Habba

Habba (transl. Festival) is a 1999 Indian Kannada-language drama film written and directed by D. Rajendra Babu. The film has an ensemble cast including Vishnuvardhan, Ambareesh, Devaraj, Jayapradha, Urvashi, Shashikumar, Ramkumar, Vijayalakshmi, Kasthuri and Charulatha.^[1] The movie was produced by Bharathi Devi for Chinni Chitra productions. The movie became a blockbuster and ran for more than 25 weeks. The film was remade in Telugu in 2002 as Chandravamsam starring Krishna.^[2] The movie was loosely based on the Pandavas's exile episode in the Virata Parva of Mahabharata.

Habba
DVD cover
Directed by	D. Rajendra Babu
Written by	B. A. Madhu (Dialogues)
Screenplay by	D. Rajendra Babu
Story by	J. K. Bharavi
Produced by	Nara Bharathi Devi
Starring	Vishnuvardhan Jaya Prada Ambareesh Shashikumar Urvashi Devaraj Ramkumar
Cinematography	P. K. H. Das
Edited by	T. Shashikumar
Music by	Hamsalekha
Production company	Chinni Chitra
Distributed by	Ramu Films
Release date	16 April 1999 (1999-04-16)
Running time	2 hours 22 minutes
Country	India
Language	Kannada

Cast

• Vishnuvardhan as Vishnu, eldest brother
• Jayapradha as Laxmi, Vishnu's wife
• Ambareesh as Ambi, second brother
• Urvashi as Mandodari, Ambi's wife
• Devaraj as Devu, third brother
• Kasthuri as Anu, Devu's wife
• Shashikumar as Shashi, fourth brother
• Charulatha as Savithri, Shashi's wife
• Ramkumar as Ram, youngest brother
• Vijayalakshmi as Seetha, Ram’s lover turned wife
• Leelavathi as Seetha's grandmother
• Pavithra Lokesh
• Padma Vasanthi
• Ashok Rao
• Ashalatha
• M. S. Umesh
• Bank Janardhan
• Negro Johnny
• Nagendra Babu as Seetha's elder brother
• Ravi Babu as Seetha's second brother
• Kazan Khan as Seetha's third brother
• A. V. Ravi (Jim) as Seetha's fourth brother
• M. S. Umesh
• Manjunath Hegde
• Bank Suresh
• Govindu
• Sreeraksha Shivakumar
• Suneetha Shetty
• Bullet Nagaraj

Production

The film was launched on 5 January 1999 at Neeladri Amusement Park.^[3] The film finished shooting as of March 1999.^[4]

Soundtrack

The music of the film was composed and lyrics were written by Hamsalekha.^[5] Popular playback singer Nanditha made her entry into film songs with this soundtrack.^[6] The song "Habba Habba" is a slightly modified version of the song "Yele Hombisile" which Hamsalekha had composed for the film Halunda Thavaru. All the songs in the film become chartbusters.

Habba
Soundtrack album by Hamsalekha
Released	February 1999 (1999-02)
Genre	Feature film soundtrack
Label	Anand Audio

No.	Title	Lyrics	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Channappa Channegowda"	Hamsalekha	Rajesh Krishnan, K. S. Chithra, Ramesh Chandra, Vishnu	05:32
2.	"Aarathi Yettire"	Hamsalekha	Nanditha	03:00
3.	"Dheem Takita"	Hamsalekha	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra	04:58
4.	"Habba Habba"	Hamsalekha	Rajesh Krishnan, Ramesh Chandra, Nanditha	04:57
5.	"Jenina Goodu"	Hamsalekha	Rajesh Krishnan, K. S. Chithra	05:25
6.	"Koti Koti Devaru"	Hamsalekha	Nanditha	01:52
7.	"Mama Mama Masti"	Hamsalekha	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam	05:04
8.	"Mai Tholiyo Shastra"	Hamsalekha	Nanditha	01:26
9.	"Yaale Yaale"	Hamsalekha	Rajesh Krishnan, K. S. Chithra	05:15

Reception

The New Indian Express called the film "a beautiful mansion without proper foundation".^[7] Deccan Herald wrote "this film stands out for its effort to infuse new life into the narration and proceedings."^[8]

Awards

Karnataka State Film Awards 1999-00

• Karnataka State Film Award for Best Screenplay - D. Rajendra Babu