From Anand to Yuva – Where to watch the debut films of the Rajkumar family

On April 19, Yuva Rajkumar’s launchpad, Yuva, dropped on OTT. The film, which released in theatres on March 29, is, according to the team, a commercial success. Yet, on the day it began its fourth-week box office hunt, it was on a streamer. Yuva Rajkumar is the latest member of the Rajkumar family to step into the world of cinema, following in the footsteps of his illustrious grandfather, uncles, father, and brother.

If the release of Yuva’s got you in the mood to watch some old movies, how about checking out the debut vehicles of, say, Shivarajkumar, Puneeth, or Raghavendra Rajkumar? Here’s where you can stream them.

Rajkumars' debut movies on OTT

Anand

Singeetham Srinivasa Rao had the responsibility of launching Shivarajkumar in 1986. The Century Star was paired with debutant Sudharani and played collegemates who are at loggerheads but then fall in love when they start writing to each other under pen names. The film won the State Award for Best Screenplay.

Streaming on: Sun NXT

Chiranjeevi Sudhakar

Raghavendra Rajkumar’s debut film, Chiranjeevi Sudhakar, directed by Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, paired the actor with the late Malayalam actress Monisha Unni. The film also stars Girija Lokesh, Thoogudeepa Srinivas, Balaraj, Kanchana, Vanitha Vasu, and Vaishali Kasaravalli, among others.

Streaming on: YouTube

Appu

Puneeth Rajkumar, who had a long stint as a child artiste, made the transition to lead hero with the 2002 film directed by Puri Jagannadh, in which he was paired with Rakshitha. Appu is the film that Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar and KRG Studios are looking to re-release in 2025 on the occasion of the late actor’s birth anniversary, following the success of the re-release of Jackie this year.

Streaming on: JioCinema

Puneeth Rajkumar’s Appu to be re-released on his birth anniversary in 2025 

Siddhartha

Raghavendra Rajkumar’s son Vinay’s transition from child artiste to leading man came with 2015’s Siddhartha, directed by Prakash (of Milana fame). Vinay played a musician in the film, in which he was paired with Apoorva Arora. It was among the last film’s that Vinay’s grandmother, Parvathamma Rajkumar, produced. The late Rajkumar family matriarch produced the debuts of her three sons as well.

Streaming on: Sun NXT

Yuva

Yuva Rajkumar’s debut vehicle is now on OTT, albeit on rental only. The film, directed by Santhosh Anandrram, paired Yuva with Kantara star Sapthami Gowda. A commercial entertainer, the film received mixed reviews, with fans praising the actor’s action skill set but pointing out that he had much to improve as far as acting goes.

Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video

Yuva movie review: Yuva Rajkumar’s debut film is all mass and no material 

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