The film deals with the theme of reincarnation and the lead actors romance in two getups - one in the modern day and another 200 years ago. The film ws a huge success at the box-office.[4] In an episode in Weekend with Ramesh , S. P. Balasubrahmanyam revealed that Ilaiyaraaja had worked under G. K. Venkatesh as a guitar player.[5] This movie popularized the role of the suave antihero in Kannada films.
The film was released on 27 May 1976.[6] It had a theatrical run of 25 weeks.[7] In recent times Magadheera[8] is said to have been inspired by this movie based on similarities noted in the core plot elements.
G. K. Venkatesh composed the soundtrack and the lyrics were written by Chi. Udaya Shankar. The album consists of five soundtracks.[9] The song Thanuvu Manavu had another video version which was deleted and the reshot version was used in the movie. The earlier version was used in Kashinath's 1989 movie Preyasi Preethisu.[10] The initial lyrics of the song Nooru Kannu Saaladu was Baare Nanna Mohini.[11] G.K.Venkatesh re-used the tune of Nooru Kannu Saaladu as Maaghamasa Velalo for the 1980 Telugu movie Jathara.[12]