Kannada Paranormal Thriller Shikhandi Releases Starring Yuvraj Gowda

The Kannada paranormal thriller film 'Shikhandi', which sets its opening act inside a Bengaluru-based real estate company, officially released on May 15, 2026. Directed by Gurumurthy V, the UA-rated feature film runs for 2 hours and 2 minutes, blending elements of commercial drama, horror, and mythology.

The narrative begins with a breezy office setup in Bengaluru, where a character named Naveen, played by Vijay Chendur, introduces Surya and a team of young architects. The team is assigned a major project to construct a multispeciality hospital in a remote village in Ballary. The project is commissioned for Sangeetha, played by Khyathei, the daughter of a wealthy doctor and businessman.

The storyline shifts as the group of architects relocates to the Ballary village to begin their work. While there, a romance develops between Surya, played by Yuvraj Gowda, and Sangeetha. The film's suspense builds when the group discovers an abandoned temple during a trek, which is followed by a tiger encounter and subsequent paranormal disturbances at their place of stay.

An animated mythological sequence introducing the legend of "Shikhandi" is integrated into the film to add intrigue. The plot also features a subplot focused on a business rivalry involving Sangeetha’s father and another powerful businessman. The broader premise of the film involves an orphan in the age of Kaliyuga who crosses paths with a ruthless man feared for his terrifying, unconventional methods of destruction, awakening invisible powers that guide his fight.

The film's second half introduces more prominent characters, featuring performances by Raj Deepak Shetty and Bala Rajwadi. The narrative becomes tighter after the interval, where the horror-thriller elements find a more consistent rhythm.

While the actors, many of whom are fresh faces, deliver decent performances, the film's overall production is marked by uneven dubbing that occasionally detracts from the emotional impact of the scenes. The film, which stars Yuvraj Gowda, Nikhil Maliyakkal, Raj Deepak Shetty, and Khyathei, released with a 2.5-star rating.