This last week of 2009 is probably the worst week of this decade for Kannadiga’s. We lost two really big artists and more than that great human beings.
C. Ashwath
Much before Kodagana Koli Nugitta became famous outside Karnataka (thanks to Raghu Dixit), it was introduced to Kannadigas by C.Ashwath. He made all those poems which were in just books to reach common man. If I say major credit of popularizing bhavageethe and sugama sangeetha goes to him, I wouldn’t be wrong. Last time I saw him was in a Kanndada music show along with SPB. He looked very fit and sung few songs too. But then he passed away on his 71st birthday. His bhavayaana remains uncompleted :( May his soul rest in peace.

Dr. Vishnuvardhan
The biggest shocker of the year is his death. He looked very healthy, calm and peaceful. He was still 58 years and it’s not the age to die. But then death is a big cheater.
Much before Mungaru Male’s Anisutidhe became national anthem of heart-broken lovers, it was his Bandhana song “Noorondu Nenapu” (“ನೂರೊಂದು ನೆನಪು ಎದೆಯಾಳದಿಂದ” ). It still is. His offscreen life partnership with Bharathi was as romantic and strong as his on-screen pairing with Suhasini. Anybody could tell they were in Love and was such a big role models to other cine pairs in Kannada industry. Unfortunately they could not have a biological kid but then that never came in between. They lived their love life full. And I always thought them as the hottest pair in Indian Cinema. But then one death takes away everything. May his soul rest in peace and may god give his family strength.
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Cast: Jaggesh, Yagna Shetty, Tabala Naani, V. Manohar, Shyam Prasad, A.S. Murthy
Story-Screenplay-Dialogues-Direction: Guru Prasad
Producer: Sanath Kumar; Music: Anoop Sileen; Camera: Ashok Raman
My Rating: ****

Watched “Eddelu Manjunatha” on Saturday. Its so different from any regular Kannada movies (or Indian movies). Its a satire(double meaning) comedy which makes you laugh and think at the same time. Its good to see Jaggesh in restrained acting. Yagna looks beautiful. I was expecting a lot from Guruprasad after his first movie Matha, which was a dark comedy. He lived up to it.

The movie starts with Manjunatha sharing the same room with blind director Nani. To pass the time, Manjunatha (actually its his full time job) starts conversation with Nani about his own life. The whole movie is about lazy Manjunatha. In between you can see them conversing about politics, film industry, sex, marriage, life etc. Conversations make most of the Movie and that is where Guru is successful. He can make you laugh, think and wonder.

There are two songs in the movie. The title song eddelu manjunatha is corny. The second song by sung by M.D.Pallavi “Prapachanve Devaru Madiro Baaru…..” is good. I also liked the actress who has played bar singers role for this song. Do any one of you know her name? (update: its Veena Bhat.)

Go watch it.

Note: There are moments (double meaning) where you might feel uncomfortable if your parents are around. Other than that film is mostly clean and watchable with family.

When I first met Sri Tejaswi at Bangalore University I didn’t expect him to know so much about computers. He had so many questions for me. He was interested in everything from Windows to Linux to Free and Open source software. So I had good time talking to him about software and Open Source in special.  By then I had read lot of his books like Annana Nenapu, Andamaninalli Alemari and many more travelogues, shikari stories. I was fan of him since my high school days.

After few months through a friend of mine I got a call from him to visit him at his house. That was very surprising. I met his that evening for tea. I got this autographed book Annana Nenapu. We casually talked about everything including computers, books, Kannada etc. Mean time I told me how much I like his travel stories. That is when he suggested me to read Kanuru HeggaDathi by Kuvempu. He told its story of malenadu (Western Ghats) than Subbamma. It also became an award winning movie with Tara as Subbamma. Today at Infy we are celebrating Rajyotsava. As part of celebration we had book show. I picked up Kanuru HeggaDathi almost 3 years after that suggestion came. Better late than never right? Read the rest of this entry »

Knowingly or unknowingly I was talking about Shankar Nag’s (Shankar Nagarakatte) talent and films yesterday. 18 years have passed since we lost a great director/actor of Kannada film industry. We Kannadigas are still trying to find a Shankar Nag in every debutant.
Shankar who gave us movies like Minchina Oota, Accident, Noodi Swamy navirode heege. Shankar who gave us television serial like Malgudi Days, Shankar who got Nagamandala to stage is missed by every Kannada movie buff.

