A grand puja and homa organized by the Kannada film industry on August 14 aimed to uplift the industry from its current state of despair. The event received both support and criticism. Doddanna, justifying the event, stated that it was done with good intentions and hopes the critics can see the positive aspect of the gesture.

Key highlights of the event included priests from the Karavali region, notably Prakash Ammannaya from Kaup, conducting rituals predicting and addressing the industry's challenges. The preparations started the previous night and included a gana homa, Mrutyunjaya homa, and Ashlesha bali puja that lasted half a day.

The costs of the various rituals ranged from Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000. Noteworthy was the intricate design of the Ashlesha puja room's mandala, which took six hours to complete with strict adherence to traditional protocols.

The decision to organize the puja was driven by the industry elders seeking divine intervention during challenging times, drawing parallels to families seeking solace through religious practices in times of crisis. Doddanna emphasized the industry's unity and faith in facing adversity.

Overall, the puja aimed to bring together the industry community for a common cause, highlighting the importance of faith and unity in overcoming obstacles.It is a responsibility to attend. When an artist invites you to their home for a puja, we all make the effort to go. Therefore, when the industry gathers for a noble purpose, it is important and proper to attend. - Gurukiran, music director