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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Humble Politician Nograj
| image = Humble_Politician_Nograj_Poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical poster
| director = [[Saad Khan]]
| producer = [[Pushkara Mallikarjunaiah]] [[Hemanth M Rao]] [[Rakshit Shetty]]
| writer = [[Danish Sait]] Saad Khan Vamsidhar Bhogaraju
| screenplay = Saad Khan
| based_on =
| starring = Danish Sait [[Vijay Chendoor]] [[Sumukhi Suresh]] [[Roger Narayan]] [[Sruthi Hariharan]]
| narrator =
| music = Sricharan Pakala Debajit Jeet Singh DJ Jasmeet Prajwal Pai
| cinematography = Karm Chawla
| editing = Jagadeesh Ram Sabare Chandni Asnani
| studio = [[Pushkar Films]] Lost & Found Films [[Paramvah Studios]]
| distributor =
| released = {{film date|2018|01|12|ref1=<ref name="T" />}}
| runtime = 145 minutes
| country = India
| language = Kannada
| gross = 
}}
'''''Humble Politician Nograj''''' is a 2018 Indian [[Kannada]]-language [[comedy film]] written and directed by [[Saad Khan]]. The film stars [[Danish Sait]], who plays the title character of Nograj, a narcissistic politician.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/Humble-Politician-Nograj-is-a-film-star-now/articleshow/55574353.cms|title=Humble Politician Nograj is a film star now — Times of India|website=indiatimes.com|accessdate=7 May 2017}}</ref> The film was produced by [[Pushkara Mallikarjunaiah]], [[Hemanth M Rao]] and [[Rakshit Shetty]] under the banners Pushkar Films, Lost & Found Films, and Paramvah Studios, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2017/apr/15/voices-of-reason-in-humble-politician-nograj-1593712.html|title=Voices of reason in humble politician Nograj|website=newindianexpress.com|accessdate=7 May 2017}}</ref> The movie was inspired by the 2012 American movie ''[[The Campaign (film)|The Campaign]]''.

== Plot ==
Nograj ([[Danish Sait]]) is a corrupt corporator of a fictitious constituency called DS Nagar along with his faithful assistant Monjunath ([[Vijay Chendoor]]), whose MLA, Jagatprabhu F. Kumar, abbreviated JFK (Hanumanthe Gowda), treats corporators as his servants and steals credit for their public achievements. Nograj encounters this firsthand when Nograj repaves a road (at 3 times the actual cost) but JFK takes credit. Intending to take JFK out, Nograj and his fellow OBP corporators orchestrate a garbage collector strike and run a massive parking scam, all to stoke anger against JFK. The resulting public anger causes the president KG Byrappa (Akki Basappa) to refuse to let JFK stand in the upcoming MLA election. Nograj convinces the party secretary Gurudas Bhat (Raghu Ramakoppa) to advocate for his candidacy to the vice president of OBP Michael Narayan ([[Srinivas Prabhu]]), but Gurudas also says he needs to be noticed first. To this end, Nograj bribes the electrician Kempaiah to shut off the power grid. Nograj publicly threatens to cut himself if the power is not returned, which leads to restoration of power.

Arun Patil ([[Roger Narayan]]), an honest NRI leading a pharmaceutical startup sees the incompetence of the government and decides to try and change it by running for MLA. Patil actually focuses on implementing solutions to problems instead of stoking hatred. In addition, Patil discovers Nograj is behind a scam that is charging people inflated prices for water from tankers, leading to constant water shortages. However, he refuses to release the information as a normal politician like Nograj himself would. For his main speech, Nograj and Monjunath unsuccessfully break into Patil's office to steal his manifesto for their own speech. Although Patil's co-workers ask him to release the footage of Nograj's break-in, Patil refuses, saying there are more important things for him to focus on. During their speeches, Patil clearly lays out how he could make positive changes in government while Nograj just talks nonsense to paid supporters.

