# Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi (ಕೃಷ್ಣಂ ಪ್ರಣಯ ಸಖಿ)
**Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi** (ಕೃಷ್ಣಂ ಪ್ರಣಯ ಸಖಿ) is a 2024 Indian Kannada-language romantic comedy film directed by Srinivas Raju and produced by Prashanth G. Rudrappa under the Trishul Entertainments banner, starring Ganesh and Malavika Nair.[1](https://www.ottplay.com/news/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-ends-theatrical-run-ott-release-to-be-advanced/1071342d01290) Released on 15 August 2024, it became one of the highest-grossing Kannada films of the year, completing a run of nearly 100 days in theaters.[1](https://www.ottplay.com/news/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-ends-theatrical-run-ott-release-to-be-advanced/1071342d01290)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 15 August 2024 (Independence Day weekend), Kannada language, U/A certificate[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/movies/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi/ott.html) |
| Runtime | 161 minutes (2 hours 41 minutes)[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/movies/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi/ott.html) |
| Lead cast | Ganesh (his 41st film) as Krishna; Malavika Nair in her Kannada debut as Pranaya; Sharanya Shetty as Jahnavi[3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2024/Aug/20/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-movie-review-reimagines-romance-with-heart) • [4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/krishnam-pranayaka-sakhi/movie-review/112545905.cms) |
| Key crew | Music Arjun Janya; cinematography Venkat Rama Prasad; editing K.M. Prakash[5](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/movies/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi/cast-crew.html) |
| Box office | Nearly 100-day theatrical run; trade trackers estimated about Rs 220 million (Rs 22 crore) from the domestic run[1](https://www.ottplay.com/news/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-ends-theatrical-run-ott-release-to-be-advanced/1071342d01290) |
| Streaming | Sun NXT from 29 November 2024, after the 100-day theatrical celebration[6](https://www.ottplay.com/news/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-ott-release-date-when-and-where-to-watch-golden-star-ganeshs-hit-kannada-rom-com/bb2b6b943e81) |
| Audience rating | 7.1/10 on IMDb from about 3,200 votes[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28252641/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
The film follows Krishna (Ganesh), a wealthy young man from a large traditional family who falls for Pranaya (Malavika Nair), an orphan who runs an orphanage.[1](https://www.ottplay.com/news/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-ends-theatrical-run-ott-release-to-be-advanced/1071342d01290) Fearing that his social status would keep her from accepting him, Krishna hides his identity, presents himself as a poor car driver, and takes a driving job at her shelter.[1](https://www.ottplay.com/news/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-ends-theatrical-run-ott-release-to-be-advanced/1071342d01290) The story runs on two parallel time frames, one in which Krishna does not know Pranaya's identity and one in which Pranaya does not know Krishna's background.[8](https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/kannada/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-review/)
After the couple marries, a business rival who loves Krishna seeks revenge for being spurned, and Krishna develops short-term amnesia with no memory of his time with Pranaya.[1](https://www.ottplay.com/news/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-ends-theatrical-run-ott-release-to-be-advanced/1071342d01290) Whether Pranaya can make him remember her forms the rest of the story.[1](https://www.ottplay.com/news/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-ends-theatrical-run-ott-release-to-be-advanced/1071342d01290) A second heroine, Jahnavi (Sharanya Shetty), a woman from an affluent family determined to marry Krishna at any cost, adds a further twist.[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/krishnam-pranayaka-sakhi/movie-review/112545905.cms) Reviewers noted that the disguise-and-woo premise and the amnesia device are familiar from earlier films; several compared the amnesia element to the Rajkumar film *Hrudaya Sangama*.[9](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/features/ganesh-krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-movie-story-is-based-on-rajkumar-and-bharathi-starrer-hrudaya-sangama-093025.html)
## Production
The title was launched in July 2023 as a birthday gift to Ganesh, and it marked his 41st film as well as his first collaboration with Srinivas Raju, a director previously known for the crime thriller *Dandupalya*.[10](https://kalpa.news/sandalwood-the-title-of-the-new-movie-to-be-acted-by-ganesh-is-released/) Shooting took place in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Rajasthan, Europe, and Vietnam, where the team completed its final schedule in early 2024.[10](https://kalpa.news/sandalwood-the-title-of-the-new-movie-to-be-acted-by-ganesh-is-released/) • [11](https://www.kannadaprabha.com/cinema/news/2024/Feb/27/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-enters-its-final-schedule-in-vietnam) Producer Prashanth G. Rudrappa said the lack of family entertainers in [Kannada cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/kannada-cinema) in recent years inspired the project and that the script called for a high budget.[12](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-will-be-a-laugh-out-loud-family-entertainer-filmmaker-srinivasa/articleshow/110420433.cms) Ganesh described it as the biggest-budget film of his career.[13](https://publictv.in/golden-star-ganesh-talks-about-krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-film/)
