Kannada superstar Kiccha Sudeep is in the limelight today as two of his biggest movies are turning around. Huchcha was released on 6th July 2001, and Sudeep—then a fresh graduate Sachidananda—was thrust into superstardom. It has been nearly eleven years since then and on 6th July 2012 he shocked the world in a villainous role in S.S. Rajamouli’s Eega. The coincidence of these anniversaries is being celebrated by fans with mashup posters, video tributes and love messages on social media.
Huchcha: The Breakout Role
Directed by Ravichandran, Huchcha had Sudeep’s raw intensity and emotional depth. His portrayal of a troubled young man resonated with audiences and he won the Filmfare Best Actor Award and made him one of the most promising actors in Kannada cinema. The success also gave him the nickname Kiccha and it has come to be viewed as a part of his identity. To fans so far, Huchcha is a cult classic that was the beginning of a very interesting journey.
Eega: A Pan-India Phenomenon
Eleven years later, Sudeep faced an entirely different challenge in Rajamouli’s fantasy revenge drama Eega. As the ruthless industrialist who is the target of a ghostly housefly, Sudeep played it with menace and charisma. It was one of the biggest hits in the world and won National Awards, grossing over ₹125 crore worldwide and becoming one of Indian cinema’s best-known projects. Sudeep as the villain was so well received that it wasn’t long before he was seen as a great actor, which proved his versatility.
Karnataka and all over the world, the anniversary’s fans have also paid tribute on these anniversaries. Social media is littered with mashup posters that fuse Sudeep’s intense look from Huchcha with his sleek villainous look in Eega. Video cuts show the transition from a raw newcomer to a pan-India star. Admirers say he has always been able to switch freely between roles and perform well, as having “unmatched range.”
Sudeep himself was proud of the accomplishment, calling both movies “unforgettable gems forever in my heart.” He said he would like to thank directors, co-stars and fans for helping him to this point in his career. And these two movies not only helped him in the direction he was on, but also the talent he had exhibited from madness to menace to local stardom to national recognition.
The coincidence of Huchcha and Eega as they came out eleven years apart is emblematic of Sudeep’s career. Huchcha gave him his identity as “Kiccha” and Eega made it possible for him to succeed all over India. Together they represent the duality of his career rooted in Kannada cinema and big on a national level.
Sudeep’s longevity has earned him his fans’ esteem but his ability to move from the old to the new and to remake himself from one genre or language to the next and back to the old again and again to the new one. So for the audience who still watch today, it’s as much about Sudeep as he is inspiring and entertaining.