Nograj creates controversies to make Patil seem worse. Nograj tails Patil and doctors footage of him helping his wife Rama ([[Sruthi Hariharan]]) in a store to claim he had harassed her. He also coerces a former Muslim employee of Patil's company to claim he was fired for his religion when he actually had sold pharmaceuticals in the black market. Nograj eventually meets Patil at his house and finds him kind and honest, and begins to think twice about all the mudslinging he is doing. After Monjunath gets him to remember his true goals of making as much money as possible, Nograj lets Monjunath and his other helper Pramod (Vamsidhar Bhogaraju) beat Nograj up and blames his injuries on Patil, which quickly gains media attention.

On election day, Nograj's gang uses dirty tricks to ensure voter fraud like handing out alcohol, money, etc. At the announcement of results, Nograj wins but tricks Patil into thinking that he will give the title to Patil, then takes the victory. He says that Patil, like everyone else, should be a citizen because he believed Nograj was genuine and celebrates wildly with OBP party workers. When Rama asks Patil why he didn't reveal Nograj's water scam, he says he would never stoop to Nograj's level.

== Cast ==
*[[Danish Sait]] as Humble Politician Nograj,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2017/may/03/nograj-humbled-by-love-1600312.html|title=Nograj humbled by love|website=newindianexpress.com|accessdate=7 May 2017}}</ref> who strives to become the MLA in the election
*[[Vijay Chendoor]] as Monjunath, Nograj's personal assistant<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/monjunath-is-caught-between-the-devil-and-the-deep-sea-vijay-chendoor/articleshow/62082426.cms|title=Monjunath is caught between the devil and the deep sea: Vijay Chendoor|work=The Times of India|date=16 December 2017|first=Mohammed|last=Waseem}}</ref>
*[[Sumukhi Suresh]] as Lavanya, Nograj's wife and reason why he became a politician<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/how-a-prank-landed-sumukhi-suresh-a-role-in-humble-politician-nograj/articleshow/62053054.cms|title=How a prank landed Sumukhi Suresh a role in Humble Politician Nograj|date=14 December 2017|work=The Times of India}}</ref>
*[[Roger Narayan]] as Arun Patil, the honest opponent of Nograj<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2017/dec/19/roger-narayan-plays-outsider-and-conscience-in-humble-politician-nograj-3685.html|title=Roger Narayan plays an outsider in Humble Politician Nograj|work=Cinema Express|date=19 December 2017|last=Sharadhaa|first=A.}}</ref>
*[[Sruthi Hariharan]] as Rama, Arun Patil's wife<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2018/jan/05/i-will-be-part-of-good-quality-cinema-or-no-cinema-at-all-sruthi-hariharan-3929.html|title=I will be part of good-quality cinema or no cinema at all: Sruthi Hariharan|work=Cinema Express|date=5 January 2018|last=Sharadhaa|first=A.}}</ref>
*Vamsidhar Bhogaraju as Pramod, one of Nogaraj's main thugs<ref name="B">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/meet-the-ensemble-cast-that-completes-humble-politician-nograj/articleshow/62365600.cms|title=Meet the ensemble cast that completes Humble Politician Nograj|date=5 January 2018|work=The Times of India|first=Prathibha|last=Joy}}</ref>
*Raghu Ramankoppa as Secretary Gurudas Bhat, the secretary of OBP<ref name="B"/>
*Hanumanthegowda as Jagatprabhu F Kumar Aka JFK, the MLA Nograj wants to replace
*[[Pramod Shetty]] as Shankar, Arun Patil's personal assistant and campaign manager<ref name="B"/>
*Shiv Manju as Nanjundaiah, a fellow corporator of OBP and friend of Nograj<ref name="B"/>
*[[Srinivas Prabhu]] as Michael Narayan, vice-president of OBP<ref name="B"/>
*Akki Basappa as K.G. Byrappa, president of OBP<ref name="B"/>
*Mohammed Ashraf as Azam Khan, a Muslim corporator from OBP and Nograj's friend<ref name="B"/>
*Roopesh Naik
* Vinay Krishnaswamy as Prof. Narasimha, first victim of Nograj's scams
*Nitesh Nittur as Doctor in Nograj's dream sequence
*[[Puneeth Rajkumar]] as himself, in a cameo role as the chief guest at a college commencement<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/puneeth-rajkumar-does-a-cameo-in-humble-politician-nograj/articleshow/61102538.cms|title=Puneeth Rajkumar does a cameo in Humble Politician Nograj|date=16 October 2017|work=The Times of India}}</ref>

