Shankar Nag was an Indian film actor, director, screenwriter and producer known for his work in Kannada cinema. He directed seven Kannada films and one Marathi film. He also wrote the story and screenplay of many of these including a few films that he did not direct. After beginning his acting career in theatre, Nag took to films making his debut in a bit role in the 1978 Marathi anti-superstition drama Sarvasakshi. His Kannada film debut came in the same year with Ondanondu Kaladalli directed by Girish Karnad, in which Nag played the lead, a mercenary named Gandugali. The role that fetched him the Silver Peacock for the Best Actor Award (Male) at the 7th International Film Festival of India. Other than Minchina Ota, he also co-produced two of his directorial ventures — Janma Janmada Anubandha (1980) and Geetha (1981).

Nag co-wrote the 1979 Marathi film 22 June 1897 with director Nachiket Patwardhan. His directorial debut came in the heist film Minchina Ota (1980), a film that he also wrote and starred in, alongside brother Anant Nag. Anant would go on to become a frequent collaborator. Shankar remade Minchina Ota in Hindi as Lalach (1983). He would go on to direct six other films, all in Kannada, most notably the crime-drama Accident (1985), that highlighted a nexus between the media and the political system. The film won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues at the 32nd National Film Awards. His last film as a director was Ondu Muttina Kathe (1987), based on the John Steinbeck's novella The Pearl, that starred Dr. Rajkumar. Nag shot to national fame with the television series Malgudi Days (1986–1988) that he directed, based on R. K. Narayan's collection of short stories of the same name.

As an actor, Nag made his first appearance in a commercial film with Seetharamu (1979). His role as Raja, the auto rikshaw driver in Auto Raja (1980), became widely popular, and continues to hold cult status in Karnataka. The 1980s saw Nag appearing most notably in action thrillers and rogue cop films with plenty of martial arts posturing, earning him the moniker "Karate King". In Sangliyana (1988) and S. P. Sangliyana Part 2 (1990), he played the eponymous lead, based on the real-life cop H. T. Sangliana. C.B.I. Shankar (1989) is another film in the same genre. Films such as Muniyana Madari (1981), Karmika Kallanalla (1982), Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige (1983) and Lorry Driver (1987) saw him portray working-class men. In the ensemble Hindi film Utsav (1984), he played a thief who falls in love with a courtesan. Nag last filmed for Sundarakanda (1991) which released after his death by car crash in 1990.

Film +List of directing and writing credits Year Title Director Screenwriter Notes 1979 22 June 1897 Marathi film1980 Minchina Ota Janma Janmada Anubandha 1981 Geetha 1983 Lalach Hindi film Hosa Theerpu Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige 1984 Accident Makkaliralavva Mane Thumba 1985 Parameshi Prema Prasanga 1987 Ondu Muttina Kathe

Acting roles

+List of acting credits Year Title Role Notes 1978 Sarvasakshi Sujatha's husband Marathi film Ondanondu Kaladalli Gandugali Silver Peacock for the Best Actor Award (Male) 1979 Seetharamu Ramu Preethi Madu Thamashe Nodu Ravi Madhu Chandra Madhu I Love You Ramesh 1980 Minchina Ota Katte Playback singer for "Belli Moda Hatthuttha" Auto Raja Raja Moogana Sedu Nagaraju/Ashok Raj Haddina Kannu Vikram Ondu Hennu Aaru Kannu Vijay Aarada Gaaya Mohan Rusthum Jodi Shekhar Janma Janmada Anubandha Shiva Achari 1981 Thayiya Madilalli Ravi Special appearance Kula Puthra Mahesh Hanabalavo Janabalavo Geetha Sanjay Devara Aata Anand Bhaari Bharjari Bete Tyaga Muniyana Madari Muniya Jeevakke Jeeva Jaggu "Raja" 1982 Archana Raja Special appearance Benki Chendu Kodanda Karmika Kallanalla Sudhakar Nyaya Ellide Vijay Dharma Daari Tappithu Krishna Cameo 1983 Gedda Maga Arun/Alex /John Triple role Nyaya Gedditu Anand Chandi Chamundi Shankar Keralida Hennu Suresh Kumar Aakrosha Vijay Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige Mysore Matha Swargadalli Maduve Cameo 1984 Nagabekamma Nagabeku Ramu Raktha Thilaka Gopi Playback singer for "Enaguvudu" Gandu Bherunda Nayar Thaliya Bhagya Raja Benki Birugali Shankar Kalinga Sarpa Kalinga Indina Bharatha Arjun Bedaru Bombe Shapatha Ranga Pavithra Prema Chandrashekhar Accident Ravi Asha Kirana Kiran Apoorva Sangama Harish/Suresh Makkaliralavva Mane Thumba Shankar Cameo Utsav Sajjal Hindi film 1985 Thayi Kanasu Murthy Parameshi Prema Prasanga Parameshi Manava Danava H. Mahesh/Tiger Double role Kiladi Aliya Kumar Vajra Mushti Ajay Kari Naga 1986 Na Ninna Preetisuve Special appearance Thayiye Nanna Devaru Shekhar Agni Parikshe Raja Rasthe Raja Raja Samsarada Guttu Ramsagar 1987 Thayi Ravi Ee Bandha Anubandha Vijay Huli Hebbuli Inspector Ajay Digvijaya DCP Chandrashekhar Lorry Driver Shankar Anthima Ghatta Anil 1988 Shakthi Ramu Sangliyana Ram/Inspector Sangliyana Playback singer for "Raja Nanna Raja" Dharmathma Mithileya Seetheyaru Inspector Sharif Cameo 1989 Tarka Akshay/Harish Mahayuddha Anthintha Gandu Nanalla Ajay C.B.I. Shankar Sathya/Shankar Idu Saadhya Theatre director Rajasimha Raja Jayabheri Mohan Narasimha Sridhar/Narasimha 1990 S. P. Sangliyana Part 2 S. P. Sangliyana Ramarajyadalli Rakshasaru Inspector Chandrashekhar Maheshwara Maheshwara/ Paramesh Thrinethra SP Sangliyana Cameo Aavesha Shivappa Hosa Jeevana Seetharam Halliya Surasuraru Shankar Bhale Chathura Shekhar Aata Bombata Raja Nigooda Rahasya Mohan Posthumous release 1991 Nakkala Rajakumari Sorcerer Posthumous release Punda Prachanda Purushotham Posthumous release Nagini Shankar Posthumous release Sundarakanda Inspector Shetty Posthumous release 1992 Prana Snehitha Ram Posthumous release

Television Year Title Role Language Notes 1986–1988 Malgudi Days Venkatesh HindiEnglish Also director

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