Shankar Nag
| Shankar Nag | |
|---|---|
 Shankar Nag | |
| Born |
Shankar Nagarkatte November 9, 1954 Mallapur Village, Honavar (North Canara), Karnataka |
| Died |
September 30, 1990 (aged 35) Near Anagod Davanagere, Karnataka |
| Other names | Shankar Anna, Karate King, Auto Raja |
| Occupation | Actor, director, producer, screenwriter, television anchor |
| Years active | 1977 to 1990 |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in |
| Spouse(s) | Arundathi Nag |
| Parents |
Sadananda Nagarakatte Anandi |
| Relatives | Anant Nag (brother) |
| Website | |
|
http://www.shankarnag.in/ http://www.rangashankara.org/ | |
Shankar Nagarkatte (9 November 1954 - 30 September 1990), known as Shankar Nag, was an actor and director of Kannada cinema. He also directed and acted in the teleserial, Malgudi Days, based on celebrated novelist R.K.Narayan's short stories. Besides these, he was actively involved in Kannada theater activities. He co-wrote 22 June 1897, an Indian national award-winning Marathi film.
Early career
Shankar Nagarkatte was born on 9 November 1954 in Mallapur village in Honnavar (Uttara Kannada), Karnataka. His parents were Anandi and Sadanand Nagarkatte. His elder brother is the popular Kannada actor Anant Nag. After completing formal education, Shankar moved to Mumbai. In Mumbai, he was attracted to Marathi theater and immersed himself in theatrical activities. Incidentally, he met his future wife, Arundhathi during a drama rehearsal.
Shankar Nag then shifted base to Karnataka. His elder brother Anant Nag had already established himself as an actor and urged Shankar to act in films. He was offered a role of a mercenary by Girish Karnad in the epic movie, Ondanondu Kaladalli, which was loosely based on Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece, Seven Samurai. His debut film as actor fetched him a national award at the Delhi International Film Festival. Thus began his film career, where, in a span of 12 years (from 1978 to 1990) he acted in some 80 Kannada movies, as a leading man, besides co-producing (with actor-brother Anant Nag) and directing some films like Minchina Ota (a rare example of a heist movie in Kannada), Janma Janmada Anubandha and Geetha (both of which had music by South Indian maestro Ilayaraja).[1]
Later days
Commercial film producers took notice of Shankar Nag and he began acting in typical masala movies. Seetaramu was Shankar Nag's first commercial movie. Shankar was an unconventional hero with an unshaven face, distinct swagger, dark eyes and had a rough voice. Although he had never undergone any martial arts training, he earned the sobriquet of Karate King. His popular films include Auto Raja, Geeta, S.P. Sangliana, and Minchina Ota. He had also identified himself with the Janata Party in 1980s.
Directorial debut
Shankar began his directorial with Minchina Ota. This won him seven state awards, including the best film. And then came a series of films directed by him. Janma Janmada Anubandha, Geetha, Accident (which won many state and national awards), Ondu Muttina Kathe (with Rajkumar in the lead), Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige, Hosa Teerpu, Lalach.
Malgudi Days
Shankar did not limit his efforts to cinema. He was equally immersed in theatre and television. Malgudi Days is the best example of Shankar's oeuvre on television. Prior to globalization, Doordarshan was the only broadcaster in India. In addition to programme production, Doordarshan used to invite private producers to produce television serials. Shankar accepted the offer and directed Malgudi Days, based on the collection of short stories by R.K.Narayan in 1987, under the banner of Padam Rag Films. Well known actors Vishnuvardhan and Ananth Nag appeared in the serial. Master Manjunath, who essayed the role of impish Swami, became a household name. The music, accompanied by the nasal twang "Tananaa tana na naa" [2] was composed by L. Vaidyanathan.[3] The teleserial was shot in Agumbe, Shimoga district, Karnataka. Shankar went to direct another teleserial, titled Swami in the same year. Malgudi Days has been rated as one of the finest serials ever to be made in the history of Indian Television.[4][5]
He anchored the Parichaya program on DD1-Kannada, in its starting days.[citation needed] Shankar retained an interest in theatre. His brother Ananth Nag and he founded SANKET, an amateur theatre group, which still produces plays. His first ever directorial effort in Kannada was Anju Mallige by Girish Karnad. He continued with productions like Barrister, Sandhya Chhaya. Sometime here he was joined by T N Narasimhan who wrote and co-directed Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige which had, apart from himself, his wife Arundhati Nag and Ramesh Bhat in the cast.
Death
Shankar Nag died in a car crash at Anagodu village on the outskirts of Davanagere town on 30 September 1990, while proceeding to Lokapur in Bagalkot district of Karnataka with his wife Arundhati Nag and daughter Kavya, in the shooting of his film Jokumaraswamy.[6] Sundarakanda was his last film as actor and was released a few days after his death. It's a belief among his many ardent fans that Shankar Nag would have changed that face of Kannada Film Industry had he lived longer.
