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), Chakravyuha (1983), and Prathap (1990). Widely known for action-oriented movies, he was much sought as a hit-machine.
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.
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.
Actor Dr. Rajkumar was impressed by Somashekhar's work in Choori Chikkanna (1969), and urged to him direct films independently. Somashekhar started out with Rajkumar's 1974 film Bangaarada Panjara. 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).
Somashekhar 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 films 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."
With Vishnuvardhan, Somashekhar worked in Kalinga (1980) and Chanakya (1984). Other popular films directed by Somashekhar include Point Parimala (1980), Ranaranga (1988) and S. P. Bhargavi (1981). In the late 1980s, he floated a production company, Vijaya Shekhar Productions with another director Vijay. They collaborated with writer C. V. Shivashankar and made a string of successful films together.
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.
Recognizing his contribution to Kannada cinema, he was awarded the Puttanna Kanagal Award in 2001, for 1999–2000.The Hindu : Shivaraj, Tara, Anu bag State film awards
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.
Filmography Year Film Language Credited as Notes Director Producer Screenwriter 1974 Bangaarada Panjara Kannada 1976 Premada Kanike Kannada Won, Karnataka State Film Award for Third Best Film 1978 Shankar Guru Kannada 1978 Thayige Thakka Maga Kannada 1979 Seetharamu Kannada 1979 Vijay Vikram Kannada 1980 Point Parimala Kannada 1980 Kaalinga Kannada 1980 Rama Parashurama Kannada 1980 Aarada Gaaya Kannada 1981 Havina Hede Kannada 1981 Devara Aata Kannada 1982 Andada Aramane Kannada 1982 Mareyalagada Kathe Kannada 1982 Ajith Kannada 1983 Chandi Chamundi Kannada 1983 Chakravyuha Kannada 1984 Gajendra Kannada 1984 Premigala Saval Kannada 1984 Chanakya Kannada 1985 Njangal Jayikkum Njangal Bharikum Malayalam 1985 Chaduranga Kannada 1985 Devarelliddane Kannada also wrote story 1986 Mrugaalaya Kannada 1986 Ee Jeeva Ninagagi Kannada 1986 Aparadhi Nanalla Kannada 1986 Bete Kannada 1986 Vishwaroopa Kannada 1987 Mr. Raja Kannada 1987 Bedi Kannada 1987 Verukal Thedi Malayalam 1988 Kirathaka Kannada 1988 Vijaya Khadga Kannada 1988 Ranaranga Kannada 1989 Gandandre Gandu Kannada 1989 Onti Salaga Kannada 1989 Parashuram Kannada 1990 Ranabheri Kannada 1990 Prathap Kannada also wrote story 1991 Varagala Bete Kannada also wrote story 1991 S. P. Bhargavi Kannada also wrote story 1992 Chuvanna Kaipathi Malayalam 1992 Chitralekha Kannada also wrote story 1993 Sarkarakke Saval Kannada 1993 Kempaiah IPS Kannada also wrote story 1997 Gandede Bhaira Kannada
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