Even as big banners are shying away from releasing their star-studded films during the world cup cricket, small film makers are making most of this lean period.

Over the past few weeks, on an average three-four such films (barring a few big budget ones) are hitting the Kannada screens. This week is no exception with five films to choose from.

Gun

Actor-director Harish Raj is among this week's competitors. Gun, Raj's second directorial is the story of a college dropout who takes to wrong doings. The film has been named Gun as the weapon plays an important role in this youth's life.

"In the film, every time I hold a gun, it evokes a different emotion in me. Thus the film has been named so," says Raj. The story develops as the hero gets on the wrong side of a local goon.

There are two heroines in the film. Mallika Kapoor plays a TV journalist while Nikhita is Raj's college mate.

Pooja Gandhi's 29 film Aptha is also releasing this week. The film directed by Sanjeev Kapoor has five women in the lead. It highlights drug abuse and ragging that takes place among the youth.

Pooja Gandhi plays a village belle who seeks admission in a city medical college. The film is about the travails of a village girl in the big bad city. The film is partly based on a true incident involving the suicide of a college girl.

Neeraj Shyam is the hero. Aptha promises to be an edge of the seat thriller.

After the success of Eradane Maduve, Ananth Nag is trying his hand at comedy yet again. The veteran actor will play the lead protagonist in Take it Easy. The film tries to brings out the problems faced by the Indian middle class in a comical way.

Nag plays a school master struggling to make ends meet. He is an honest middle class man trying to fulfill the needs and aspirations of his family and himself. Shashi Kumar also plays a pivotal role in the film. He, in fact comes as a catalyst of change in Nag's life.

Chitra Shenoy, Sanjana and Adi Lokesh are also part of the cast.

Raj, who was the hero in Esha, is turning director with Sacha. But this time Raj has opted out of acting in it by casting his friend Vikram instead. Divya Shreedhar is the leading lady.

The film tells the love story of a painter. It also reflects on how difficult it is for innocent, upright and honest people to survive in this harsh world.

Asked if the film is autobiographical as Raj is painter himself, he said, "No it's just about the problems painters go through in this competitive world."

Kari Basavaiah, Ninasam Ashwat, Shobraj and Tamil actress Likitha are also part of the cast. Ali Khan, who has acted opposite Amitabh Bachchan in Kudha Gawa and in films like Ghulam, will be seen in a cameo. 

Parmeshwar Hedge is the music director. Vasudhara Das has sung two songs.

Marathi film director Satish Shetty is making his Kannada film debut with Karthik. The film stars Karthik of Yuva fame and Archana Gupta who has acted in Circus and Lift Kodla.

The film tells the story of how two families turn foes after members of one family become financially unstable. Despite these differences, the hero and heroine, who belong to these two warring families, fall for each other. The film is about how they unite their families.

Karthik is an action flick. Nanjundi Nagaraj, who has worked as a body double for reputed actors like Rajkumar, Dharmendra and Sivaji Ganeshan, is the action director.