Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jan 19: This highly talented actor and director from Kannada filmdom is from this town. Kashinath, born in a middle class Brahmin family from Koni near the town, grew up later in an awe-inspiring way. Kashinath, who never looked back and went ahead leaving his footprints on the path of stellar achievements, is not with us now. But the contributions he made to Sandalwood will live forever.

A mention about Kashinath used to bring thrill for the people from this town because a feeling of pride swept through them for belonging to a town which was Kashinath's native place. Even after he left this town on account of circumstances beyond his control, Kashinath had not totally forgotten about his place of birth. During his participation in the taluk level Kannada meet held at Basrur three years back, he had put together his fond memories of his village in colloquial 'Kundapra Kannada'. He had spoken about Koni where he grew up, Koteshwar and surrounding areas, Koni lower primary school where he studied till second standard etc.

Home where Kashinath lived

School where he studied

Even after he grew into a respected director and actor, Kashinath always supported talented persons from this taluk. He used to provide ample opportunities to talented people to flourish. Upendra happens to be one of the people nourished by him, as Kashinath was the first to bring him before the camera. Kashinath also is credited for introducing brilliant directors like Manohar and Sunil Kumar Desai to Sandalwood.

Kashinath created new waves in Kannada cinema, having left an imprint in acting, direction, music direction and production. Several of his films which were made differently succeeded in ringing the box office. Several young people trained under him have become highly successful now. Some of his films were 'Anantana Avantara', Anubhava', 'Hendathi Yendare Hegirabeku'. His 'Mangaluru Manjunatha' dialogues continue to be popular among the masses even now. His film, 'Ajagajantara (1991)' was remade in Hindi as 'Judai' in 1997 with Anil Kapur, Sridevi, and Urmila Matondkar. Kashinath was adept at making good movies at less cost. 'Chowka', which was recently released, was the last of his films.

Kashinath was born to Vasudeva Rao and Saraswati couple in 1951 in an ordinary Brahmin family. During his childhood itself, his grasping power was high. His father, Vasudeva Rao, was an entrepreneur. He grew with three brothers and a sister. He studied first and second standard in 1955 and 56 in government low r primary school, Koni. As his father set up business at Bengaluru, Kashinath had to move to Bengaluru with his family. No one from his native guessed then that he would scale such dizzy heights in filmdom. Kashinath continued his education and secured BSc degree from Vijaya College Bengaluru.

People from here have always associated Kashinath's name with Koni. After Kashinath's family left for Bengaluru, the family house was looked after by his aunt, Jayalaxmi Hatwar. In 1994, the house along with three acres of land were sold to Sunanda Chandra Shetty. Those who bought this land demolished the house in which Kashinath lived, and built a new one.

Although Kashinath's house does not exist now, Sunanda Chandra Shetty, the purchaser of the property, who also is a fan of Kashinath, has retained the Tulasi platform which the family of Kashinath used to worship, well used for drinking water, and toilet the family was using. They exist even now.