== Production ==
After [[Danish Sait]]'s popularity playing Nograj in various radio shows and YouTube videos, his long-time producer and friend [[Saad Khan]] wrote a film with him based on the same character. They wrote the story in 4 days.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/my-film-tells-people-whom-not-vote-danish-sait-humble-politician-nograj-74686|title=My film tells people whom not to vote for: Danish Sait on 'Humble Politician Nograj'|date=2018-01-13|work=The News Minute|access-date=2018-02-13}}</ref> [[Pushkara Mallikarjunaiah]], [[Hemanth M Rao]] and [[Rakshit Shetty]] jointly produced the film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2019/mar/28/brace-for-laughter-riot-as-sequel-to-humble-politician-nograj-in-the-works-1956716.html|title=Brace for laughter riot as sequel to 'Humble Politician Nograj' in the works|work=New Indian Express|date=28 March 2019}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack is composed by Telugu music director [[Sricharan Pakala]] in his Kannada debut and compromises of a single song titled "Problem Song". The song features lyrics by Danish Sait, Aditya Parashar, Vamsidhar Bhogaraju and Suni and is sung by Aditya Parashar and Poojan Kohli.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pss-_RDQamo|title=Problem Song - Humble Politician Nograj - Musical journey about Politicians, People & their Problems|work=Youtube|author=Pushkar Films|date=16 December 2017}}</ref>

==Release==

The film was released in Bangalore on 12 January.<ref name="T"/> The film was released in Australia,<ref name="A">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2018/jan/16/humble-politician-unseats-big-star-movies-from-theatres-1755469.html|title=Humble Politician unseats big star movies from theatres|work=New Indian Express|date=16 January 2018|last=Sharadhaa|first=A.}}</ref> New Zealand,<ref name="A"/> Germany<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/humblepoliticiannograj/photos/nograj-anna-is-came-to-germany-info-on-the-poster-httpskannadatalkieseu/539182559779355/|work=Facebook|date=15 January 2018|title=Nograj Anna is came to Germany 🇩🇪 Info on the poster!}}</ref> and the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/humble-politiciann-nograj-heads-to-the-us-this-week/articleshow/62679331.cms|title=Humble Politiciann Nograj heads to the US this week|date=28 January 2018|work=The Times of India}}</ref>

The film was made available on [[Amazon Prime Video]] on 7 February and was the first Kannada film to be released on Prime.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2019/oct/13/humble-politician-nograj-sequel-to-arrive-on-streaming-platform-14877.html|title=Humble Politician Nograj sequel to arrive on streaming platform|last=Sharadhaa|first=A.|work=Cinema Express|date=13 October 2019}}</ref>

===Reception===

The movie received generally positive reviews.

''[[The Times of India]]'' gave the film a rating of three out of five stars and stated "Watch it for Nograj, Monjunath and some LOL moments, with a pertinent message in the end".<ref name="T">{{cite web |title=Humble Politiciann Nogaraj Movie Review {3/5}: Critic Review of Humble Politiciann Nogaraj by Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/humble-politiciann-nogaraj/movie-review/62469836.cms |accessdate=1 December 2018}}</ref> [[Bangalore Mirror]] in its review noted that "The film may not resonate with everyone for the same reason that Nograj makes his opponent in the film realise. However, it is an honest effort at a purposeful film."<ref>{{cite web |title=Humble politician nograj movie review: Cunning linguist |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/reviews/humble-politician-nograj-movie-review-cunning-linguist/articleshow/62477418.cms |website=Bangalore Mirror |accessdate=1 December 2018}}</ref>

