# Pogaru (ಪೋಗರು)
**Pogaru** (ಪೊಗರು) is a 2021 Indian Kannada-language action drama film directed by Nanda Kishore and produced by B. K. Gangadhar under the banner Sri Jagadguru Movies, starring Dhruva Sarja as the ruffian Shiva and [Rashmika Mandanna](https://www.edgepedia.org/rashmika-mandanna) as Geetha.[1](https://www.district.in/movies/pogaru-movie-tickets-MV135493) It was the first big-budget Kannada film to reach theaters after the COVID-19 lockdown and was released simultaneously in dubbed Telugu and Tamil versions on 19 February 2021.[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/kannada/pogaru-to-premiere-on-television-for-ugadi/articleshow/81926206.cms) • [3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2021/Feb/12/pogaru-to-hit-more-than-1000screens-on-february-19-22803.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 19 February 2021, in Kannada with dubbed Telugu (as Pogaru) and Tamil (as Seema Thimiru) versions[1](https://www.district.in/movies/pogaru-movie-tickets-MV135493) • [4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2021/Jan/18/dhruva-sarjas-pogaru-to-hit-the-screens-on-february-19-22318.html) |
| Certification and runtime | Certified U/A by the CBFC on 12 February 2021; certified length 154.33 minutes, theatrical runtime 160 minutes[5](https://www.cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/assets/pdf/Films_certified_2021.pdf) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9592496/) |
| Lead cast | Dhruva Sarja as P. Ramakrishna Shiva, Rashmika Mandanna as Geetha, with Sampath Raj as JB, Dhananjay, P. Ravi Shankar, Pavithra Lokesh, and Mayuri Kyatari[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9592496/) |
| Key crew | Music Chandan Shetty, background score V. Harikrishna, cinematography Vijay Milton, story Arun Balaji[7](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2022/08/25/pogaru-2021/) |
| Screen count | Over 1,000 screens across three states, around 350 theaters in Karnataka alone[3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2021/Feb/12/pogaru-to-hit-more-than-1000screens-on-february-19-22803.html) |
| Early box office | Grossed Rs 210 million (Rs 21 crore) in two days[8](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2021/Feb/24/brahmin-board-raises-objection-pogaru-makers-to-cut-scenes-2268147.html) |
| Controversy | Makers agreed to remove or mute 15 scenes and 28 words after Brahmin community objections[8](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2021/Feb/24/brahmin-board-raises-objection-pogaru-makers-to-cut-scenes-2268147.html) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
The story follows Shiva, a local youth whose bitter childhood makes him notorious. He loses his father at an early age, and his mother (Pavithra Lokesh) remarries [Ramakrishna](https://www.edgepedia.org/ramakrishna) ([P. Ravi Shankar](https://www.edgepedia.org/p-ravi-shankar)); Shiva, unable to accept the new family, grows up as a rogue who longs for his mother's love.[11](https://biffes.org/public/assets/images/pdf/13th-Biffes-Festival-Catalogue-2021.pdf) • [12](https://www.aha.video/movie/pogaru) An incident involving his step-sister (Mayuri Kyatari) becomes the turning point in his life and changes his behavior, after which he becomes a protector of the people in his neighborhood.[11](https://biffes.org/public/assets/images/pdf/13th-Biffes-Festival-Catalogue-2021.pdf) In the climax, Shiva fights the antagonist JB (Sampath Raj) and his son Daali (Dhananjay) to save kidnapped children from a colony.[12](https://www.aha.video/movie/pogaru)
## Production and release
The film was in production for over three years; its launch took place on 14 December 2017, and Dhruva Sarja announced the 19 February 2021 release date during an interaction with fans on social media, a date that coincided with Rathasapthami.[7](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2022/08/25/pogaru-2021/) • [4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2021/Jan/18/dhruva-sarjas-pogaru-to-hit-the-screens-on-february-19-22318.html) A December 2020 report said the team was working toward a January release and had sold the Hindi dubbing rights for 72 million (7.2 crores), with dubbing under way in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi.[9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2020/dec/09/dhruva-sarjas-pogaru-aims-a-january-release-21663.html) The theatrical release ultimately covered Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil.[3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2021/Feb/12/pogaru-to-hit-more-than-1000screens-on-february-19-22803.html)
