The Upendra-led gangster film will be in theatres on March 17
One of the most awaited Kannada films of 2023, Kabzaa is just over three weeks away from its date with audiences. Directed and produced by R Chandru, the film has been widely discussed for its apparent similarity to the Yash-starrer KGF franchise, especially after the teaser and title track came out. Throughout it all, Chandru maintained that he’s deliberately made a film that looks like KGF, but is vastly different in terms of story. This, he says, was his game plan from the start, as he was mighty impressed with the making of KGF and wanted to bust the public perception that it was not possible to make another film like KGF.
With the more recent second song, Namaami Namaami, Chandru has, to a large extent, impressed upon audiences that his film is different, after all. In the run-up to the film’s release, he will reveal only one more song, a dance number called Pal Pal Palli Palli, featuring leading man Upendra, choreographed by Jaani master. The song will be launched at a massive event in Chandru’s hometown Sidlaghatta on February 26, which has become a routine affair for the filmmaker, having had similar events for his earlier films too.
Thereafter, the team will head to Mumbai for the grand trailer launch on March 2. Where does that leave Bengaluru and promotions for local audiences? “We will focus on Karnataka promotions after the trailer launch. Upendra and Shriya will lead the publicity campaigns,” says Chandru, adding that he is still working out the finer details about when and where to have the events. Pre-release events, he adds, will be held in Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai and Bengaluru, in the second week of March. Sudeep and Shivarajkumar, who have pivotal cameos in Kabzaa, are expected to join some of the outstation pre-release events, but will abstain from the ones back home, as Chandru is keen on keeping the mystery surrounding their characters on till the film hits theatres.-
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