In a quiet village near Bengaluru, a temple priest has done something no one expected. He made a full-length Kannada film without hiring a single actor, technician or musician. Narasimha Murthy, who serves at the Hanumantharai Temple in Siddehalli, created Love You, a 95-minute film entirely powered by Artificial Intelligence.
Murthy didn’t come from a film background, nor did he have access to a big team. Instead, he joined hands with Nuthan, a graphic designer who taught himself how to use AI tools. Together, the two-man team used around 30 different AI applications to design the cast, create visuals, generate drone-like shots, compose music and even script dialogues. The film cost £9,500 (₹10 lakh) to make, most of which went into buying software licences, and took just six months to complete.
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Love You received a U/A certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), officially recognising it as a feature film. Though Murthy originally aimed to make the world’s first AI film, he later acknowledged that a movie called Where the Robots Grow had already taken that title in 2024.
Murthy plans to release the film on just one screen as a symbolic gesture to mark a first-of-its-kind attempt in Kannada cinema. The film features 12 songs, with lyrics and dialogue written by Murthy himself, while AI handled the rest.
The CBFC, while impressed by the film’s effort, did flag a few technical limitations. Characters’ appearances changed slightly between scenes, emotional expressions lacked depth, and lip-syncing wasn’t always on point. Still, the board praised the idea for pushing boundaries.
A still from Love You, India’s first AI-generated film created without actors, technicians, or crewInstagram
Meanwhile, Nuthan explained how quickly AI tools are evolving. “The tools we used are already outdated. If we were to make the film again today, it would look far better,” he said.
Murthy isn’t stopping here. He’s already planning two more AI-led films, one on Bengaluru’s founder Kempe Gowda and another on the ancient king Immadi Pulikeshi.
In a world where storytelling is rapidly changing, Murthy's experiment hints at what regional cinema might look like in the years to come.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.