Gangadhar (1936–2003) was an Indian actor known for his work in Kannada cinema. A character actor who transitioned from stage to films in the mid-1960s, he had a brief period of success when his performances in social-dramas such as Gejje Pooje (1969), Sharapanjara (1971) and Seetha (1970) were noted. In addition to the former two, he starred in Katha Sangama (1975) and Ranganayaki (1981), all of which were directed by Puttanna Kanagal.[2] Other films he starred in include Nanna Thamma (1970), Aliya Geleya (1971) and Bhale Adrushtavo Adrushta (1972).[1]

Gangadhar
Born
Gangadhar

1936
Died (aged 67)[1]
NationalityIndian
Other namesRajendra Kumar
OccupationActor

Gangadhar returned to stage in the 1980s after film opportunities failed to come his way; poor health condition led him to retire from acting in 1995, when he was aged 59.[3] Gangadhar appeared in a total of 80 Kannada-language films and was awarded the Rajyotsava Award by the government of Karnataka in recognition of his contribution to Kannada cinema. He died in 2003, aged 67.[1]

Early life

edit

Gangadhar was born in 1936. He obtained a diploma in mechanical engineering before beginning to work in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore. While there, he staged plays like Samsare Nauke, Echamanayaka and Vijayotsava.[4] He had achieved considerable success during his time at the theatre group Prabhat Kalavidaru.[5]

Career

edit

A makeup artist, Mahadevaiah, introduced Gangadhar to filmmaker G. V. Iyer, who cast him in Chowkada Deepa (1969) in the lead role.[4] He was credited as Rajendra Kumar for the film.[5] The film also marked the debut of actor Srinath.[6] The film was an attempt to blend into the hitherto onset of Parallel cinema, but failed to perform well. However, Gangadhar's first release was the Rajkumar-starrer Lagna Pathrike (1967). He played a stage actor in the film. After Chowkada Deepa, he starred in Puttanna Kanagal's successful film, Gejje Pooje (1969), alongside Kalpana.[1] He subsequently appeared in Nanna Thamma (1970), playing the brother of Rajkumar's character. He was paired opposite Kalpana again in Seetha (1970).[4] A popular collaboration during the time, the two went on to star together subsequently in Sotu Geddavalu (1971), Yaava Janmada Maitri (1972) and Bhale Adrushtavo Adrushta (1972).[3] In Bandhavya (1972), he played a Raja, a thief and a brother of K. S. Ashwath's character, who reforms himself in order to pursue his love interest.[4]

The year 1971 saw seven releases starring Gangadhar, including the hugely successful Sharapanjara and B. R. Panthulu's Aliya Geleya.[5] Gangadhar's Satish played husband of a postpartum psychosis-affected Kaveri (played by Kalpana) in Sharapanjara, who interns her to a mental asylum, before beginning to have an extramarital affair with an office colleague. Upon her return home after recovery, he mistreats her often reminding her of the illness.[7] In 1972, Gangadhar had a total of four releases. He played Chennappa in Kanagal's anthology film Katha Sangama (1975), as the husband of a blind woman (played by Aarathi). Based on the novel Munithaayi, the plot follows Chennappa's struggle after knowing that his wife is raped by Rajinikanth's character.[2] The remainder of the 1970s and 1980s saw less opportunities coming Gangadhar's way. Film historian Hariharapura Manjunath attributes it to the emergence of other leading men during the time such as Vishnuvardhan, Ambareesh and Shankar Nag among others.[4] Gangadhar made occasional screen appearances in the 1980s; one notable role came in Bhakta Prahlada (1983), in which he played the Hindu deity Indra.[3] In Mutthu Ondu Mutthu (1979), he played the father of female lead's character; in Jeevakke Jeeva (1981), a negative-shaded character; and in Karna (1986), the brother of Vishnuvardhan's character.[2] During this time, Gangadhar returned to theatre and worked for a period of 12 years.[5]

Personal life

edit

The 1990s saw worsening health condition of Gangadhar as he was ailing from diabetes, kidney-related illness and deteriorating eyesight. This was evident during the film of Aata Hudugata (1995), which was his last screen appearance.[3] In one of his last public appearances, the annual Kannada Film Directors Association event at the Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Bangalore, in April 2001, he teared up lamenting his deteriorating eyesight stating he was looking forward for his death.[5] After prolonged illness, Gangadhar died at 11:15 p.m. (IST) on 27 December 2003 in Bangalore, aged 67.[1][3]

Partial filmography

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1967 Lagna Pathrike Stage actor
1969 Chowkada Deepa Raghu Credited as Rajendra Kumar
1969 Gejje Pooje Somu
1970 Nanna Thamma
1970 Seetha Ramnath
1970 Kalyani Ranganath
1971 Sotu Geddavalu Shankara Murthy
1971 Sharapanjara Sathish
1971 Aliya Geleya
1971 Bhale Bhaskar Ramesha
1972 Bandhavya Raja
1972 Yaava Janmada Maitri Krishna Murthy
1972 Bhale Adrushtavo Adrushta Krishna
1972 Subhadra Kalyana
1972 Malathi Madhava
1972 Jeevana Jokali
1973 Jaya Vijaya
1973 Mane Belagida Sose
1974 Mannina Magalu
1975 Viplava Vanithe
1976 Katha Sangama Chennappa
1976 Makkala Bhagya
1976 Baalu Jenu Ravi
1976 Bangarada Gudi Shankar
1976 Devaru Kotta Vara Shivu
1980 Nyaya Neethi Dharma Shekhar
1981 Ranganayaki Seth Cameo
1981 Jeevakke Jeeva Santosh
1983 Bhakta Prahlada Indra
1986 Karna
1988 Mithileya Seetheyaru
1991 Central Rowdy
1992 Harakeya Kuri
1994 Rashmi
1995 Aata Hudugata Rajashekhar

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e Yesteryear actor Gangadhar dead Archived 9 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine The Hindu
  2. ^ a b c "ಘಟಾನುಘಟಿ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರು, ನಾಯಕಿಯರ ಜೊತೆ ಸಿನೆಮಾ ಮಾಡಿಯೂ ಸೋತ ನತದೃಷ್ಟ ಗಂಗಾಧರ್..!! | Cinema Swarasyagalu Ep-59". Total Kannada. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e ನಟವರ ಗಂಗಾಧರನ ನಲಿವು-ನೋವಿನ ಕಥೆ | Cinema Swarasyagalu Part 61 | Hariharapura Manjunath | Total Kannada. Total Kannada. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e "ಗೆಜ್ಜೆ ಪೂಜೆ", "ಶರಪಂಜರ"ದಂಥ ಹಿಟ್ ಸಿನೆಮಾ ಮಾಡಿಯೂ ನಾಪತ್ತೆಯಾದ ಗಂಗಾಧರ್..| Cinema Swarasyagalu Part 57. Total Kannada. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Gangadhar Dead". Chitraloka. 28 December 2003. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ^ Kumar, S. Nanda (1 September 2012). "A little boy's dream". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Sharapanjara (1971)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
edit