From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Feb 20: Noted Kannada film director S K Bhagawan passed away this morning at his residence. He was 89.
Bhagwan was ailing for some time and the demise is said to be due to age-related illness.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, former Chief Minister and Congress opposition leader in assembly Siddaamaiah, JD(S) leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and KPCC Chief D K Shivakumar have mourned the death of Kannada film director S K Bhagwan in Bengaluru on Monday.
"Renowned director of Kannada film industry S K Bhagawan passed away. I am very saddened to hear the news of Bhagawan's death. I pray for his soul. I pray that God gives strength to his family to bear this pain,’’ Bommai said in his condolence message.
"The Dorai-Bhagawan duo has given many tasteful films to Kannada cinema. Dr and his friend Dorai Raj directed 55 films including 'Kasthuri Niwas', 'Eradu Soyam', 'Bayalu Dari', 'Giri Kanye', 'Hosa Lekuk' starring Rajkumar. Om Shant,’’ the chief minister said.
Bhagawan, who was born on July 5, 1933, began performing in theatre plays at an early age alongside Hirannaiah Mithra Mandali. In 1956, he began working in the movie industry as Kanagal Prabhakar Shastri's assistant. Soon, he was listed alongside A.C. Narasimha Murthy as the co-director of Rajadurgada Rahasya (1967)
When he co-directed Jedara Bale (1968) with Dorai Raj under the moniker Dorai-Bhagavan, he made his professional directorial debut. They were the first Kannada filmmakers to make James Bond-style films. In the following years, the duo directed many films such as Kasturi Nivasa, Eradu Kanasu, Bayaludaari, Gaalimaatu, Chandanada Gombe, Hosa Belaku, Benkiya Bale, Jeevana Chaitra, and more Bond-style films like Goa Dalli C.I.D 999, Operation Jackpot Nalli C.I.D 999, and Operation Diamond Racke Together with Rajkumar, the team produced a number of films with Anant Nag and Lakshmi, the most of which were adapted from books.
After Dorai Raj passed away, Bhagawan took a long break from directing; their last film together was Baalondu Chaduranga in 1996. He made a comeback in 2019 with Aduva Gombe, the 50th movie he has directed, at the age of 85.
Siddaramaiah said the Kannada film industry has lost a veteran film director who had directed some of the most memorable Kannada movies. He had enriched not just the film industry but was well versed in the theatre filed too, the Congress leader said.
Kumaraswamy said that he lost a personal and valued friend and a great film director of the Kannada film industry.
The KPCC Chief has also mourned the death of Bhagawan.