# Malla (ಮಲ್ಲ) (film)
**Malla** (ಮಲ್ಲ) is a 2004 Indian Kannada-language action-romance film directed by V. Ravichandran, who also stars in it alongside [Priyanka Upendra](https://www.edgepedia.org/priyanka-upendra) and Mohan Shankar.[1](https://www.moviebuff.com/malla) It was produced by Ramu under the banner Ramu Enterprises and released in wide theatrical release in India on 27 February 2004.[1](https://www.moviebuff.com/malla)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 27 February 2004, wide theatrical release in India[1](https://www.moviebuff.com/malla) |
| Language and genre | Kannada; action and romance[1](https://www.moviebuff.com/malla) |
| Director and star | V. Ravichandran, who also wrote the story and screenplay, composed the music, and wrote the lyrics[1](https://www.moviebuff.com/malla) • [2](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/ravichandran-profile/) |
| Lead cast | Ravichandran as Malla, Priyanka Upendra as Priya, Mohan Shankar as Hanuma[3](https://www.flickchart.com/movie/malla) |
| Runtime and censor | 147 minutes; CBFC U certificate dated 18 February 2004[4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/malla-2004/) |
| Music | Composed by Ravichandran; audio released on Jhankar Music[1](https://www.moviebuff.com/malla) • [4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/malla-2004/) |
| Award | Karnataka State Film Awards 2003-04, Special Award (Stunt) to K D Venkatesh[4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/malla-2004/) |
## Spoilers
### Story
The film follows Malla (Ravichandran), a flower seller described as the most wanted good samaritan in his village, who fights thugs involved in arrack making; their attempts to eliminate him fail.[5](https://en.ava360.com/malla-kannada-full-movie-video_4866f418e.html) Priya (Priyanka Upendra), who arrives from abroad, picks fights with him but eventually falls for him and marries him against her brothers' wishes.[5](https://en.ava360.com/malla-kannada-full-movie-video_4866f418e.html) When her brothers confront Malla as he takes Priya to hospital for delivery, she gives birth to a boy while he fights them; her elder brother demands she choose between husband and child, and Malla sacrifices himself so his son can complete his task.[5](https://en.ava360.com/malla-kannada-full-movie-video_4866f418e.html) The villains raise the boy, Shiva, as a partner in their crimes while hiding that he is Malla's son, and the grown Shiva, a florist's son turned gangster, sets out to avenge his father's murder.[5](https://en.ava360.com/malla-kannada-full-movie-video_4866f418e.html) • [3](https://www.flickchart.com/movie/malla)
## Production and crew
Ravichandran, born 1961 in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, and the son of producer N Veeraswamy, held nearly every creative post on the film: director, story, screenplay, lyrics, and music director.[2](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/ravichandran-profile/) G S V Seetharam handled cinematography, M Sanjeeva Reddy edited, K D Venkatesh designed the stunts, and Bala Nataraj choreographed the songs.[4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/malla-2004/) The veteran actor-director Vishnuvardhan provides the narrator's voice.[3](https://www.flickchart.com/movie/malla) The film was shot in color in the Cinemascope 2.39:1 aspect ratio at 24 frames per second.[1](https://www.moviebuff.com/malla)
## Music
The soundtrack, released on Jhankar Music, has eight credited songs, all with lyrics by Ravichandran.[4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/malla-2004/) They include "Yammo Yammo", sung by Srinivas and [Anuradha Sriram](https://www.edgepedia.org/anuradha-sriram), and "Ee Preethiya Marethu", sung by [S. P. Balasubrahmanyam](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-p-balasubrahmanyam) and [K. S. Chithra](https://www.edgepedia.org/k-s-chithra).[4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/malla-2004/) Ravichandran later described "Yammo Yammo Nodade" as the film's hit song.[6](https://vijaykarnataka.com/tv/news/crazy-star-ravichandran-speaks-about-malla-movie-yammo-yammo-song-shooting/articleshow/120384332.cms)
## Release and reception
The film was cleared by the CBFC with a U certificate on 18 February 2004 and opened on 27 February 2004, running for 15 weeks at its main theater, Santhosh.[4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/malla-2004/) In a May 2004 interview, Ravichandran responded to allegations that he was keeping other new films out of theaters so that Malla could complete a 100-day run, calling the claims against him a foolish attempt and denying that the film stayed in theaters only through his connections.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bangalore-times/straight-answers/articleshow/679652.cms) A later retrospective account states that the film was a blockbuster hit, and that a controversy arose over Priyanka Upendra's bold looks because the film released after her marriage.[8](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/sandalwood/priyanka-upendra-clarifies-about-controversy-around-ravichandran-malla-film-vcs-snjrpv) K D Venkatesh received the Karnataka State Film Award for 2003-04 in the Special Award (Stunt) category for the film.[4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/malla-2004/)
## Availability
Malla has been released on home video by Moser Baer and is currently listed for streaming on Prime Video and [MX Player](https://www.edgepedia.org/mx-player).[4](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/malla-2004/) • [9](https://www.digit.in/digit-binge/movies/malla-783310.html)
## References
1. [Malla (2004), Moviebuff](https://www.moviebuff.com/malla)
2. [Ravichandran – ರವಿಚಂದ್ರನ್ | Kannada Movies Info](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/ravichandran-profile/)
3. [Malla (2004), Flickchart](https://www.flickchart.com/movie/malla)
4. [Malla – ಮಲ್ಲ (2004), Kannada Movies Info](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/malla-2004/)
5. [Malla | Kannada | Full Movie, AVA360](https://en.ava360.com/malla-kannada-full-movie-video_4866f418e.html)
6. [Crazy Star Ravichandran speaks about Malla movie Yammo Yammo song shooting, Vijaya Karnataka](https://vijaykarnataka.com/tv/news/crazy-star-ravichandran-speaks-about-malla-movie-yammo-yammo-song-shooting/articleshow/120384332.cms)
7. [Straight Answers: Ravichandran on the controversy surrounding Malla, Times of India (17 May 2004)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bangalore-times/straight-answers/articleshow/679652.cms)
8. [Priyanka Upendra clarifies about controversy around Ravichandran Malla film, Asianet Suvarna News](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/sandalwood/priyanka-upendra-clarifies-about-controversy-around-ravichandran-malla-film-vcs-snjrpv)
9. [Malla Movie (2004), Digit Binge](https://www.digit.in/digit-binge/movies/malla-783310.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 Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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