Nata audio release

Other Stories

Reviews

Shivanna, Information Minister of Karnataka, graced the audio release function of Nata at Golf Club in Bangalore. Star Ravichandran released the cassette and rushed off to report for a shooting soon after. Four songs of Nata were screened for the media. The minister, in his speech, lauded the effort of actor Tharakesh Patel and called for entertainment and message in films made in Kannada. He recalled the days when he used to watch five films in a day and regretted that he was not able to do now. Talking about his visit to Dr Ramoji Rao Studio, he is of the opinion of sprucing up the government owned Kanteerava studio in Bangalore on the similar lines. The land available for the construction of Film City, he feels, cannot be re-leased to anyone as the Karnataka Government is the first holder for a 90-year lease of the land situated at Hesaraghatta.

Tharakesh Patel, brimming with happiness as Nata has been sold in some areas for a fancy price, said that he was confident of the film’s success at the box office. He is planning to make Prema Samara, based on a novel by Yendumuri Veerendranath, as his next venture to be directed by Nee Sudarshan.

S Janaki felicitated

On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of Sadhana School of Music, the founder and noted playback singer of Kannada cinema, Smt Manjula Gururaj felicitated top playback singer of South India S Janaki with the title Swara Sadhaki. Smt Parvathamma Rajkumar also felicitated the singer for her contribution to film music in her long career while producer Rockline Venkatesh honoured the singer with a silver Veena.

“I will not get the Karnataka State Award and I won’t even ask for it,” said S Janaki expressing her ire for not receiving the Karnataka State award so far in her career. “My best songs are in Kannada,” the reputed singer told the largely attended gathering in Bangalore adding, “I sung for Oriya cinema under the baton of great music director Upendrakumar and won an award. I miss Upendrakumarji and Nagendraji for not being amongst us today. I have also won other state awards 20 times and four national awards. I have about 15000 film songs to my credit.”

At the Kohinoor stadium in Hanumanthnagar, Bangalore, it was a feast of music for the culture loving people. S Janaki also recalled the male voice she rendered for Nanjathai Kiladhi when music maestro Illayaraja surprised her saying that she should sing in a male voice.

Chandrashekhar, Mayor of Bangalore City, made a timely speech and gave a tribute to S Janaki, calling her the Bharathamatha Kala Saraswathi.

Tallam N Nanjunda Shetty, president, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, actress Jayamala, SA Chinne Gowda, noted music directors Vijayabhasker, Rajan, Manohar, K Kalyan and innumerable music lovers from Basavanagudi, Hanumanthnagar and adjacent areas thronged the stadium to hear the voice of S Janaki. The police had a tough time in controlling the crowd and traffic. Actress Vinayaprasad had done a lot of preparation for conducting the function. Her timely anecdotes and flawless Kannada was one of the many highlights on that evening.

Actor Ramesh Aravind, present on the occasion, preferred to call the genius singer and music directors present on the dais as the roots responsible for tuning wonderful music.

Kannada Chalachitra Ithihasa encyclopaedia released

The Kannada Chalachitra Ithihasa, similar to an encyclopedia, was released by Shivanna, the Karnataka Information Minister recently in Bangalore.

This is, perhaps, the first attempt made with a day and night effort for 22 months by the three member editorial committee consisting of MB Singh, VN Subba Rao and Dr Vijaya. From the genesis of Kannada cinema in 1934 till the year 2000, every detail is complied in the two volumes running to 1700 pages.

It is also the joint effort of the Hampi Kannada Vishwavidyalaya and Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce. The infrmation pertaining to artists, technicians, awards, technology, sound, cinematography, lyrics, music, dance, costume, stunt, art direction, studios, theatres, publicity system, censor board, film education, write up on 824 prominent personalities, details of the 2045 Kannada films released from 1934 to 2000 and various other details figure in the 1700 pages two volume encyclopedia on Kannada cinema. The two books consists of 64 color pictures and 3000 stills and is priced at Rs 1000. The two volumes are in Kannada.

Poorvapara to be shot in USA

One of the top novels of late MK Indira, Poorvapara written in the 60’s is half way through to appear on big screen. It is being produced and directed by Chandrasekhar, the yesteryear actor of Kannada cinema, who is now based in USA. Poorvapara revolves around an orthodox Indian woman living in the US.

