Maryslanker at 21:26, 3 March 2026

2026-03-03T21:26:28Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Kalidasa Kannada Meshtru
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| director = [[Kaviraj (lyricist)|Kaviraj]]
| writer =
| producer = Uday Kumar
| starring = {{Ubl|[[Jaggesh]]|[[Meghana Gaonkar]]}}
| cinematography = Suresh Gundlupet
| editing = K. M. Prakash
| music = [[Gurukiran]]
| studio = Uday Films
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|df=y|2019|11|22}}
| runtime =
| country = India
| language = Kannada
| budget =
| gross =
}}

'''''Kalidasa Kannada Meshtru''''' ({{Translation|Kalidasa Kannada teacher}}) is a 2019 Indian Kannada-language [[comedy drama film]] directed by [[Kaviraj (lyricist)|Kaviraj]] and starring [[Jaggesh]] and [[Meghana Gaonkar]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/bhavanaa-rao-shares-her-thoughts-on-kalidaasa-kannada-meshtru/articleshow/72288239.cms|title=Bhavanaa Rao shares her thoughts on Kalidaasa Kannada Meshtru - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/audiences-are-now-reflecting-on-their-parenting-kaviraj/articleshow/72275527.cms|title=Audiences are now reflecting on their parenting: Kaviraj - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/reminisce-about-your-school-days-with-kalidaasa-kannada-meshtru-kaviraj/articleshow/72164420.cms|title=Reminisce about your school days with Kalidaasa Kannada Meshtru: Kaviraj - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/kalidaasa-kannada-meshtru-teaser-treats-fans-to-an-entertaining-jaggesh/articleshow/71218146.cms|title='Kalidaasa Kannada Meshtru' teaser treats fans to an entertaining Jaggesh - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Kalidasa, a government school teacher, is a hard worker who is ridiculed for his poor English skills. On the personal front, his upper-class wife is unhappy with his social status. When the school faces the threat of being shut down, Kalidasa takes it on himself to fight the education system.

==Cast==
* [[Jaggesh]] as Kalidasa
* [[Meghana Gaonkar]] as Suma, Kalidasa's wife
* [[T. S. Nagabharana]]
* [[Tabla Nani]]
* [[Ambika (actress)|Ambika]]
* Raghu Ramankoppa

;Cameo appearances in promotional song<ref name=two>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/kalidasa-kannada-meshtru-features-19-actresses-in-one-song/articleshow/72072343.cms|title='Kalidasa Kannada Meshtru' features 19 actresses in one song - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref name=one>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/director-kaviraj-ropes-in-21-actresses-for-kalidasa-kannada-meshtru/articleshow/71735679.cms|title=Director Kaviraj ropes in 21 actresses for 'Kalidasa Kannada Meshtru' - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2019/oct/23/kaviraj-brings-together-21-kannada-heroines-for-kalidasa--2051631.html|title=Kaviraj brings together 21 Kannada heroines for Kalidasa Kannada Meshtru|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
{{Colbegin}}
* [[Rachita Ram]]
* [[Haripriya]]
* [[Amulya]]
* [[Shubha Poonja]]
* [[Aditi Prabhudeva]]
* [[Sonu Gowda]]
* Divya Uruduga
* [[Samyukta Hornad]]
* [[Harshika Poonacha]]
* [[Nishvika Naidu]]
* [[Sindhu Lokanath]]
* [[Krishi Thapanda]]
* Vaibhavi Jai Jagadish
* Vainidhi Jai Jagadish
* Vaisiri Jai Jagdish
* [[Anupama Gowda]]
* [[Karunya Ram]]
* Roopika
* [[Disha Poovaiah]]
{{Colend}}

==Production==
Kaviraj initially wanted to make a thriller with Jaggesh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/education-is-a-part-of-life-not-your-entire-life/articleshow/72164084.cms|title='Education is a part of life, not your entire life' - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref> Kaviraj was inspired to make this film after reading a newspaper article about a student writing his death note in an exam.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/a-newspaper-article-inspired-me-to-write-kalidaasa-kannada-meshtru-kaviraj/articleshow/72094056.cms|title=A newspaper article inspired me to write Kalidaasa Kannada Meshtru: Kaviraj - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref> Jaggesh's character is similar to the ones in his 1990s films.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2019/nov/20/kalidasa-kannada-mestru-viewers-will-get-to-watch-jaggesh-of-the-1990s-15622.html|title='Viewers will get to watch Jaggesh of the 1990s in Kalidasa Kannada Mestru'|website=[[Cinema Express]]}}</ref>

==Themes and influences==
Jaggesh's and Meghana Gaonkar's characters are representations of [[Kali]] and [[Dasa]], respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/i-got-chided-for-speaking-kannada-and-not-english-says-meghana-gaonkar/articleshow/72070775.cms|title=I got chided for speaking Kannada, and not English, says Meghana Gaonkar - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

==Release==
The film was scheduled to release on 15 November,<ref name=one/> but it released on 22 November.<ref name=two/>

== Reception ==
A. Sharadhaa of ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' opined that "''Kalidasa Kannada Mestru'' ends with a thought -- educate children, but do not punish them. It is a well-timed film and will come in handy for parents preparing their children for exams. This is a topic that needs attention from the entire family".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2019/nov/23/kalidasa-kannada-mestru-review-a-wake-up-call-about-indias-education-system-2065871.html|title='Kalidasa Kannada Mestru' review: A wake-up call about India's education system|website=The New Indian Express|first=A.|last=Sharadhaa}}</ref> Sunayana Suresh of ''[[The Times of India]]'' wrote that "The film has its intent in place and does have a fair share of comedy and drama that ensure the audience is entertained."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/kalidaasa-kannada-meshtru/movie-review/72178974.cms|title=Kalidaasa Kannada Meshtru Movie Review: Is 'solid' education or life skills more important?|work=The Times of India|last=Suresh|first=Sunayana}}</ref> Shyam Prasad S. of ''[[Bangalore Mirror]]'' stated that "Kalidasa Kannada Meshtru is at the higher end of entertainment."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/reviews/kalidasa-kannada-meshtru-movie-review-this-kannada-film-is-at-the-higher-end-of-entertainment-and-lower-end-of-a-serious-debate/articleshow/72187376.cms|title=Kalidasa Kannada Meshtru movie review: This Kannada film is at the higher end of entertainment and lower end of a serious debate|website=Bangalore Mirror|first=Shyam|last=Prasad S.}}</ref>

==Television==
The film premiered on television on 4 April 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/kannada/kalidasa-kannada-meshtru-world-television-premiere-tonight/articleshow/74979787.cms|title=Kalidasa Kannada Meshtru world television premiere, tonight|newspaper=The Times of India|date=4 April 2020|accessdate=30 August 2022}}</ref>

== References ==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:2019 films]]
[[Category:Indian comedy films]]
[[Category:2019 Kannada-language films]]
[[Category:2019 comedy films]]

Kalidasa Kannada Meshtru - Revision history

Maryslanker at 21:26, 3 March 2026