M. P. Shankar

M. P. Shankar
Born(1935-08-20)20 August 1935[1]
Died17 July 2008(2008-07-17) (aged 72)[2]
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Actor, film director, producer, screenwriter
SpouseManjula
Children3

M. P. Shankar (20 August 1935 – 17 July 2008) was an Indian actor in Kannada cinema. He acted in films like Satya Harishchandra as 'Veera Baahu', Naagarahaavu as 'Pailwan Basanna', Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu as Bhootayya, Ratnamanjari etc.

He produced the film Gandhada Gudi starring Rajkumar in which Shankar also acted as forest dept. driver Johnny. He died on 17 July 2008 in Mysore.[4]

Early life

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Shankar was the third son of Puttalingappa and Gangamma. His father ran a handloom textile industry. Shankar had his primary and secondary education in Dalvoy School and higher secondary education in Banumaiah's High School. His family got into financial crisis due to losses at textile industry. He could not even appear for SSLC exams because of financial problems. He worked as a daily wager in the then Mysore Electricity Board.[1]

Career

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Shankar started his career as a foundry man in the railway workshop at Mysore in 1955 on a monthly wage of Rs. 80. This iron grinding work affected his body. Shankar, who practised wrestling, participated in the Dasara wrestling competition in 1956 and received title from the then Chief Minister B. D. Jatti. He dreamt of winning the "Sri Mysore" wrestling title. But the wrestling competition was suspended for three years from 1957, following the violence which broke out during the competition that year. His acting talent came to light when he played the role of Kadu Kuruba in the diamond jubilee celebration of Banumaiah's Institutions and received a prize from Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar.

He formed a drama troupe under the banner Bharani Kalavidaru and enacted plays such as Gadayuddha, Yechchama Nayaka, Yelahanka Bhoopala and Raja Gopichand throughout the State.

M. P. Shankar made his entry into films in 1962 as a villain in the film Ratnamanjari, directed by Hunsur Krishnamurthy and made a name for himself in the cine industry. He earned the distinction of acting in 108 films. Shankar acted as a villain in films such as Veera Sankalpa, Kadina Rahasya, Naari Munidare Maari, Gandhada Gudi, Rama Lakshmana and Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu .

Shankar started his own production unit in 1968 under the banner "Bharani Chitra". He began creating awareness about environment and wildlife through his films like Kaadina Rahasya, Gandhada Gudi, Rama Lakshmana, Mrugalaya.

Partial filmography

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Year Film Role Notes
1962 Rathna Manjari Debut film
1964 Mane Aliya Nagesh
1965 Satya Harishchandra Veerabahu
1967 Parvathi Kalyana Tarakasura
1967 Gange Gowri Shani Deva
1967 Manassiddare Marga
1968 Jedara Bale Gopinath Kumar's associate
1968 Mannina Maga Byra
1969 Kadina Rahasya Also producer[5]
1969 Mayor Muthanna Rajappa
1969 Gandondu Hennaru Kodanda
1971 Nyayave Devaru
1972 Bangaarada Manushya Honnaiah
1972 Naagarahaavu Pailwan Basanna
1973 Gandhada Gudi Johnny Also producer
1974 Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu Bhootayya
1975 Mayura Rangajetti
1978 Kiladi Jodi
1979 Huliya Haalina Mevu Dodda Veerarappa
1980 Narada Vijaya Gurupada
1980 Maria My Darling Maria's father
1981 Bhaari Bharjari Bete Bartender
1984 Naane Raja Police Commissioner Also producer
1985 Kaadina Raja Also producer
1986 Mrugaalaya Also producer[5]
1986 Na Ninna Preetisuve Lakshmipathi
1989 Avane Nanna Ganda Mullukatte Parandhamaiah
1991 Gandu Sidigundu
1991 Halli Rambhe Belli Bombe Also producer
1983 Onde Guri Also producer
1988 Vijaya Khadga Also producer
1990 Kempu Surya
1994 Gandhada Gudi Part 2
1995 Tungabhadra
1995 Giddu Daada
2003 Katthegalu Saar Katthegalu
2003 Smile Sharma
2003 Nanjundi
2006 Belli Betta Nagegowda
2006 Kallarali Hoovagi Dodda Madakari Nayaka
2007 Anatharu Undertaker

Death

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He died on 17 July 2008 after a prolonged illness at his residence Manjunatha Nilaya in Vijayanagar in Mysore city. He is survived by his wife Manjula, son Tilak and daughter Shobha. The last rites were held with full state honours in Mysore on 18 July.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "WebHost4Life - Web Hosting, Unix Hosting, E-Mail, Web Design". www.ourkarnataka.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  2. ^ "Archive News". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  3. ^ Kannada film actor M.P. Shankar is dead Archived 2012-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "M.P. Shankar Passes away". Archived from the original on 20 November 2008.
  5. ^ a b "Kannada film actor M.P. Shankar is dead". Archived from the original on 18 April 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
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