Dhoomam will release in Malayalam and Kannada on June 23: Chaluve Gowda

Earlier today, OTTplay had reported that Hombale Films’ maiden Mollywood production, Dhoomam, was set to release only in Malayalam on June 23. All the other languages, including Kannada, would likely be in theatres a week later, said a source from the production house. Audiences who were keenly waiting to see Pawan’s film that he’s been trying to make in Kannada for well over a decade, were a tad disappointed with this, following which the production house realigned its plan. Hombale Films co-founder Chaluve Gowda has now told us that Dhoomam’s Kannada version will have a simultaneous release with the Malayalam original, while the rest – Tamil, Telugu and Hindi – will be in theatres on June 29.

The confusion about Dhoomam’s release was caused because of the delay in the final Kannada dubbing of the film. After the trailer came out just over a week ago, Kannada audiences had raised concerns about the quality of the dubbing and that they expected it to be a lot better, especially since Hombale Films and Pawan are from the state. OTTplay had spoken to the filmmaker at the time, where he had addressed this and said that, “With Dhoomam, it is not that we have not shown interest; the truth is that we showed more interest on the Kannada version because it is our personal responsibility that we should have a good product. But we don’t have people; there aren’t enough dubbing artistes. For instance, if the Telugu and Tamil output came to us in 10 days, Kannada is still going on and we are constantly auditioning people and asking for more options. If someone’s voice matches, he/she may not have the art of dubbing, or voice-versa. Dubbing is something that the industry is still learning. We have actually found another person, who is trying and seems better than the voice that was used for the trailer.”

Meanwhile, Chaluve Gowda adds that Hombale Films has major plans for the Kannada version of Dhoomam, with at least 150 screens being earmarked for it. "This will be the first original Malayalam film that will be released in a big way in a Kannada dubbed version. The Kannada version has been censored without any cuts, so it is ready for release now," he adds.