Anant Nag

Anant Nag Biography

Anant Nagarkatte, popularly known by the name, Anant Nag is a veteran actor and politician from Karnataka. He is considered one of Kannada cinema's finest actors and has accumulated numerous awards at different award functions including state awards and Filmfare for best actor category. Shankar Nag, noted actor and director of Kannada cinema was his younger brother. He has also acted in other regional languages including Malayalam, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu. He has also acted in Malgudi Days, directed by his younger brother Shankar Nag.

Anant Nag was born on 4 September 1948 to Anandi and Sadanand Nagarkatte in the Uttara Kannada district. His primary and second education was completed at Karnataka and for higher studies he went to Mumbai. It was during this time when he got attracted to theatre and it paved way to films as well. Kannada movie, Sankalpa was his debut movie (1971). But it was through critically acclaimed Hindi movie of Shyam Benegal, Ankur released in the same year which brought him fame. After that Anant Nag acted in many of Shyam Benegal's movies, mostly a part of parallel cinema.

His real debut to Kannada movies happened in the year 1975 with the movie, Hamsageethe. Thus he became a part of Kannada film industry and his pairing with actress Lakshmi was noted most. They worked together in more than 25 movies. Chandanada Gombe, Naa Ninna Bidaalare (1979), Benkiya Bale, Ibbani Karagitu, Makkaliralavva Mane Thumba, Mududida Taavare Aralitu, Nodi Swamy Naavirodu Heege and Amma exclusively belong to this successful pair of Kannada film industry.

During the era of 1970’s and 1980’s, he completely dominated Kannada film industry and his major hits are Ganeshana Maduve, Hasyaratna Ramakrishna, Undoohoda Konduhoda, Gauri Ganesha, Udbava, Beladingala Baale, Yarigu Helbedi and Dairya lakshmi. He won Karnataka state awards for the movies - Gangavva Gangamayi, Hosa Neeru and Minchina Ota.

Published: N/A

Updated: March 17, 2014