'Karimani Malika Ninalla': What Is This Social Media Trend & Who Started It?

Social media feeds of Kannadigas have been flooded with viral clips featuring the catchy tune of 'Karimani Malika Ninalla' in the last two months. Influencers and social media enthusiasts have jumped on the bandwagon, unleashing their own creative renditions of this humorous trend, much to the delight of netizens.

But what sparked this sudden surge in popularity for an old song? And who kickstarted this trend?

For the uninitiated, 'Karimani Malika Ninalla' is a timeless song from the blockbuster Kannada movie 'Upendra', released in 1999. Penned by Upendra himself and sung by Pratima Rao, the song, set to music by Gurukiran, portrays a poignant scene between Upendra and Prema, with the iconic line 'Karimani Malika Ninalla' serving as a witty rejection of matrimonial expectations.

'Karimani means a small black glass beed which are are stringed as a necklace and worn by married women). The line, as in said by the actress, intends to say that he (Upendra) is not my husband.

The resurgence of this song can be credited to an Instagram user named Kanaka, hailing from Kanakapura. In a recent interview with a news channel, Kanaka shared his journey, stating, "I usually create one or two Reels a week. Those familiar with my account know I leverage songs to enhance my videos. When I came across this particular song, I felt it would be perfect for a Reel. After receiving positive feedback from friends, I decided to share it on Instagram, and it went viral within a week."

Who is Kanaka?

Formerly employed as a set boy in the film industry for six years, Kanaka eventually left the field due to limited opportunities. "I saw no future for myself there, so I made the decision to move on. Drawing on my knowledge of editing and camera techniques, I transitioned into photography in my hometown. Whenever I find spare time, I channel my creativity into making Reels," he explained.

Following the success of his video, many Kannadigas on social media came up with their own versions. Like Kanaka's video, another popular social media user Vicky Pedia's clip went viral. His imagination and creativity has been hailed as he gives a twist to the story in the end. Watch his clip here: