V. Somashekhar

In this Indian name, the name Venkatappa is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Somashekhar.

V. Somashekhar

ವೆಂಕಟಪ್ಪ ಸೋಮಶೇಖರ್

Born|

Venkatappa Somashekhar

(1937-07-27)27 July 1937

Chikkanahalli, Bangalore Rural district, Kingdom of Mysore, British India

Died| 22 August 2003(2003-08-22) (aged 66)

Bangalore, India

Nationality| Indian
Other names| V. Somasekharan
Occupation(s)| Film director, producer, screenwriter
Spouse| Gowramma
Children| 3
Awards| Puttanna Kanagal Award (2001)

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) and Chakravyuha (1983).[1] Widely known for action-oriented movies, he was much sought as a hit-machine.[2]

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.[3]

## Career[edit]

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.

Somashekhar started out as an independent director with the 1974 film Bangaarada Panjara starring Rajkumar in the lead role. 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).

He 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 movies 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."[4]

With Vishnuvardhan, he worked in the film Kalinga (1980) and Chanakya (1984). Other popular films directed by him include Point Parimala (1980), Ranaranga (1988) and S. P. Bhargavi (1981).[1] In the late 80s, he floated a production house — Vijaya Shekhar Productions with another director Vijay and collaborated with writer CV Shivashankar and made a string of successful movies.[5]

## Final years and death[edit]

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.[1]

Recognizing his contribution to Kannada cinema, he was awarded the Puttanna Kanagal Award in 2001, for 1999–2000.[citation needed]

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.[4]

## Filmography[edit]

Year  | Film  | Language  | Credited as  | Notes

|
|
|
|

Director | Producer | Screenwriter
1974  | Bangaarada Panjara | Kannada | Yes  |  | Yes  |
1976  | Premada Kanike | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  | Won, Karnataka State Film Award for Third Best Film
1978  | Shankar Guru | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1978  | Thayige Thakka Maga | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1979  | Seetharamu | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1979  | Vijay Vikram | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1980  | Point Parimala | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1980  | Kaalinga | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1980  | Rama Parashurama | Kannada  |  | Yes  |  |
1980  | Aarada Gaaya | Kannada  | Yes  | Yes  |  |
1981  | Havina Hede | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1981  | Devara Aata | Kannada  | Yes  | Yes  |  |
1982  | Andada Aramane | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1982  | Mareyalagada Kathe | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1982  | Ajith | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1983  | Chandi Chamundi | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1983  | Chakravyuha | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1984  | Gajendra | Kannada  | Yes  | Yes  |  |
1984  | Premigala Saval | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1984  | Chanakya | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1985  | Njangal Jayikkum Njangal Bharikum | Malayalam | Yes  |  |  |
1985  | Chaduranga | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1985  | Devarelliddane | Kannada  | Yes  | Yes  |  | also wrote story
1986  | Mrugaalaya | Kannada  | Yes  |  | Yes  |
1986  | Ee Jeeva Ninagagi | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1986  | Aparadhi Nanalla | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1986  | Bete | Kannada  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  |
1986  | Vishwaroopa | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1987  | Mr. Raja | Kannada  | Yes  |  | Yes  |
1987  | Bedi | Kannada  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  |
1987  | Verukal Thedi | Malayalam  | Yes  |  |  |
1988  | Kirathaka | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1988  | Vijaya Khadga | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1988  | Ranaranga | Kannada  | Yes  |  | Yes  |
1989  | Gandandre Gandu | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1989  | Onti Salaga | Kannada  | Yes  |  | Yes  |
1989  | Parashuram | Kannada  | Yes  |  | Yes  |
1990  | Ranabheri | Kannada  | Yes  |  | Yes  |
1990  | Prathap | Kannada  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | also wrote story
1991  | Varagala Bete | Kannada  |  | Yes  |  | also wrote story
1991  | S. P. Bhargavi | Kannada  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | also wrote story
1992  | Chuvanna Kaipathi | Malayalam  | Yes  |  |  |
1992  | Chitralekha | Kannada  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | also wrote story
1993  | Sarkarakke Saval | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |
1993  | Kempaiah IPS | Kannada  | Yes  |  | Yes  | also wrote story
1997  | Gandede Bhaira | Kannada  | Yes  |  |  |

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "V Somashekar Dead". chitraloka.com. 23 August 2003. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
2. ^ "V Somashekar Dead". chitraloka.com. 23 August 2003. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
3. ^ "Shivaraj, Tara, Anu bag State film awards". The Hindu. 17 December 2001. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
4. ^ a b "Somashekar passes away". The Hindu. 23 August 2003. Archived from the original on 27 May 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
5. ^ Bharadwaj, K. v Aditya (10 October 2020). "Director Vijay passes away". The Hindu.

## External links[edit]

* V. Somashekhar at IMDb