Before release, the team held a grand audio launch in [Davangere](https://www.edgepedia.org/davangere) on 14 February 2021, described by the director as the first large-scale industry event amid the pandemic; a pre-release event in the same city was attended by former chief minister [Siddaramaiah](https://www.edgepedia.org/siddaramaiah).[3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2021/Feb/12/pogaru-to-hit-more-than-1000screens-on-february-19-22803.html) • [2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/kannada/pogaru-to-premiere-on-television-for-ugadi/articleshow/81926206.cms) The film premiered on television for Ugadi in April 2021 and was released on OTT platforms on 2 July 2021.[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/kannada/pogaru-to-premiere-on-television-for-ugadi/articleshow/81926206.cms) • [10](https://nettv4u.com/movie-review/kannada/pogaru)
## Cast and physical transformation
Dhruva Sarja appears on screen for almost the entire runtime, and the film includes a childhood flashback in which he plays a schoolboy. The Cinema Express review states he lost 33 kilograms for this schoolboy avatar, while Filmibeat's synopsis puts the figure at 30 kilos; both describe a later gain in weight for the bulked-up adult role.[13](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/reviews/kannada/2021/Feb/19/pogaru-movie-review-a-treat-for-dhruva-sarja-fans-22929.html) • [14](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/movies/pogaru.html) The climax features a face-off with four international bodybuilders, [Kai Greene](https://www.edgepedia.org/kai-greene), Morgan Aste, John Lucas, and Jo Linder (also spelled Johan Lucas and Joe Lindner in sources).[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2021/Jan/18/dhruva-sarjas-pogaru-to-hit-the-screens-on-february-19-22318.html) • [7](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2022/08/25/pogaru-2021/)
## Music
Chandan Shetty composed the songs, with [V. Harikrishna](https://www.edgepedia.org/v-harikrishna) providing the background score.[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2021/Jan/18/dhruva-sarjas-pogaru-to-hit-the-screens-on-february-19-22318.html) The album includes Bande Bathale (sung by [Vijay Prakash](https://www.edgepedia.org/vijay-prakash)), Karabuu, the Pogaru Title Track (both sung by Chandan Shetty), and Jeeva Kottavalu (Aniruddha Shastry).[7](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2022/08/25/pogaru-2021/) Karabuu and the title song became very popular, spreading widely during the lockdown through videos on TikTok and other platforms before the film's release.[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/kannada/pogaru-to-premiere-on-television-for-ugadi/articleshow/81926206.cms) • [15](https://theshyguyreviews.wordpress.com/2021/02/21/pogaru-kannada-movie-review/)
## Controversy
A few days after release, members of the Brahmin community objected to certain scenes and language that allegedly showed the community in a bad light.[8](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2021/Feb/24/brahmin-board-raises-objection-pogaru-makers-to-cut-scenes-2268147.html) [Community](https://www.edgepedia.org/community) members approached H. S. Sachidananda Murthy, chairman of the Karnataka State Brahmin Development Board, who met with Sarja and Kishore; it was agreed that 15 scenes and 28 words would be removed or muted, and both the actor and the director apologized.[8](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2021/Feb/24/brahmin-board-raises-objection-pogaru-makers-to-cut-scenes-2268147.html) India Today reported the number of scenes to be removed as 14.[16](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/14-scenes-to-be-removed-from-dhruva-sarja-s-pogaru-after-brahmin-community-takes-offence-1772811-2021-02-25) BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje also tweeted demanding that screening be stopped until the objectionable scenes were censored.[8](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2021/Feb/24/brahmin-board-raises-objection-pogaru-makers-to-cut-scenes-2268147.html) The film continued to be screened.[8](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2021/Feb/24/brahmin-board-raises-objection-pogaru-makers-to-cut-scenes-2268147.html)