The supporting cast includes [Sadhu Kokila](https://www.edgepedia.org/sadhu-kokila), Rangayana Raghu, Shashikumar, Shruthi, Ramakrishna, Avinash, Srinivasa Murthy, Girish Shivanna, Kuri Pratap, and Manasi Sudhir.[3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2024/Aug/20/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-movie-review-reimagines-romance-with-heart) • [5](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/movies/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi/cast-crew.html)
## Music
[Arjun Janya](https://www.edgepedia.org/arjun-janya) composed the soundtrack, with lyrics by Kaviraj and V. Nagendra Prasad.[5](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/movies/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi/cast-crew.html) The film contains seven songs; the first, "My Marriage is Fixed," was released at an event in Mysuru, and the second, "Chinnamma," written by Kaviraj and sung by [Kailash Kher](https://www.edgepedia.org/kailash-kher) and Indu Nagaraj, followed in June 2024.[14](https://kannada.mojo-360.com/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-film-song-released-2/) The song "Dwapara," sung by Jaskaran Singh, became a trending hit and popular on Instagram reels, and the music was widely credited with drawing audiences to theaters.[15](https://kannada.oneindia.com/entertainment/how-much-time-did-nagendra-prasad-take-to-write-the-song-for-krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-movie-369875.html) • [16](https://www.ottplay.com/news/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-out-now-on-ott-watch-golden-star-ganeshs-hit-romantic-drama-on-this-platform/7c35ea9b9e420) The film's success was attributed largely to its music and positive word of mouth, since the makers released no teaser or trailer before the theatrical release.[1](https://www.ottplay.com/news/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-ends-theatrical-run-ott-release-to-be-advanced/1071342d01290)
## Reception
**Critical response.** Reviews were mixed. The Times of India gave 3.5/5, calling it a breezy rom-com carried by Ganesh's charisma while noting the formulaic, predictable story and long runtime.[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/krishnam-pranayaka-sakhi/movie-review/112545905.cms) The South First gave 3/5, describing a wholesome entertainer with romance, songs, action, and comedy, but one that runs nearly two hours and forty-one minutes with lulls in the second half.[8](https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/kannada/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-review/) The New Indian Express, also at 3/5, praised the music and Malavika Nair's Kannada debut while acknowledging that the film does not reinvent the wheel.[3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2024/Aug/20/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-movie-review-reimagines-romance-with-heart) Deccan Herald was more critical at 2.5/5, citing logical inconsistencies and weak character development in the non-linear storyline.[17](https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-movie-review-formulaic-middling-love-drama-3153862) Kannada-language reviewers similarly flagged a stretched first half and underuse of the senior supporting cast, while praising the comedy of Sadhu Kokila and [Rangayana Raghu](https://www.edgepedia.org/rangayana-raghu).[18](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/reviews/ganesh-malavika-nair-movie-krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-review-in-kannada-087641.html)
**Box office.** Released on the Independence Day weekend, the film drew family audiences and recorded houseful shows in its first two weeks.[19](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/news/ahead-of-krishnam-pranaya-sakhis-ott-release-heres-how-much-ganesh-film-collect-in-theatrical-run-092203.html) It ran for nearly 100 days, with centenary celebrations reported across [Karnataka](https://www.edgepedia.org/karnataka) in November 2024, and trade trackers estimated about Rs 220 million (Rs 22 crore) from its domestic theatrical run.[1](https://www.ottplay.com/news/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-ends-theatrical-run-ott-release-to-be-advanced/1071342d01290) • [20](https://rcvtalkies.com/golden-star-ganesh-starrer-krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-is-celebrating-its-centenary/) A PVR Inox analyst report listed collections of Rs 183 million for the film.[21](https://dsijpub.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/productAttachment/BrokerRecommendation/20241008090055_PVR-INOX-08102024-emkay.pdf) On IMDb the film holds a 7.1/10 rating from about 3,200 users.[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28252641/)
## Release and streaming
Sun Network acquired the film's satellite and digital rights, with a TV premiere planned on Udaya TV; after the 100-day theatrical celebration, the network announced that the film would begin streaming on Sun NXT on 29 November 2024.[6](https://www.ottplay.com/news/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-ott-release-date-when-and-where-to-watch-golden-star-ganeshs-hit-kannada-rom-com/bb2b6b943e81) A Hindi-dubbed version was certified UA 7+ by the [Central Board of Film Certification](https://www.edgepedia.org/central-board-of-film-certification) in July 2025 with a certified length of 140.17 minutes.[22](https://cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/search-result.php?recid=Q0EwMjI0MDYyMDI1MDAwMTI%3D) Ganesh received a Filmfare Award Kannada nomination for Best Actor for the film.[23](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2590318/awards/)