The other novels of MK Indira, adapted on big screen, were Phaniyamma and Koochu Batta.
The protagonist in Poorvapura is Sharde whose son Sundara is working in the US. He comes back to Sringeri and marries Lakshmi (Lakshmi Gopalaswamy), a traditional girl from his hometown. After the marriage, Sundara decides to go back to the US much against to the wishes of his parents. Tragedy strikes Sharde’s life. She loses her husband and Sundara is not able to come for the funeral of his father. It is inevitable for Sharde to join her son in America. Unhappy mother of Sundara comes to USA and she is not able to adjust to the foreign land. She feels very isolated. Added to this, her son and daughter-in-law are always busy with their work and her grandchild also goes to school.

The film was shot in Sringeri for about 15 days and the highlight was the canning of the Navarathri celebrations. The film is half complete with the remaining shooting to be held in the US. “The crew is waiting for the visas. If all goes well, I shall start shooting soon,” said Chandrasekhar who is planning to shoot in Denver, Colorado and Grandcanyan. “Late lyricist Vijayanarasimha’s song has also been used in this film. Perhaps this is Vijayanarasimhaji’s last song,” he said.

KS Sridhar has joined him in direction. The film has cinematography by GS Bhaskar, lyrics by Jayanth Kaikini and Sandhya Ravindranath from Sanjose California. Rajesh Krishna, Archana Udupa, Pallivi, Badriprasad and Vijayabhaskar’s granddaughter Sri Lakshmi have rendered their voice.

Jamindaarru audio released in Mysore

The audio of the Vishnuvardhan-starrer Jamindaaru was released in Mysore recently at the hands of BK Prakash, Mayor of Mysore city. Chandrashekhar, Commissioner of Mysore City was also present on the occasion.

It was an eye -catching set erected by event manager Niranjan at the Chamundi Vihara indoor stadium. The spacious floor and backdrop was utilised for the entertainment program. A song from the film was staged by the Excellency troupe. There was a thunderous applause when the song “Vardhana vardhana ...” from the Vishnuvardhan-starrer Kotigobba was repeated by the young group. Watching this, a thrilled Vishnuvardhan took the mike and addressed the large gathering. He plays a double role in Jamindaaru.

Director S Narayan recalled the days when the film was being shot and said that the role of Bettappa played by Vishnuvardhan is haunting him.

Ambarish, rebel star and Member of Parliament, also spoke on the occasion. Producer K Manju seemed very busy with the function.

Mars Recording company has released the audio cassettes. Artistes Prema, Thara, Doddanna, Srinivasamurthy, Abijit, producers Rehman, Vijayakumar and others graced the occasion.

Music director Upendrakumar dead

Upendrakumar, one of the fine music directors of Kannada cinema, died of liver jaundice at Ramaiah Hospital, Bangalore recently. He leaves behind his wife, son and innumerable fans all over the world. He was 62 years old. The composer had moved from his Chennai residence to Rajamahal Vias extension in Bangalore about four months ago.

Dr Rajkumar, who won the national award for the song “Nadhamaya Yee Lokavella Nadhamaya ...”, tuned by Upendrakumar for Dr Rajkumar’s comeback film Jeevana Chaitra as the first to pay his last tribute to the ace music director.

Upendrakumar made his debut in Kannada as the composer with the film Katari Veera in the early sixties. Ever since, he had composed music for Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films and had worked for more than 150 films in his career spanning three and half decades.

His “Olege seridhire gundu hudigi aaguvalu gandu ...” from Nanjundi Kalyana, sung by Manjula Gururaj and featuring Malashri, had become a household name. Some of his popular films are Sipayi Raamu, Shankar Guru, Premadha Kanike, Kamana Billu, Jeevana Chaitra, Anuraga Aralithu, Odahuttidavaru, Dharmasere and Devatha Manushya. Dharmadevathe was released a few weeks ago while Vishwamitra is ready for release. Dharmaraya is another film for which Upendrakumar completed his work. The film is yet to mount the sets.

—Vashistha