A. Harsha

Career

Harsha entered movie industry when he acted in movie Kashi from Village, as the brother of Kichha Sudeep and has since completed 300 dance sequences as choreographer. Harsha managed the entire event and choreographed the audio launch function of Nikhil Kumar's debut film, Jaguar.

Choreographer

Harsha debuted in KFI as a choreographer for the movie Ranga S.S.L.C in 2004. Harsha earned a lot of recognition when he choreographed the songs for Mungaaru Male. He has since choreographed for many popular movies, including Meravanige and Moggina Manasu, Rishi, Taj Mahal, Only Vishnuvardhana.

Director

Harsha made his directorial debut with Geleya in 2007, starring Prajwal Devraj and Tarun. involving the underworld. Harsha was appreciated for the freshness of the film, its making and was average at Box Office. Harsha took up direction again with Birugaali in 2009, this time including Chetan of Aa Dinagalu fame and casting his wife Sitara Vaidya. This movie opened to poor reviews despite melodious songs.

Harsha's 2012 film was Chingari starring Darshan was inspired from English movie Taken.

His 2013 film Bhajarangi featuring Shivarajkumar was a success at the box-office. He followed it up with similar script and same cast in Vajrakaya, which released in 2015 and was an average hit.

Released in 2016, Jai Maruthi 800 was panned by critics for following same storyline as Bhajarangi or Vajrakaya. As per Deccan Chronicle, "Anyone who has so far seen this director's previous 'commercial' hits Bhajarangi and Vajrakaya can easily predict what 'Jai Maruti 800' is all about. With no creative mind set, and banking heavily upon his narrative style from the previous 'commercially' successful films and off course leaving it to his favourite God - the ingredients remains the same but packed with a new label - comedy."

Harsha followed with two remakes Anjani Putra, which received mixed reviews even with Puneet Rajkumar in lead, and Seetharama Kalyana, which was a flop.

In October 2017, Harsha announced Raana with Yash amidst much fanfare. But Yash was not too happy with the script that Harsha had presented to him. Sources add that when Harsha presented the actor with the complete script, he wasn't too happy and had reportedly told the director to fine-tune it to meet his approval standards. Further, with the director's track record not being up to scratch, Yash's well-wishers reportedly advised him to put Raana in cold storage for the time being. Harsha replaced Yash with Shiva Rajkumar in the movie and eventually, renamed the movie as Bhajarangi 2.

Harsha has also announced release of his fourth movie with Shiva Raj kumar, which will be a departure from his usual title references and storyline. This movie was Shiva Raj kumar's 125th movie and titled Vedha.

Harsha ventured into Telugu movie industry with Bhimaa, but the film bombed at the box office. As per Times of India, "the script soon succumbs to conventional tropes, including exaggerated heroism, a superficial romantic subplot, and cheesy dialogues". Review of his direction by Deccan Chronicle stated as "Kannada director Harsha, who is known for supernatural thrillers in Sandalwood, delivers a disappointing film. Trying to blend mystical elements with a cop story falls flat. It will be difficult for even Lord Shiva to help him score a hit in Telugu"

His next venture was into Bollywood for Baaghi 4 produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. The movie opened to poor 13.2 Cr opening and was widely criticized for being violent, weak direction and was rated A for the gore, with an abysmal IMDB score. As per MensXP, the direction was reviewed as "As for A. Harsha’s vision? Let’s just say it was scattered across the floor. The film desperately tries to borrow elements from hits like Animal but only manages to make them worse. TimesNow reviewed the movie as "A Harsha, known for his work in the Kannada film industry, refuses to break the stereotype that accompanies action movies. He plays with tried and tested formulas, leaving little to imagination."

Filmography

As a director

Partial choreography

• Ranga SSLC (2004)
• Rishi (2005)
• Mungaru Male (2006)
• Geleya (2007)
• Meravanige (2008)
• Moggina Manasu (2008)
• Taj Mahal (2008)
• Vishnuvardhana (2011)
• Bahaddur (2014)
• Bengal Tiger (2015)
• Hebbuli (2017)
• Bharjari (2017)

As an actor

• Kashi from Village (2005)
• Jackpot (2006)

Television

References

References

1. "Harsha director for Sudeep's new film".
2. (12 August 2020). "Title of fourth movie with Shivarajkumar will not have a Hanuman connect, says director A Harsha".
3. "Harsha completes 300 dance sequences".
4. "Mandya celebrates the audio launch of Nikhil Kumar's Jaguar in full force".
5. "Jaguar Audio Release Highlights / Mandya".
6. "Birugali Movie Review {2.5/5}: Critic Review of Birugali by Times of India".
7. "Birugali".
8. "Chingari was inspired by Taken - Darshan - chitraloka.com | Kannada Movie News, Reviews | Image".
9. SM, Shashiprasad. (13 June 2015). "Movie Review 'Vajrakaya': A film more 'natural' than 'supernatural'".
10. Nathan, Archana. (10 April 2016). "Jai Maruthi 800: When even God can't save the day". The Hindu.
11. SM, Shashiprasad. (10 April 2016). "Jai Maruti 800 movie review: Same old model!".
12. "Ramya Krishnan is Puneeth's mother in Anjaniputra".
13. (20 March 2018). "Puneeth Rajkumar back with 'Anjani Putra' producer".
14. (17 October 2017). "Yash to play a cop for the first time with 'Raana'".
15. (14 March 2018). "Yash puts 'Raana' on hold".
16. "'Rana': Shivarajkumar replaces Yash in the Harsha directorial".
17. (15 February 2019). "Yash out, Shiva Rajkumar in for A Harsha's 'Raana'?".
18. "'Bhajarangi-2' teaser garners attention beyond Sandalwood".
19. "Hedarabedaa... Kshamisabedaa: Shivarajkumar and Harsha to collaborate for fourth time".
20. (March 11, 2021). "Shivarajkumar's 125th film to be directed by A Harsha. First look poster out".
21. "Bhimaa Movie Review: An Interesting Premise Marred by Outdated Narratives".
22. Prakash, B. V. S.. (2024-03-08). "Bhimaa: A disgusting cop story with silly mystical touch".
23. More, Shalmesh. (2025-09-06). "Baaghi 4 Worldwide Box Office Day 1: Rakes In 2nd Biggest Post-COVID Opening For Tiger Shroff!".
24. (2025-09-05). "Baaghi 4 Movie Review: Tiger Shroff bleeds, Sanjay Dutt snarls, you flinch".
25. Kumar, Vineeta. (2025-09-05). "Baaghi 4 review: Tiger Shroff's film is 2.5 hours of coma, and you pay for the bed".
26. Harsha. (2025-09-05). "Baaghi 4". Bouncer Production, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment.
27. (2025-09-05). "Baaghi 4 Review: Tiger Shroff's Senseless Action With Harnaaz Sandhu's Cringe Performance".
28. (2025-09-05). "Baaghi 4 Movie Review: Tiger Shroff's Beast Avatar Is All Roar No Bite".
29. "Chingari: Taken for granted".
30. (2024-04-30). "Puneeth Rajkumar's 'Anjani Putra' set for re-release". The Hindu.
31. Bharadwaj, Aswin. (2025-09-06). "Baaghi 4 Review {{!}} Hallucinations for the Hero, Delusions for the Makers, Exhaustion for the Audience".
32. "Ravi Teja gets a Kannada director".
33. "Every director must be his hero's biggest fan: 'Anjaniputra' director Harsha".
34. "Jackpot".
35. "Haripriya, Prajwal Devraj, and Master Harsha to judge reality show 'Dance Dance'".