Mangaluru: The much-awaited Tulu film Gajanana Cricketers (Jantottu Since 1983), produced under the banner of Prajwal Films, is set for release in January 2026 across Karnataka and overseas. The film, produced by Prajwal Shetty and directed by Keerthan Bhandari, is being billed as one of the biggest ventures in Tulu cinema.
A cricket-based story with humour and social message
The movie explores cricket and the lives of players, interwoven with humour, romance, and a strong social message. The story, screenplay, and direction are helmed by Keerthan Bhandari, who makes his directorial debut with this project. A major portion of the filming took place in and around Mangaluru. Producer Prajwal Shetty, besides bankrolling the project, also plays one of the lead roles.
Star-studded cast
The film boasts a rich ensemble cast including Vineeth Kumar, Naveen D. Padil, Arvind Bolar, Bhojaraj Vamanjoor, Deepak Rai Panaje, Prakash Tuminaadu, Umesh Mijar, Samatha Amin, Anvita Sagar, Sarvotham Shetty, Walter Nandalike, Roopa Varkadi, Lanchu Lal, Prasanna Shetty Bailoor, Sandeep Shetty Manibettu, Pushparaj Bollaru, Sachin Mada, James Mendonca and Karan Poojary, among others.
Technical crew and music
The cinematography is handled by Vinuth K. Suvarna, while editing is managed by Sujay Shivaram and Kaushik Bhandari. Director Keerthan Bhandari, who has earlier penned more than 25 songs for Tulu and Kannada films, has also written the lyrics for this movie. The music is composed by Srujan Kumar Thonse. Co-producers include Rohan Pereira (Vamanjoor) and Santosh Lad.
Teaser receives strong response
The teaser of Gajanana Cricketers was recently released on social media and has drawn strong appreciation from viewers. Many praised it as a refreshing development for Tulu cinema, generating excitement ahead of the film’s theatrical release.
Dubai audio launch draws star power
A grand audio launch was held on 24 August 2025 at Fisherman’s Hub, TIME Oak Hotel, TECOM Dubai. Renowned playback singer Vijay Prakash released the audio and enthralled the audience with a soulful track from the film. The event witnessed more than 150 guests, including B. R. Shetty, Sarvotham Shetty (Abu Dhabi), Harish Sherigar, Pratap Mendonca, James Mendonca, Sudarshan Hegde, and Hidayath Adoor.
Premiere shows abroad
Ahead of its release, premiere shows have been planned across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and other countries beginning 22 November 2025. According to producer Prajwal Shetty, the team is working towards a grand worldwide release of Gajanana Cricketers in January 2026.