''[[Indian Express]]'' rated the film a rating of three-and-a-half out of five stars and stated "The real victory of ''Humble Politician Nograj'' writers Danish Sait and Saad Khan lies in their effort to create a sensible film backed with a clear plot, story, screenplay and cleverly-written dialogues."<ref>{{cite web |title=Humble Politician Nograj movie review: Danish Sait starrer mirrors real world |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/humble-politician-nograj-danish-sait-sumukhi-suresh-star-rating-5021587/ |website=The Indian Express |accessdate=1 December 2018 |date=13 January 2018}}</ref>

== Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Nominee
! Outcome
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Tooltip|Ref.|References}}
|-
| rowspan="4"|2019 || rowspan="4"|[[8th South Indian International Movie Awards]] || Best Debutant Actor || [[Danish Sait]] || {{won}} ||style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/230285/bengaluru-danish-sait-comedy-viral-online-lockdown-sushant-singh-rajput-india-nor41/|title=Exclusive: Danish Sait On Keeping India Entertained While Battling His Own Demons|work=The Better India|date=17 June 2020|last=Norbu Wangchuk|first=Rinchen}}</ref>
|-
| Best Actor In A Supporting Role || [[Roger Narayan]] || {{nom}} || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelivemirror.com/siima-2019-nominations-complete-list/|title=SIIMA 2019 Nominations: See Full List Of Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam & Kannada Film Industry|work=The Live Mirror|date=19 July 2019|last=Khandelwal|first=Stuti}}</ref>
|-
| Best Comedian || [[Vijay Chendoor]] || {{nom}}
|-
| Best Debut Director || [[Saad Khan]] || {{nom}} || style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2019/siima-2019-nominations-kannada-yash-kgf-chapter-1-makes-it-to-all-the-categories-288227.html|title=SIIMA 2019 Nominations (Kannada): Yash’s KGF Chapter 1 Makes It To All Categories!|work=Filmibeat|last=Krishnamurthy|first=Chaitra|date=2 August 2019}}</ref>
|}

== In popular culture ==
Nograj is the mascot of the [[Royal Challengers Bangalore]] cricket team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/french-biriyani-trailer-danish-sait-6508566/|title=French Biriyani trailer: Puneeth Rajkumar-Danish Sait promise a laugh riot|work=Indian Express|last=Kumar R.|first=Manoj|date=16 July 2020}}</ref>
==Spin off==
A ten episode web series named [[Humble Politiciann Nograj (TV series)|Humble Politiciann Nograj]] was released in [[Voot|voot select]] with Sait and Chendoor reprising their respective roles and [[Disha Madan]] in a pivotal role.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2019/oct/14/humble-politician-nograj-sequel-to-be-a-10-episode-web-series-2047092.html|title='Humble Politician Nograj' sequel to be a 10-episode web series|date=14 October 2019|work=New Indian Express|first=A.|last= Sharadhaa}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2020/jul/17/french-biriyani-will-remain-a-special-film-for-me-disha-madan-19402.html|title=French Biriyani will remain special film for me: Disha Madan|work=[[New Indian Express|Cinema Express]]|date=17 July 2020|first=A.|last=Sharadhaa}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|tt6577798}}
{{Pushkar Films}}
{{Hemanth M. Rao}}
{{Paramvah Studios}}

[[Category:2018 films]]
[[Category:Kannada-language films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:2010s satirical films]]
[[Category:Indian political comedy films]]
[[Category:Indian satirical films]]
[[Category:Indian political satire films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Charan Raj]]
[[Category:2010s Kannada-language films]]
[[Category:2018 comedy films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Sricharan Pakala]]

Humble Politician Nograj - Revision history

UpdateBot at 00:57, 22 May 2022