Kannada film ‘Agnyathavasi’, produced by Hemanth M Rao, set for OTT premiere

Rangayana Raghu in ‘Agnyathavasi’.
| Photo Credit: Saregama Kannada/YouTube

Critically acclaimed Kannada mystery-thriller Agnyathavasi will be premiering exclusively on ZEE5. The film, directed by Janardhan Chikkanna, is produced by Hemanth M Rao of Sapta Sagaradaache Ello fame.

The film is co-produced by Prachura P P, and Jayalakshmi. Rangayana Raghu plays the lead role in the movie. Agnyathavasi hit the screens on April 11, 2025. Charan Raj is the music director while Advaitha Gurumurthy is the cinematographer.

Set in the village of Nalkeri in the Malenadu region of Karnataka, Agnyathavasi follows the life of a reclusive police inspector (Rangayana Raghu), who has spent years tending to his farm as his station lay dormant—until the sudden, suspicious death of a respected village scholar, Srinivas Iyer, shatters the silence.

The investigation into the murder slowly peels back the layers of a community haunted by secrets, superstitions, and something darker known only as Pashambara.

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Rangayana Raghu said Agnyathavasi has been one of the most special journeys of his career. “Playing a police inspector who’s more comfortable with cows than crime, in a station that hasn’t seen action in decades, was both refreshing and deeply emotional. The kind of love fans have shown during the theatrical release has been overwhelming—I’ve had people message me saying the film gave them chills and made them cry, all in the same scene.”