Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar

Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar Biography

Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar is an actor, screen writer and a lyricist of Kannada cinema. He made his film debut as a screenplay writer in Kadina Benki (1986). He made his directorial debut with Undu Hoda Kondu Hoda in 1991. Three of his films, Kotreshi Kanasu (1994), America America (1995) and Hoomale (1996) have won National Film Awards in best regional film category. Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige (2007) was screened at the Cannes Film Festival thus becoming the first Kannada director to receive this honour. He has directed about 15 Kannada movies and about 10 Tele-serials. He is also known as a writer and columnist.

Chandrashekhar was born in Nagathihalli, a village in Mandya district of Karnataka. Right from childhood he developed interest towards Kannada language and literature. He holds a master degree in Kannada literature from Mysore University. He started his career as a Kannada professor and later shifted to cinema. While working as a professor, he has published many books in Kannada literature. A few of his literary works include – Malenadina hudugi, Ayana, America! America!, Sannidhi, Bayaluseemeya huduga, Haddugalu, Nanna Preetiya Huduganige, Shatamaanadanchinali and Chukki Chandramara Naadinalli.

He entered cinema in the middle 1980’s, writing scripts. Kadina Benki, Prathama Usha Kirana and Udhbhava are his earliest movies in which he acted as a screenwriter, lyricist and dialogue writer. In 1988, he wrote story and lyrics for the movie, Sankranthi. From 1990’s onwards he began to direct his own written scripts. His debut movie as a director was Undu Hoda Kondu Hoda, a comedy-drama with Anant Nag and Tara in the lead roles. He won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Story for this critically acclaimed film. His second venture as a director was critically acclaimed, Baa Nalle Madhuchandrake (1993). Amrithadhare and Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige won Karnataka State Film Award for Best Film.

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Updated: March 17, 2014