Sathish Ninasam

Shivakumar (born 20 June),^[1] known by his screen name Sathish Ninasam or Neenasam Sathish, is an Indian actor who appears in Kannada films. Having made his film debut with Madesha (2008), Sathish appeared in small but significant roles in films like Manasaare (2009), Pancharangi (2010), Lifeu Ishtene and Drama (2012). He shot to fame after his performance in the 2013 film Lucia received critical acclaim.^[2]

Early life

Shivakumar hails from a village, Yeladahalli, near Mandya, in Mandya district in Karnataka. He was born into a family of farmers. Having been interested in cinema since childhood, he would "often ran away from home to nearby theatres, soon followed by a worried mother to take me back home."^[3] He started his career as a theatre actor in Ninasam, a cultural organisation based in Heggodu in the Shimoga district of Karnataka, where prior to acting, he completed a two-year diploma course in acting.^[4] Inspired by the work B. V. Karanth, Poornachandra Tejaswi, U. R. Ananthamurthy, Girish Karnad and William Shakespeare, Shivakumar realised the importance of work to lead a "meaningful life".^[3] Following the course, he performed in plays across Karnataka before landing in Bangalore in 2006. There, he became a part of the Samashti Theatre Group that performed plays.

Career

Actor

Following his theatre career, Shivakumar appeared in Kannada TV soaps such as Paramapada, Takadimitha and Silli Lalli.^[3] After his stint in television for a year, he started his career in films in 2008, when he was offered a cameo role in Madesha. He then appeared in small but significant roles in films like Manasaare, Pancharangi, Lifu Ishtene and Drama. His role in Drama won him a nomination for SIIMA Award for Best Comedian. However, it was for his role in the 2013 critically acclaimed psychological drama film Lucia, that won him praise from critics and audience alike. It premiered at the London Indian Film Festival in July 2013, and his performance won him accolades.^[4] In the film, he plays the role of Nikki, who works in a movie theater as an usher/"torch-shiner" and suffering from Insomnia. He resorts to a drug named Lucia, which on consumption gives him sleep and lets him dream of a life he always yearned for.^[5] In the same year, he appeared in Dyavre, in which his performance was praised.^[6]

Sathish's first release of 2014 was Anjada Gandu, a romantic drama film set in a rural backdrop, with him playing the role of Santhu. In his next, Kwatle Sathisa, he played a comic role of Satheesha, a patient of temporary memory loss, a role that won him praise from critics.^[7][8]

Producer

In 2014, Satish started his film production company, Satish Picture House. It was revealed in September 2014, that the first film under the banner was titled Rocket. It will be directed by debutant Jagadish Kumar.^[9] He also plays the lead role in the film opposite Aishani Shetty.^[10]

Filmography

As actor

Key

Denotes films that have not yet been released

As producer

As singer

References

External links

• Sathish Ninasam at the Internet Movie Database
• Sathish Ninasam on Twitter