I miss you personally.

1. Mani Ratnam’s debut movie was in Kannada. Pallavi Anu Pallavi
2. Juhi Chawala first major hit was Premaloka 1987. IMDB comment “You have seen QSQT, u have seen DDLJ, u have seen Maine Pyar Kiya, but if you have not seen Prema Loka, then u haven’t seen the movie that started the trend which was followed by the romantic movie makers all over India. Prema Loka has a very fresh and lively look to it and considering that it was shot in 1987, it was way ahead of its time. Ravichandran as the débutant director and actor is wonderful in the movie. Juhi Chawla, who went on to act in some of the blockbuster Hindi movies,is at her pretty and bubbly best. Ravichandran has taken every minute detail into consideration. This is probably the first movie in India which truly made a fashion statement. He also imported a Honda bike, for the movie.”
3. Prithvi Raj Kapoor played role of Rajkumar’s father in the movie Sakshatkara -1971
4. Girish Kasaravalli has to his distinction four Golden Lotus Awards max for any director.
5. Raj Kumar won 9 state awards for acting but no national award. Surprisingly enough he won a national award for singing. I guess he is the only superstar who won national award for singing.
6. The silent movie Pushpaka Vimana got released in 4 languages. Pesum Padam (India: Tamil title) Pushpaka Vimana (India: Kannada title) Pushpaka Vimanam (India: Malayalam title) The Love Chariot (India: English title). And it was shot in Bangalore.
7. Famous DD serial Malgudi days was directed by Shankar Nag. He also directed “Swamy” later. He was the youngest director to direct Raj Kumar in Ondu Muthina Kathe.
8. Sati Sulochana released in 1934 was the first Kannada talkie movie was shot mostly at Chatrapathi Studio in Kolhapur.
9. Most famous conductor of kannada Cinema is Rajani and Most famous auto driver is Shankar Nag.
10. Rajanikanth debuted in Katha Sangama directed by Puttana Kanagal in 1975
11. Mungaru Male is the only movie to run more than one year in PVR cinemas
12. Balu Mahendra noted Tamil director started his career as director with the movie Kokila which got him National Award. He went on to direct Sadma later.
13. Kishan Shrikanth(Master Kishan) is the youngest person to direct a professional feature film. Movie: C/o Footpath
14. Puneet Rajkumar won the National Award for best child artist in “bettada huvu”
15. Arjun Sarja was one of the most celebrated child artist in Kannada film industry
16. The longest running Kannada movie was Bangarada Manushya with Rajkumar as hero. It did two years in States in Majestic.
17. The movie was directed by Siddalingaiah inspired many city lads to go back to villages and take farming.
18. Ilayaraja started his career as an assistant to noted Kannada music director GK Venkatesh
19. The first hero of Kannada cinema was Subbaiyanaidu.
20. I guess Kannada film industry has/had more engineers as heros than other :) Sudeep. Ramesh, Sunil etc
21. Bollywood singer Latha Mangeshkar’s first Kannada song Bellane Belagayithu. is for the film ‘Sangolli Rayanna’. Mohammad Rafi’s Ninelli Nadave Dhoora. And Kishore Kumar’s Aadu Aata Aadu.
22. ‘Samskara’ is the first ever Kannada film to get the President’s Gold Medal. The wave of new cinema started from then on. Girish Karnad made debut as an actor in this film.
23. Atul Kulkarni of Rang De Basanti and Hey Ram started his film career through Bhoomigite directed by Kesari. The film won a National Award in a special category

Update: Added some more with reader contribution. Lets make it List of 101 Things you did not know about Kannada Movies. Put those interesting stuff in comments. I will add to the main article.