## Reception
The film received a mixed critical response. The Times of India gave it 3.0 out of 5, calling it a festival for Dhruva Sarja fans and noting that the thin story is stretched to nearly three hours, while its readers rated it 3.9.[17](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/pogaru/movie-review/81105652.cms) Cinema Express rated it a treat for Sarja's fans, praising his transformation and screen presence while noting that the narrative is one-sided and that Dhananjay, Mayuri, and Sampath have little scope.[13](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/reviews/kannada/2021/Feb/19/pogaru-movie-review-a-treat-for-dhruva-sarja-fans-22929.html) The Bangalore Mirror review gave 3.5 out of 5 and observed that the director played to the star's image rather than building a crisp screenplay.[18](https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/pogaru-movie-review-pogaru-is-a-treat-for-dhruva-sarjas-fans/articleshow/81116353.cms) On IMDb the film holds a rating of 3.5 out of 10 from about 11,000 users.[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9592496/) The Times of India reported that the film received a mixed response at the box office despite its strong opening.[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/kannada/pogaru-to-premiere-on-television-for-ugadi/articleshow/81926206.cms)
## References
1. [Pogaru (2021) – Cast, Reviews & Showtimes, District](https://www.district.in/movies/pogaru-movie-tickets-MV135493)
2. [Pogaru to premiere on television for Ugadi, The Times of India (6 April 2021)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/kannada/pogaru-to-premiere-on-television-for-ugadi/articleshow/81926206.cms)
3. [Pogaru to hit more than 1000 screens on February 19, Cinema Express (12 February 2021)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2021/Feb/12/pogaru-to-hit-more-than-1000screens-on-february-19-22803.html)
4. [Dhruva Sarja's Pogaru to hit the screens on February 19, Cinema Express (19 January 2021)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2021/Jan/18/dhruva-sarjas-pogaru-to-hit-the-screens-on-february-19-22318.html)
5. [Films Certified 2021, Central Board of Film Certification](https://www.cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/assets/pdf/Films_certified_2021.pdf)
6. [Pogaru (2021), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9592496/)
7. [Pogaru – ಪೊಗರು (2021), Kannada Movies Info](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2022/08/25/pogaru-2021/)
8. [Brahmin Board raises objection, 'Pogaru' makers to cut scenes, The New Indian Express (24 February 2021)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2021/Feb/24/brahmin-board-raises-objection-pogaru-makers-to-cut-scenes-2268147.html)
9. [Dhruva Sarja's Pogaru aims a January release, Cinema Express (8 December 2020)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2020/dec/09/dhruva-sarjas-pogaru-aims-a-january-release-21663.html)
10. [Pogaru Kannada Movie Review (2021), NetTV4U](https://nettv4u.com/movie-review/kannada/pogaru)
11. [13th Bengaluru International Film Festival catalogue, Pogaru entry](https://biffes.org/public/assets/images/pdf/13th-Biffes-Festival-Catalogue-2021.pdf)
12. [Watch Pogaru Full Movie Online, Aha](https://www.aha.video/movie/pogaru)
13. [Pogaru Movie Review: A treat for Dhruva Sarja fans, Cinema Express (19 February 2021)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/reviews/kannada/2021/Feb/19/pogaru-movie-review-a-treat-for-dhruva-sarja-fans-22929.html)
14. [Pogaru 2021, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/movies/pogaru.html)
15. [Pogaru – Kannada Movie Review, The Shy Guy Reviews (21 February 2021)](https://theshyguyreviews.wordpress.com/2021/02/21/pogaru-kannada-movie-review/)
16. [14 scenes to be removed from Dhruva Sarja's Pogaru after Brahmin community takes offence, India Today (25 February 2021)](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/14-scenes-to-be-removed-from-dhruva-sarja-s-pogaru-after-brahmin-community-takes-offence-1772811-2021-02-25)
17. [Pogaru Movie Review: A Dhruva Sarja fest all the way, The Times of India (19 February 2021)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/pogaru/movie-review/81105652.cms)
18. [Pogaru movie review: Pogaru is a treat for Dhruva Sarja's fans, Bangalore Mirror (20 February 2021)](https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/pogaru-movie-review-pogaru-is-a-treat-for-dhruva-sarjas-fans/articleshow/81116353.cms)
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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; 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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