Uma Shivakumar

Uma Shivakumar Biography

Uma Shivakumar was a popular actress associated with Kannada film and theatre industry. She was nicknamed "Baddi Bangaramma", after she played the titular role of a moneylender named Baddi Bangaramma in 1984 Kannada film. She was a part of the rich amateur theatre movement of Kannada in the 1970s. She marked her film debut in 1972 with the award winning Kannada film, Vamshavriksha, and later went on to act numerous character roles, and a few lead roles. She became a regular face of Kannada art cinema in the 1970s, and was seen in Kaadu, Chitegu Chinte etc. She passed away in 2013 aged 71 following diabetic complications. She acted in more than 170 films.

Uma was born in Bangalore in the year 1941. She took formal training in classical music, and performed in live concerts, before she forayed into acting. She was first associated with amateur drama, and later played numerous significant roles on Kannada screen. This talented actress is well known for her stage performances, apart from her roles in offbeat movies in Kannada language. As a stage actress, she is best known for playing the lead role in humor play, Muhammad bin Tughluq in the late 1960s. She played Tughluq's stepmother.

In 1971, she marked her film debut with Vamshavriksha. She played the supporting role in the film, directed by B. V. Karanth and Girish Karnad. Karnad gave her memorable role in his next film, Kaadu also. Since then she became an integral part of Kannada parallel cinema in the 1970s. She won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Chandanada Gombe in 1979. She also worked for the Department of Information and Department of Tourism.

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Updated: July 12, 2018