Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Sep 11: Veteran Kannada actress, B V Radha (69), who had acted in over 300 films, suffered cardiac arrest and breathed her last in the wee hours of Sunday September 10.  Her body has been donated to M S Ramaiah Hospital to facilitate studies by medical students, while he eyes have been donated to Dr Raj Eye Bank at Narayana Netralaya.

Radha' husband, K S L Swamy (Ravee),  who also was a noted director and producer of Kannada films, had passed away on October 20, 2015. His body was also donated to medical college.

Radha entered the world of movies with 'Navakoti Narayana' with Dr Rajkumar in the leading role, in 1964. She had later acted in notable lmovies like 'Toogudeepa', 'Premamayi', 'Kiladi Ranga', 'Deva Manava', Rajadurgada Rahasya e tc. She also had carved out a niche for herself in Tamil lcinema, where she was nown with the name, Kumari Radha. Radha was known in her early days for exquisite dances.

Born to a farmer family from here in 1948, Radha's parents were Gangappa and Nagamma. Her actual name was Rajalaxmi. She did not evince interest in studies but was swept  by the glamour of cinema. At the advice of a neighbour, she went to Madras and bagged a small role lin 'Navakoti Narayana' in 1964. Radha was known to have cordial relationship with her co-stars.

A few years back, Radha had suffered from cancer, and her husband, K S L Swamy, had provided her treatment till she was completely cured of cancer. Radha had also served Kannada filmdom as a producer and her film, 'Jambu Savari' produced in 1990 had won national Golden Lotus award.  Her movie, 'Harakeya Kuri' released in 1993 had been considered by national selectors as the best Kannada movie of the year.