Launched on 3 July 1999 by K. M. Veeresh,[1] it was the first dedicated online portal for Kannada cinema.
[3] K. M. Veeresh, a photographer and journalist, conceived the idea for Chitraloka.com during a vacation in Singapore, where he struggled to access updates on Kannada cinema.
After acquiring a personal computer, he aimed to create a website to serve news on Kannada cinema, primarily for Kannada-speaking audiences overseas, particularly in the Gulf and the United States.
[5] In its early years, the website was primarily operated by Veeresh himself, with support from journalist colleagues as needed.
[4] In 2009, Chitraloka.com was recognized by the Limca Book of Records for showcasing 3,000 Kannada film stills, ranging from Sati Sulochana (1935) to Namyajamanru (2009).