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Shankar Nag was an Indian film actor, director, screenwriter and producer known for his work in Kannada cinema. He directed seven Kannada films and one Marathi film. He also wrote the story and screenplay of many of these including a few films that he did not direct. After beginning his acting career in theatre, Nag took to films making his debut in a bit role in the 1978 Marathi anti-superstition drama Sarvasakshi. His Kannada film debut came in the same year with Ondanondu Kaladalli directed by Girish Karnad, in which Nag played the lead, a mercenary named Gandugali. The role that fetched him the Silver Peacock for the Best Actor Award (Male) at the 7th International Film Festival of India. Other than Minchina Ota, he also co-produced two of his directorial ventures — Janma Janmada Anubandha (1980) and Geetha (1981).

Nag co-wrote the 1979 Marathi film 22 June 1897 with director Nachiket Patwardhan. His directorial debut came in the heist film Minchina Ota (1980), a film that he also wrote and starred in, alongside brother Anant Nag. Anant would go on to become a frequent collaborator. Shankar remade Minchina Ota in Hindi as Lalach (1983). He would go on to direct six other films, all in Kannada, most notably the crime-drama Accident (1985), that highlighted a nexus between the media and the political system. The film won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues at the 32nd National Film Awards. His last film as a director was Ondu Muttina Kathe (1987), based on the John Steinbeck's novella The Pearl, that starred Dr. Rajkumar. Nag shot to national fame with the television series Malgudi Days (1986–1988) that he directed, based on R. K. Narayan's collection of short stories of the same name.

As an actor, Nag made his first appearance in a commercial film with Seetharamu (1979). His role as Raja, the auto rikshaw driver in Auto Raja (1980), became widely popular, and continues to hold cult status in Karnataka. The 1980s saw Nag appearing most notably in action thrillers and rogue cop films with plenty of martial arts posturing, earning him the moniker "Karate King". In Sangliyana (1988) and S. P. Sangliyana Part 2 (1990), he played the eponymous lead, based on the real-life cop H. T. Sangliana. C.B.I. Shankar (1989) is another film in the same genre. Films such as Muniyana Madari (1981), Karmika Kallanalla (1982), Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige (1983) and Lorry Driver (1987) saw him portray working-class men. In the ensemble Hindi film Utsav (1984), he played a thief who falls in love with a courtesan. Nag last filmed for Sundarakanda (1991) which released after his death by car crash in 1990.

Film

Acting roles

Television

Notes

1. ^ Nag played dual roles in the film.
2. Nag played triple roles in the film.
3. ^ Nag played one character with two names.

References

1. ^ "These 9 Movies Directed By Shankar Nag in the 80s Are Simply An Amazing Feat". MetroSaga. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
2. "Film flashback: 'Ondanondu Kaladalli', the film that catapulted Shankar Nag to fame". Scroll.in. 30 September 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
3. "Remembering Shankar Nag on his 65th birthday". Deccan Herald. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
4. "Shankar Nag : Kannada Actor Age, Movies, Biography, Photos". chiloka.com. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
5. ^ "Revisiting 'Accident': An '80s Kannada film that's still relevant for its sociopolitics". The News Minute. 6 July 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
6. FC, Team (24 September 2020). "Best Kannada Thrillers From Different Eras Now Available On OTT". Filmcompanion.in. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
7. "32nd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
8. "Ondu Muttina Kathe: ನಾನು ರಾಜ್ಕುಮಾರ್ ಇಮೇಜ್ ಬ್ರೇಕ್ ಮಾಡುವಲ್ಲಿ ಸೋತು ಹೋದೆ ಎಂದಿದ್ದರು ಶಂಕರ್ ನಾಗ್? ಯಾಕೆ?". News18 Kannada (in Kannada). 23 April 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
9. George, Nina C. (10 May 2020). "How Shankar Nag's Malgudi Days came to life". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
10. "The Magic of Malgudi: How Shankar Nag Brought RK Narayan's Masterpiece to Life on Television". News18. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
11. ^ Roychoudhury, Amborish (12 June 2022). "Once Upon a Cinema: The 'Karate King' who also directed Malgudi Days". Firstpost. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
12. Kulkarni, Tanu (11 July 2014). "A befitting tribute to 'Auto Raja'". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
13. Khajane, Muralidhara (29 September 2015). "The iconic Auto Raja". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
14. Prasad, S. Shyam (19 November 2022). "'SP Sangliyana Part 2': Memories of a super cop". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
15. ^ "Shankar Nag Lives On". Readoo India. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
16. ^ Scroll Staff (9 November 2015). "Film, theatre, television – Shankar Nag conquered them all". Scroll.in. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
17. "A filmy tribute to late Sandalwood star Shankar Nag on his birth anniversary". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
18. "PLAN AHEAD : Watch a film". punemirror.com. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
19. "Makkaliralavva Manethumba (1984) Kannada movie: Cast & Crew". chiloka.com. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
20. R., Shilpa Sebastian (5 March 2018). "Ramesh Bhat recalls the making of Parameshi Prema Prasanga". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
21. "Remembering Shankar Nag: An encyclopedia of talent and a visionary". 30 September 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
22. Canby, Vincent (17 May 1982). "Movie: From India, 'Once Upon a Time'". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
23. Piousji (17 June 1979). "Khaas Baat". Sunday. Vol. 17. p. 51. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
24. ^ Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. p. 157. ISBN 978-1-135-94318-9.
25. ^ Kumar, S. Shiva (1983). "'The over-exposure kills you'". Mid-Day.
26. ^ "How Ramesh Bhat Helped Shankar Nag In Making Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige". News18. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
27. Ganesh, K. R. (19 January 2006). "This diamond is forever". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
28. "'Manasa Sarovara' to 'Bhinna': How mental health is stereotyped in Kannada cinema". The News Minute. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
29. "Ramayan's Sita aka Dipika Chikhila remembers late co-star Shankar Nag". The Times of India. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
30. "In Pics: How The Cast Of 'Malgudi Days' Looked In Their First Appearances Vs Later". ScoopWhoop. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2023.

External links

• Shankar Nag filmography at IMDb

• Male actor filmographies
• Director filmographies
• Indian filmographies