Tagaru () is a 2018 Indian Kannada-language action film directed by Duniya Soori and produced by K. P. Srikanth. It features Shiva Rajkumar, Bhavana and Manvitha in the lead roles along with Dhananjay, Vasishta N. Simha and Devaraj in key supporting roles. The soundtrack and score are composed by Charan Raj and the cinematography by Mahendra Simha. Shivakumara Swami of the Sree Siddaganga Mutt appears for three seconds in the film while lyricist Jayanth Kaikini and composer Charan Raj make a guest appearance in a song sequence.
The film was officially launched on 22 August 2016 and the first look was released the following day. The project marks the second collaboration between Soori and Shiva Rajkumar after Kaddipudi (2013).
Tagaru was theatrically released on 23 February 2018 to positive reviews from critics and became the third highest-grossing Kannada film of 2018. A magnanimous chunk of the narrative device from this movie was reported to be the main source of inspiration for the template of the tweaked screenplay of the 2021 Telugu film Krack.
Plot
ACP Shiva alias Tagaru Shiva investigates a suicide case of a girl named Tejaswani. The suicide is linked to a notorious gangster Daali and his brother Cockroach, where he also investigates a teenager's death, which is orchested by Uncle's aide Baby Krishna. Shiva kills Baby at his hideout, where he arrests Cockroach (who came to celebrate Baby's birthday at the hideout) and tortures him, but releases him due to Daali and Uncle's influence.
Shiva meets Panchami through an alliance sent by his superior ACP Ramachandra, where they begin to spend time with each other and decide to get married. A cat and mouse game ensues between Daali and Shiva, where Shiva kills Cockroach in an encounter. Enraged, Daali and his best friend Chittaranjan "Chitte" attacks Panchami and Shiva during the morning jog. Shiva and Panchami are admitted to hospital, where Panchami dies from her injuries.
Seeking vengeance for Panchami's death, Shiva discreetly kills every associates connected to Daali and Chitte, including Chitte and Uncle. Shiva learns that Panchami's sister Punarvasu is arrested by the Goa Police in a raid, where he saves and takes her to Ramachandra's house. Daali learns about Shiva's involvement behind the murders, where he hires an hitman to finish him. The hitman finishes Ramachandra, where he soon gets killed by Shiva. Shiva heads to Daali's birthday bash and kills Daali, thus avenging Panchami's death.
Cast
Shiva Rajkumar as ACP Shivakumar
Dhananjay as Daali aka Nimbe
Bhavana as Panchami, Shiva's fiancée
Manvitha as Punarvasu, Panchami's younger sister
Devaraj as ACP Ramachandra, Shiva's mentor
Vasishta N. Simha as Chittaranjan "Chitte" Sudhi as Cockroach, Daali's brother Sachidananda Sachu as Don Uncle aka Narayanaswamy Devanatha as Baby Krishna Poornachandra Mysuru as Jaamoon Ravi Anitha Bhat as Daali's girlfriend Triveni Rao as Constable Saroja Rockline Sudhakar as Subbi aka Saahiti Dileep as Dileepa Satyanarayana as Constable Satyanna M. N. Lakshmi Devi as Shiva's grandmother
Production
Filming
On 3 November 2015 an article was published with an announcement that after the success of the crime drama film Kaddipudi in 2013, director Soori would again collaborate with actor Shiva Rajkumar for an action film titled Tagaru. However, it was reported that the film would go on floors only after both of them complete their pending projects. On 22 August 2016, the film was officially launched in Bangalore with all the lead cast being finalized. The first schedule was wrapped up on 26 November 2016. The second schedule began on 12 December and was held in Mysore, Udupi, Gokarna and other coastal areas. From 3 March 2017, the third schedule was filmed with actress Bhavana joining the team.
The first schedule was held in and around Bangalore and Tumkur while the second schedule scenes were canned at Mysore, Mangalore and other coastal belt regions of Karnataka.