Puttanna Kanagal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Puttanna Kanagal
Born	Shubraveshti Ramaswamiah Seetharama Sharma (1933-12-01)1 December 1933 Kanagal, Kingdom of Mysore
Died	5 June 1985(1985-06-05) (aged 51) Bangalore, India
Nationality	Indian
Other names	Puttanna, Seetharama Sharma
Occupation	Film director, producer, screenwriter
Years active	1957–1985
Spouse(s)	Nagalakshmi Aarathi (1976-1981)
Children	5
Relatives	Kanagal Prabhakara Shastry (brother)

Shubraveshti Ramaswamiah Seetharama Sharma (born December 1, 1933 – died June 5, 1985) was a famous Indian filmmaker. He was widely known as S. R. Puttanna Kanagal. He is celebrated for his work in Kannada cinema, which are films made in the Kannada language. Many people consider him one of the most important filmmakers in Kannada film history.

Life and Early Career

Puttanna Kanagal was born in a village called Kanagal. His parents were Ramaswamaiah and Subbamma. His family was not wealthy, so he faced many challenges growing up.

He worked different jobs, like being a teacher, a salesman, and even a cleaner. His job as a publicity boy helped him get closer to the world of theatre and then movies. He began working with film director B. R. Panthulu as an assistant. His first film as an assistant director was Rathnagiri Rahasya in 1957.

Puttanna married Nagalakshmi when he was young, and they had five children. Later, he married actress Aarathi in the mid-1970s. They had a daughter named Yashaswini. Puttanna and Aarathi later separated in 1981.

In 1981, one of his major films, Ranganayaki, received great reviews. However, it did not do as well as expected at the box office at first. This, along with other personal challenges, affected his health. He did not direct any films for about 14 months.

Actor Srinath, who had worked with Puttanna on successful films, helped him. They made the film Maanasa Sarovara, which became a moderate hit. This helped Puttanna get back to directing. His later films, like Amruta Ghalige and Runamukthalu, also did quite well. Puttanna Kanagal passed away on June 5, 1985, in Bangalore while he was filming Masanada Hoovu.

Puttanna's Impact on Cinema

Puttanna Kanagal started his career in publicity. He then moved into theatre and became an assistant to director B. R. Panthulu. Many famous directors, like S. P. Muthuraman and Bharathiraja from Tamil cinema, and T. S. Nagabharana, learned from him.

Puttanna's films often explored new or sensitive topics. They usually focused on strong women characters. He was able to make films that appealed to both critics and regular moviegoers. His movies were like a bridge between artistic films and popular commercial films.

His Kannada film Gejje Pooje, based on a novel, is considered a very important film. He also directed other significant films like Kappu Bilupu (1969), Sharapanjara (1971), Naagarahaavu (1972), Edakallu Guddada Mele (1973), and Shubhamangala (1975). These films are seen as milestones in Kannada cinema. He also directed some films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi languages.

As a Director

Puttanna Kanagal is often seen as a filmmaker who was ahead of his time. His first film as a director was the 1964 Malayalam movie School Master. This was a remake of his mentor B. R. Panthulu's Kannada film. He then directed another Malayalam film, Poochakkanni.

Puttanna's first Kannada film as a director was Bellimoda (Silver Cloud) in 1967. This movie was a big success with both critics and audiences. It is believed that Belli Moda was the first Kannada movie filmed entirely outdoors. He directed many other masterpieces, including Gejje Pooje, Sharapanjara, and Naagarahaavu. His last film was Savira Mettilu, which was released after his death.

Puttanna helped many actors become famous. These include Kalpana, Aarathi, Srinath, Rajinikanth, Vishnuvardhan, and Ambareesh.

Dr. Vishnuvardhan once said that Puttanna Kanagal was like a "God-sent teacher" to him. He felt that Puttanna helped him become an actor by bringing out his hidden potential.

Tamil film director K. Balachander, who won the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, greatly respected Puttanna. Balachander often said that he considered Puttanna Kanagal his teacher in filmmaking. He admired Puttanna's focus on visuals in films rather than just dialogue. He also praised Puttanna's ability to bring out strong emotions from his actors.

The Visual Storyteller

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Kannada film industry started making movies about social issues. Puttanna's films were a bridge between commercial movies and artistic movies. His stories were often based on popular Kannada novels. They featured strong characters and clear themes. He also included songs and emotions, which were common in commercial cinema.

Puttanna was also known for his excellent way of filming songs. His movies usually had four to five songs. He paid great attention to choosing the right locations and costumes for each song. The songs often showed the main feeling of the film. For example, a sad song from Manasasarovara was filmed in dusty mining areas. This reflected the pain of a man who had lost his love.

He was also famous for using special camera techniques like freeze shots. These techniques made important scenes more thoughtful. Although some people said his films focused too much on women, Puttanna disagreed.

He became the first director of the Kannada Film Directors Association in 1984. A theatre in Jayanagar, Bangalore was renamed in his honor. In 2015, the 30th anniversary of his death was celebrated with an event. Many actors and directors attended to honor his memory.

Awards and Honours

Puttanna Kanagal received many awards for his work. He won three National Film Awards, three Filmfare Awards South, and several Karnataka State Film Awards. The state of Karnataka also gives out the Puttanna Kanagal Award each year to honor film directors.

Filmfare Awards South

National Film Awards

Karnataka State Film Awards

Filmography