Latest Kannada OTT releases (June 16 – June 22), OTTPlay](https://www.ottplay.com/news/latest-kannada-ott-releases-june-16-june-22-to-watch-on-prime-video-jiohotstar-netflix-sony-liv-theatres-and-more/ba67980250723)
7. [Karki Kannada Film OTT Release Date Announced, Zoom TV](https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/south/karki-kannada-film-ott-release-date-announced-all-you-need-to-know-article-152000048)
8. [Karki's team all excited ahead of film's grand release, Bangalore Mirror](https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/south-masala/karkis-team-all-excited-ahead-of-films-grand-release/articleshow/113465994.cms)
9. [KARKI – GOOD DEEDS WIN OVER EVIL, Flick Feeds](https://flickfeeds.com/karki-kannada-movie-review/)
10. [Karki OTT Release Date And Platform, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2025/karki-ott-release-date-platform-when-where-to-watch-pavithran-social-drama-film-online-468929.html)
11. ['Karki' movie review: This thoughtful, heartfelt adaptation stays true to the original, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/review/2024/Sep/21/karki-movie-review-this-thoughtful-heartfelt-adaptation-stays-true-to-the-original)
12. [Karki (2024), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32857098/)
13. ['Karki Saina' Teaser Released Ahead of October 2nd Premiere, Ratopati](https://english.ratopati.com/story/75069/teaser-of-karki-saila-which-depicts-the-neglect-of-villagers-and-the-pain-of-marriage)
14. [Nepal News Evening Briefing, August 17, 2026, NepalNews](https://english.nepalnews.com/s/main-left/nepal-news-evening-briefing-monday-august-17-2026/)
15. [Karki Shaila (2026): Cast, Trailer & Release Updates, The Film Nepal](https://www.thefilmnepal.com/movie/karki-shaila)
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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 of the 2020s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license