shankar nag(1954-1990)

About Him

      Shankar Nagarkatte (9 November 1954 - 30 September 1990), known as Shankar Nag, was an actor and director of kannada cinema.He also directed and acted in the teleserial,malgudi days based on celebrated novelist R.K Narayan's short stories.

      Besides these, he was actively involved in Kannada theater activities. He co-wrote 22 june 1897, an indian national award-winning Marathi film.

  Born                      Shankar Nagarkatte
                               November 9, 1954
                               Mallapur, Honnavar (North Canara), Mysore State, India.

  Other names        Shankar Anna, Karate King, Auto Raja

  Occupation          Actor, director, producer, screenwriter, television anchor

  Years active        1977-1990

  Height                   5 ft 7 in

  Spouse(s)             Arundathi Nag

  Parents                 Sadananda nagarakatte,anandi

  Relatives               Anant nag (brother)

  Died                       September 30, 1990 (aged 35)
                                Near Anagod, Davanagere, Karnataka


Early Career

      After completing formal education, Shankar moved to Mumbai. In Mumbai, he was attracted to Marathi theater and immersed himself in theatrical activities.Shankar Nag then shifted base to Karnataka. His elder brother Anant Nag had already established himself as an actor and urged Shankar to act in films.
      He was offered a role of a mercenary by Girish Karnad in the epic movie, Ondanondu Kaladalli, which was loosely based on Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece, Seven Samurai. His debut film as actor fetched him a national award at the Delhi International Film Festival.
     Thus began his film career, where, in a span of 12 years (from 1978 to 1990) he acted in some 80 Kannada movies, as a leading man, besides co-producing (with actor-brother Anant Nag) and directing some films like Minchina Ota (a rare example of a heist movie in Kannada), Janma Janmada Anubandha and Geetha.


Later Days

     Commercial film producers took notice of Shankar Nag and he began acting in typical masala movies. Seetaramu was Shankar Nag's first commercial movie. His popular films include Auto Raja, Geetha, S.P. Sangliana, and Minchina Ota. He had also identified himself with the Janata Party in 1980s.

Directional Debut

     Shankar began his directorial with Minchina Ota. This won him seven state awards, including the best film. And then came a series of films directed by him. Janma Janmada Anubandha, Geetha, Accident(which won many state and national awards), Ondu Muttina Kathe (with Rajkumar in the lead), Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige, Hosa Teerpu, Lalach.

Malgudi Days

     Shankar did not limit his efforts to cinema. He was equally immersed in theatre and television. Malgudi Days is the best example of Shankar's oeuvre on television.
     Prior to globalization, Doordarshan was the only broadcaster in India. In addition to programme production, Doordarshan used to invite private producers to produce television serials. Shankar accepted the offer and directed Malgudi Days, based on the collection of short stories by R.K.Narayan in 1987, under the banner of Padam Rag Films. The teleserial was shot in Agumbe, Shimoga district, Karnataka.Malgudi Days has been rated as one of the finest serials ever to be made in the history of Indian Television.
    He anchored the Parichaya program on DD1-Kannada, in its starting days.Shankar retained an interest in theatre. His brother Anant Nag and he founded SANKET, an amateur theatre group, which still produces plays. His first ever directorial effort in Kannada was Anju Mallige by Girish Karnad.