Haalu Jenu | |
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![]() Poster | |
Kannada | ಹಾಲು ಜೇನು |
Directed by | Singeetham Srinivasa Rao |
Written by | P. Padmaraju (dialogues by Chi. Udayashankar) |
Screenplay by | Singeetham Srinivasa Rao |
Produced by | Parvathamma Rajkumar |
Starring | Rajkumar Madhavi Roopa Devi |
Cinematography | S. V. Srikanth |
Edited by | P. Bhaktavatsalam |
Music by | G. K. Venkatesh |
Production company | Poornima Enterprises |
Release date |
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Running time | 157 min |
Country | India |
Language | Kannada |
Haalu Jenu (censor certified: Halu Jenu; transl. Milk and Honey) is a 1982 Indian Kannada-language tragicomedy film directed by Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, starring Rajkumar, Madhavi and Roopa Devi.[2] The movie is famous for its evergreen songs, which were composed by G. K. Venkatesh.[3] The movie was remade in Telugu in 1985 as Illale Devata.
Parvathamma Rajkumar paid ₹1 lakhs for the story when a movie based on that story which was supposed to star Anant Nag failed to go on floors.[4] Haalu Jenu was known for its 70-foot (21 m)-tall cutout poster of Rajkumar placed in the Santosh Theatre in Majestic, Bangalore. The film was a major success at the box office upon its release and had a theatrical run of 35 weeks.[5] The movie, however, was removed from some cinemas after 22 weeks (150 days) to make room for Chalisuva Modagalu which was also directed by Singeetham Srinivasa Rao and starred Rajkumar.[6][7]
The tabloid Trade Guide started by Taran Adarsh's father[8] had published a report calling Rajkumar a Junior Hitler for the alleged theatre unavailability for Amitabh Bachchan's Namak Halaal [9] which released around the same time, enraging Kannada movie buffs.[10] Finally, Amitabh Bachchan flew down to Bangalore and met Rajkumar [11] to clear the air of misunderstandings.[12]
Saritha, who had earlier worked with Rajkumar on Keralida Simha and Hosa Belaku, dubbed for Madhavi in some parts in this movie.[13] Saritha went on to dub a Telugu movie by the same director - Mayuri.[14] Saritha was one of the lead heroines in Rajkumar - Singeetham's immediate next movie Chalisuva Modagalu which released in the same year.
This was also Singeetham Srinivasa Rao's directorial debut in Kannada. He went on to work with Rajkumar in six more movies including his 200th movie, and was also the director of the debut movies of his two sons.[15]