Aarathi

Aarathi
Born 1954 (age 6061)
Aragal, Mysore, Mysore State, India
Occupation Actress, film director
Years active 1969-1987; 2005
Spouse(s) Chandrashekhar Desaigowdar

Aarathi (born 1954)[1] is an Indian actress turned director who works predominantly in Kannada language films. She is best known for her acting prowess in many author backed female centric roles during the 1970s and 1980s. After her self-declared retirement from films in the late 1980s, she returned as director with Mithayi Mane (2005) which met with critical appreciation and also won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Children's Film.[2]

As a lead actress in more than 125 feature films, Aarathi was considered to be among the top league of actresses of her time, having won the Filmfare awards and the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress four times each. She was also nominated as the Member of Legislative Council at the Vidhana parishad making her only the second actress after B. Jayamma.[2]

Career

After her first short role in the film Gejje Pooje (1969), Aarathi went on to star as a leading actress in many successful films such as Naagarahaavu, Edakallu Guddada Mele, Bili Hendthi, Dharmasere, Paduvaaralli Pandavaru, Ranganayaki, Hombisilu, Upaasane and Shubhamangala.[3] Apart from Kannada, she also appeared in Tamil films such as Gumasthavin Magal and Telugu films such as Vooriki Upakari.

Aarathi has worked opposite all the leading actors of her time including Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Ambareesh, Srinath, Ananth Nag, Shankar Nag, Kamal Hassan, Rajinikanth and Gangadhar. Her collaboration with the director Puttanna Kanagal produced cult films and they went on to work together in about twelve films.[3] She directed a TV series, Namma Nammalli.[1]

Personal life

Aarathi does a great deal of charity work. She left the film industry in 1987, and married Chandrashekar Desaigowdar and moved to the USA where she has lived in ever since. She has two daughters. Her elder daughter, Yashaswini, scripted the story for Mithayi Mane.

Filmography

As director

Year Film title Notes
2005 Mithayi Mane Karnataka State Film Award for Best Children film

As actress

Year Film Notes
1970 Gejje Pooje Debut film
Kallara Kalla
Takka! Bitre Sikka!!
1971 Kasturi Nivasa Special appearance
Anugraha
Prathidhawani
Nyayave Devaru
Sri Krishna Rukmini Satyabhama
1972 Sipayi Ramu
Bangarada Manushya
Ooriki Upakari Telugu film
Bhale Huchcha
Naagarahaavu Won, Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress
1973 Mane Belagida Sose
Edakallu Guddada Mele
Mooroovare Vajragalu
1974 Bangaarada Panjara
Nanu Baalabeku
Upasane Won, Filmfare Award for Best Actress
Gumasthavin Magal Tamil film
Mannina Magalu
Maha Thyaga
Bhale Bhatta
1975 Daari Tappida Maga
Shubhamangala Won, Filmfare Award for Best Actress
Bili Hendthi
Devara Kannu
1976 Katha Sangama Won, Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress
Hosilu Mettida Hennu
Premada Kanike
Punaradatta
Bahaddur Gandu
Raja Nanna Raja
Baalu Jenu
Phalithamsha
Aparadhi
1977 Maagiya Kanasu
Pavana Ganga
Anuroopa
1978 Kudure Mukha
Hombisilu
Maathu Tappada Maga
Muyyige Muyyi
Paduvarahalli Pandavaru
Anuraga Bandhana
Premayana
Vasanthalakshmi
Balu Aparoopa Nam Jodi
1979 Dharmasere Won, Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada
Won, Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress
Adalu Badalu
Naniruvude Ninagagi
Manini
Nentaro Gantu Kallaro
1980 Bhaktha Siriyala
Hanthakana Sanchu
Bangarada Jinke
Nyaya Neethi Dharma
Anurakthe
1981 Ranganayaki Won, Filmfare Award for Best Actress
Won, Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress
Thayiya Madilalli
Naari Swargakke Daari
Ganesha Mahime
Bhagyavantha
Chadurida Chitragalu
Bhagyada Belaku
Edeyuru Siddalingeshwara
Preetisi Nodu
1982 Pedda Gedda
Archana
Mullina Gulabi
Karmika Kallanalla
Mava Sose Saval
Parijata
Nyaya Yellide
Kannu Terasida Hennu
Suvarna Sethuve
Hasyaratna Ramakrishna
Raja Maharaja
1983 Tirugu Baana
Gedda Maga
Jaggu
Nyaya Gedditu
Kalluveene Nudiyithu
Thayiya Nudi
Sididedda Sahodara
Kranthiyogi Basavanna
Ananda Sagara
Mutthaide Bhagya
Aakrosha
Chelisada Sagara
Samarpane
1984 Kaliyuga
Khaidi
Pooja Phala
Premave Balina Belaku
Hennina Saubhagya
Bekkina Kannu
Ramapurada Ravana
Pavitra Prema
Ajnathavasa
Avala Antaranga
Preethi Vathsalya
Bilee Gulabi
1985 Kurudoddi Kurukshetra
Nee Nakkaga
Sati Sakkubai
Lakshmi Kataksha
Haavu Eni Aata
Kumkuma Thanda Saubhagya
Swabhimana
Vajra Mushti
Shiva Kotta Sowbhagya
Thulasi Dala
1986 Bettada Thayi
Madhuve Madu Tamashe Nodu
Seelu Nakshatra
Tiger

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-135-94325-7.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Arthi - Amazing Actress". Supergoodmovies.com. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Home :". This Week Bangalore. 2006-12-16. Retrieved 2013-08-16.

External links