Selected filmography
As a director
- Minchina Ota - 1980
- Janma Janmada Anubandha - 1980
- Geetha - 1981
- Hosa Teerpu - 1983
- Lalach - 1983
- Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige - 1983
- Accident - 1985
- Watchman - 1986
- Malgudi Days - 1987
- Swami (TV Series) - 1987
- Ondu Muttina Kathe - 1988
As an actor
| Year | Film | Language | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Sarvasakshi | Marathi | Short Play | |
| 1979 | Ondanondu Kaladalli | Kannada | Gandugali | Debut film as hero |
| Seetha Ramu | Kannada | |||
| Madhuchandra | ||||
| I Love You | Kannada | |||
| 1980 | Moogana Sedu | Kannada | Nagaraja | |
| Haddina Kannu | Kannada | |||
| Preeti Madu Tamashe Nodu | Kannada | |||
| Ondu Hennu Aaru Kannu | Kannada | |||
| Rustum Jodi | Kannada | |||
| Janma Janmada Anubandha | Kannada | Directed by himself, With Ananth Nag asst somu | ||
| 1981 | Thayiya Madilalli | Kannada | ||
| Kari Naga | Kannada | |||
| Minchina Ota | Kannada | Katte | Directed by himself | |
| Hana Balavo Jana Balavo | Kannada | |||
| Muniyana Maadari | Kannada | |||
| Jeevakke Jeeva | Kannada | with Anant Nag | ||
| Geetha | Kannada | Directed by himself | ||
| Bhari Barjari Bete | Kannada | |||
| 1982 | Benki Chendu | Kannada | ||
| Nyaya Ellide | Kannada | |||
| Karmika Kallanalla | Kannada | with Vishnuvardhan | ||
| Auto Raja | Kannada | with Leelavathi | ||
| Archana | Kannada | |||
| 1983 | Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige | Kannada | ||
| Raktha Thilaka | Kannada | |||
| Chandi Chamundi | Kannada | |||
| Nagabekkamma Nagabeku | Kannada | |||
| Gedda Maga | Kannada | |||
| 1984 | Ganda Bherunda | Kannada | with Ambareesh | |
| Utsav | Hindi | Sajjal, the thief | ||
| Apoorva Sangama | Kannada | with Rajkumar | ||
| Benki Birugali | Kannada | with Vishnuvardhan | ||
| Thaliya Bhagya | Kannada | |||
| Kalinga Sarpa | Kannada | |||
| Asha Kirana | Kannada | |||
| 1985 | Maanava Danava | Kannada | ||
| Parameshi Prema Prasanga | Kannada | Directed by Ramesh Bhat | ||
| Thayiya Kanasu | Kannada | |||
| Accident | Kannada | Ravi (Journalist) | Directed by himself | |
| 1986 | Na Ninna Preetisuve | Kannada | co-starring Ravichandran, Arjun Sarja | |
| Rasthe Raja | Kannada | |||
| 1987 | Antima Ghatta | Kannada | ||
| Digvijaya | Kannada | with Ambareesh and Srinath | ||
| Ondu Muttina Kathe | Kannada | with Dr.Rajkumar | ||
| Ee Banda Anubandha | Kannada | |||
| Lorry Driver | Kannada | |||
| Huli Hebulli | Kannada | |||
| Thaayi | Kannada | |||
| 1988 | Sangliana | Kannada | Sangliana | with Ambareesh |
| Mitheleya Seetheyaru | Kannada | cameo role | ||
| 1989 | Antintha Gandu Nannalla | Kannada | with Ambareesh | |
| Tarka | Kannada | |||
| Idu Saadhya | Kannada | |||
| C.B.I. Shankar | Kannada | |||
| 1990 | Aata Bombata | Kannada | ||
| Bhale Chatura | Kannada | |||
| Aavesha | Kannada | |||
| Hosa Jeevana | Kannada | |||
| Maheshwara | Kannada | |||
| Nighooda Rahasya | Kannada | |||
| Ramarajyadalli Rakshasaru | Kannada | |||
| S.P. Sangliana II | Kannada | Sangliana | ||
| 1991 | Nagini | Kannada | ||
| Punda Prachanda | Kannada | |||
| Sundara Kanda | Kannada | |||
| 1993 | Prana Snehitha | Kannada | ||
As a writer
- 22 June 1897 (1979) - Marathi
- Geetha (1981) - Kannada
- Parameshi Prema Prasanga (1985) - Kannada
References
- ↑ Nag, Anant (2001). 'Nanna tamma Shankara' (My brother Shankara). Bangalore: Total Kannada. ISBN 9788192226903.
- ↑ L, Vaidyanathan. "Signature tune - Malgudi days". You Tube. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- ↑ "Music director L. Vaidyanathan dead". The Hindu. 20 May 2007. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- ↑ "Shanker Nag's 'Malgudi Days' is back on television". IBN Live. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- ↑ "Malgudi days : Reviews". IMDB. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- ↑ "Shankar Nag accident: Family to get Rs 26.8 lakk". The Times of India. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
Further reading
- http://www.ourkarnataka.com/Articles/sreesha/shankarnag.htm
- http://www.viggy.com/english/current_rangashankara.asp
- http://www.rangashankara.org
External links
- Shankar Nag at the Internet Movie Database
- Sanket Trust, Bangalore's Ranga Shankara a project in the memory of late actor
- Article on TOI [http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-10/bangalore/28062999_1_shankar-nag-ranga-shankara-arundhati-nag, , Article on Shankar Nag]
- [http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-24/bangalore/37980368_1_shankar-nag-autorickshaw-documentary-film, Article on Shankar Nag ]
- [http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-14/news-interviews/37712791_1_shankar-nag-documentary-auto-raja, , Article on Shankar Nag]
- Shankar Nag Last Interview - Rare Audio Interview on All India Radio (AIR) given on July 1988 1. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw0hGA4zZEM, Last Interview Part-1]| 2. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbG4HPNDlsk, Last Interview Part-2] | 3. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w9BEINFlf8, Last Interview Part-3]