First AI film in Kannada was made by a priest on ₹10 lakh budget in 6 months, with no actors or crew; here's how

By Admin

23 Apr, 2025

In a groundbreaking achievement for Indian cinema, a humble priest from Karnataka has stunned the film industry with a bold, tech-driven venture. Narasimha Murthy, from Siddehalli village near Bengaluru, has created Sandalwood’s first fully AI-generated film—Love You—without actors, crew, or traditional production setups. This cinematic leap not only redefines low-budget filmmaking but also opens doors to a new era of creativity driven by Artificial Intelligence.

A Bold Vision from a Quiet Village

Narasimha Murthy isn’t your typical filmmaker. As a priest, his world revolved around spirituality, not cinema. But his dream of creating a feature film led him to explore emerging technologies—specifically Artificial Intelligence. Determined to push boundaries, he envisioned making a movie that would bypass the need for a traditional cast and crew, instead relying entirely on AI tools.

Collaboration and Creation

To turn this dream into reality, Narasimha teamed up with Nuthan, a graphic designer turned AI technician. The duo worked together over six months to bring Love You to life—a 95-minute Kannada feature film completed on a modest budget of ₹10 lakh. Remarkably, the majority of the budget was spent on software licenses for more than 30 different AI tools used throughout the production.

Everything in Love You—from the cast and soundtrack to the visuals and drone shots—was generated using AI. The film features 12 original songs and dialogues powered by machine learning models, though Narasimha himself wrote parts of the lyrics and dialogue.

Certified and Recognized

Love You received a U/A certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), marking a significant milestone for Indian cinema. The CBFC acknowledged the effort, despite noticing challenges with AI-generated content—such as inconsistent character appearances and less-than-perfect lip-syncing. Still, the board admired the film's innovation and Narasimha’s ambition.

Not the First in the World, But a First for India

Although Narasimha initially aimed to create the world’s first AI-generated feature film, the title technically goes to Where The Robots Grow, released in 2024. However, Love You remains a historic achievement as the first AI film in Kannada cinema, and arguably one of the boldest independent projects in Indian film history.

What's Next?

This is just the beginning for Narasimha. Encouraged by the response, he is already working on two new AI-powered films—one based on Bengaluru’s founder Kempe Gowda, and another on the legendary historical figure Immadi Pulikeshi. As AI technology rapidly evolves, the potential for cinematic storytelling continues to expand, and Narasimha Murthy is at the forefront of this digital revolution.

Conclusion

Love You is more than a film; it's a statement. It proves that with vision, passion, and technology, even the most unlikely individuals can create something revolutionary. Narasimha Murthy’s journey from temple priest to tech-driven filmmaker is an inspiring reminder that storytelling knows no bounds—not even budget, crew, or convention.