## References
1. [Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi ends theatrical run; OTT release to be advanced? – OTTplay](https://www.ottplay.com/news/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-ends-theatrical-run-ott-release-to-be-advanced/1071342d01290)
2. [Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi OTT Release – FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/movies/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi/ott.html)
3. ['Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi' movie review: Reimagines romance with heart – The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2024/Aug/20/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-movie-review-reimagines-romance-with-heart)
4. [Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi Movie Review – The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/krishnam-pranayaka-sakhi/movie-review/112545905.cms)
5. [Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi Cast & Crew – FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/movies/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi/cast-crew.html)
6. [Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi OTT release date finalised – OTTplay](https://www.ottplay.com/news/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-ott-release-date-when-and-where-to-watch-golden-star-ganeshs-hit-kannada-rom-com/bb2b6b943e81)
7. [Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi (2024) – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28252641/)
8. [Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi review – The South First](https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/kannada/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-review/)
9. [Ganesh's Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi story based on Hrudaya Sangama? – Filmibeat Kannada](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/features/ganesh-krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-movie-story-is-based-on-rajkumar-and-bharathi-starrer-hrudaya-sangama-093025.html)
10. [Title launch of Ganesh's new film – Kalpa News](https://kalpa.news/sandalwood-the-title-of-the-new-movie-to-be-acted-by-ganesh-is-released/)
11. [Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi enters final schedule in Vietnam – Kannada Prabha](https://www.kannadaprabha.com/cinema/news/2024/Feb/27/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-enters-its-final-schedule-in-vietnam)
12. [Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi will be a laugh-out-loud family entertainer – The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-will-be-a-laugh-out-loud-family-entertainer-filmmaker-srinivasa/articleshow/110420433.cms)
13. [Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi is my career's big-budget film: Ganesh – Public TV](https://publictv.in/golden-star-ganesh-talks-about-krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-film/)
14. [Chinnamma song release – Kannada Mojo360](https://kannada.mojo-360.com/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-film-song-released-2/)
15. [Dwapara song trending – Oneindia Kannada](https://kannada.oneindia.com/entertainment/how-much-time-did-nagendra-prasad-take-to-write-the-song-for-krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-movie-369875.html)
16. [Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi out now on OTT – OTTplay](https://www.ottplay.com/news/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-out-now-on-ott-watch-golden-star-ganeshs-hit-romantic-drama-on-this-platform/7c35ea9b9e420)
17. ['Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi' movie review: Formulaic, middling love drama – Deccan Herald](https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-movie-review-formulaic-middling-love-drama-3153862)
18. [Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi Review – Filmibeat Kannada](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/reviews/ganesh-malavika-nair-movie-krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-review-in-kannada-087641.html)
19. [Ahead of OTT release, how much the film collected – Filmibeat Kannada](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/news/ahead-of-krishnam-pranaya-sakhis-ott-release-heres-how-much-ganesh-film-collect-in-theatrical-run-092203.html)
20. [Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi celebrates 100 days – RCV Talkies](https://rcvtalkies.com/golden-star-ganesh-starrer-krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-is-celebrating-its-centenary/)
21. [PVR Inox report, October 2024 – Emkay](https://dsijpub.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/productAttachment/BrokerRecommendation/20241008090055_PVR-INOX-08102024-emkay.pdf)
22. [CBFC film search: Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi (Hindi)](https://cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/search-result.php?recid=Q0EwMjI0MDYyMDI1MDAwMTI%3D)
23. [Ganesh – Awards – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2590318/awards/)
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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: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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