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From Torch Boy to Hit Director: Manoj Kumar Wins National Award for First Film!
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News18•03-10-2026, 21:25
From Torch Boy to Hit Director: Manoj Kumar Wins National Award for First Film!
- •Director Manoj Kumar's film 'Premada Oorali' is receiving public appreciation and is collecting well.
- •Manoj Kumar recalled his old days, working as a torch boy at Santosh Theater.
- •He mentioned working as a torch boy for Puneeth Rajkumar's films.
- •Manoj Kumar stated that 'Premada Oorali', an 18-year-old dream, succeeded with the media's support.
- •Manoj Kumar's previous film 'Akshi' received the 67th National Award for Best Regional Kannada Film.
Key Questions Answered
Director Manoj Kumar moved from his village to Gandhinagar looking for work and eventually worked as a torch boy at Santosh Theater for Puneeth Rajkumar's films, where he even had to sleep outside on cardboard at night.
The film Premada Oorali was released on September 25th last month alongside five other films. Although it had low initial collections, it gained momentum and drew audiences to theaters through strong word-of-mouth publicity.
Yes, Manoj Kumar previously directed a film named Akshi, which won the 67th National Award for Best Regional Kannada Film.
