V. Somashekhar

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V. Somashekhar
ವೆಂಕಟಪ್ಪ ಸೋಮಶೇಖರ್
V.SomashekharImg.jpg
Born
Venkatappa Somashekhar

(1937-07-27)27 July 1937
Chikkanahalli, Bangalore Rural district, Kingdom of Mysore, British India
Died22 August 2003(2003-08-22) (aged 66)
Bangalore, India
Nationality Indian
Other namesV. Somasekharan
Occupation(s)Film director, producer, screenwriter
SpouseGowramma
Children3
Awards Puttanna Kanagal Award (2001)

Venkatappa Somashekhar (27 July 1937 – 22 August 2003) was an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter in Kannada and Malayalam cinema. In 40 years of his career as a director, he directed 49 films, including commercial successes such as Premada Kanike (1976), Shankar Guru (1978), Seetharamu (1979) and Chakravyuha (1983). [1] Widely known for action-oriented movies, he was much sought as a hit-machine. [2]

Contents

Following his directorial career, he worked as the President of Kannada Film Directors Association. Recognizing his contribution to Kannada cinema, he was awarded the Puttanna Kanagal Award in 2001. [3]

Career

In 1955, in Madras (now Chennai), at the age of 18, Somashekhar entered cinema hoping to become an actor and started as a clapperboard operator. He then appeared in uncredited film roles before working as a dubbing artist. Following this, he worked as an assistant director to popular film directors at the time, R. Nagendra Rao, N. G. Rajan, Y. R. Swamy, Ramamurthy and Babu Rao.

Somashekhar started out as an independent director with the 1974 film Bangaarada Panjara starring Rajkumar in the lead role. The film was a commercial success. Collaborating with Rajkumar, he followed this up with other hit films such as Premada Kanike (1976), Shankar Guru (1978), Thayige Thakka Maga (1978), Havina Hede (1981) and Parashuram (1989).

He was instrumental in building the career of Shankar Nag as an action hero, directing him in films such as Seetharamu (1979), Aarada Gaaya (1980) and Devara Aata (1981).

He directed Ambareesh in the 1983 film Chakravyuha for Eshwari Productions, after their previous venture Ajith ran well. Chakravyuha , a commercial success, was remade in Hindi as Inquilaab , and revived the latter's career following a series of failures. Ambareesh went on to do a string of movies with Somashekhar, namely Gajendra, Chaduranga, Deverelliddaane, Mrugaalaya , Bete, Mr Raja and Bedi, each having a tone of a rebel hero fighting against the corrupt, earning the sobriquet "Rebel Star." [4]

With Vishnuvardhan, he worked in the film Kalinga (1980) and Chanakya (1984). Other popular films directed by him include Point Parimala (1980), Ranaranga (1988) and S. P. Bhargavi (1981). [1] In the late 80s, he floated a production house — Vijaya Shekhar Productions with another director Vijay and collaborated with writer CV Shivashankar and made a string of successful movies. [5]

Final years and death

Following his film career as a director after retiring in 1992, Somashekhar associated himself with the Kannada Film Directors Association, serving as its president and as a working committee member of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce. [1]

Recognizing his contribution to Kannada cinema, he was awarded the Puttanna Kanagal Award in 2001, for 1999–2000. [6]

He took to agriculture in the following years and also suffered from renal disorder during this time. He died on 22 August 2003, at a hospital in St. John's Medical College, Bangalore. [4]

Filmography

YearFilmLanguageCredited asNotes
Director Producer Screenwriter
1974 Bangaarada Panjara Kannada YesYes
1976 Premada Kanike KannadaYesWon, Karnataka State Film Award for Third Best Film
1978 Shankar Guru KannadaYes
1978 Thayige Thakka Maga KannadaYes
1979 Seetharamu KannadaYes
1979 Vijay Vikram KannadaYes
1980Point ParimalaKannadaYes
1980 Kaalinga KannadaYes
1980Rama ParashuramaKannadaYes
1980 Aarada Gaaya KannadaYesYes
1981 Havina Hede KannadaYes
1981Devara AataKannadaYesYes
1982Andada AramaneKannadaYes
1982Mareyalagada KatheKannadaYes
1982AjithKannadaYes
1983Chandi ChamundiKannadaYes
1983 Chakravyuha KannadaYes
1984 Gajendra KannadaYesYes
1984 Premigala Saval KannadaYes
1984 Chanakya KannadaYes
1985Njangal Jayikkum Njangal Bharikum Malayalam Yes
1985ChadurangaKannadaYes
1985DevarelliddaneKannadaYesYesalso wrote story
1986 Mrugaalaya KannadaYesYes
1986 Ee Jeeva Ninagagi KannadaYes
1986Aparadhi NanallaKannadaYes
1986BeteKannadaYesYesYes
1986VishwaroopaKannadaYes
1987Mr. RajaKannadaYesYes
1987BediKannadaYesYesYes
1987 Verukal Thedi MalayalamYes
1988KirathakaKannadaYes
1988Vijaya KhadgaKannadaYes
1988 Ranaranga KannadaYesYes
1989 Gandandre Gandu KannadaYes
1989Onti SalagaKannadaYesYes
1989 Parashuram KannadaYesYes
1990RanabheriKannadaYesYes
1990 Prathap KannadaYesYesYesalso wrote story
1991Varagala BeteKannadaYesalso wrote story
1991 S. P. Bhargavi KannadaYesYesYesalso wrote story
1992Chuvanna KaipathiMalayalamYes
1992ChitralekhaKannadaYesYesYesalso wrote story
1993Sarkarakke SavalKannadaYes
1993 Kempaiah IPS KannadaYesYesalso wrote story
1997Gandede BhairaKannadaYes

References

  1. 1 2 3 "V Somashekar Dead". chitraloka.com. 23 August 2003. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "V Somashekar Dead". chitraloka.com. 23 August 2003. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  3. ↑ "Shivaraj, Tara, Anu bag State film awards". The Hindu . 17 December 2001. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Somashekar passes away". The Hindu . 23 August 2003. Archived from the original on 27 May 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  5. ↑ Bharadwaj, K. v Aditya (10 October 2020). "Director Vijay passes away". The Hindu.
  6. ↑ The Hindu : Shivaraj, Tara, Anu bag State film awards
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