
Shani Mahadevappa
Acting
Biography
Shivaprakash, known by his screen name Shani Mahadevappa (19 March 1933 – 3 January 2021), was an Indian actor who worked in Kannada cinema. Having made his acting debut on stage in the 1950s, he became popular for his portrayal of deity Shani in Shanishwara Mahatme. His film career began with Sri Dharmasthala Mahathme (1962) and was known for his portrayal of supporting characters, notably the poet Dindima in Kaviratna Kalidasa (1983). He appeared in over 400 films.
Known For

The film is a revenge drama of a woman, played by Vaishnavi, who is killed by her in-laws mercilessly and her spirit entering into a doll. The doll takes up the revenge against each of them who was involved in her murder. The film was a remake of Tamil film Vaa Arugil Vaa (1991) which itself was loosely inspired from 1988 American film Child's Play. The film's music was composed by Rajan-Nagendra and cinematography is by D. V. Ramana.
Aathma Bandhana

Babhruvahana, like Arjuna at the beginning of the Kurukshetra war, faces a moral dilemma. Can he risk harming his parents? While Chitarangada alerts Arjuna to shoot an arrow at their son and take advantage of Babhruvahana’s momentary lapse due to a sense of devotion towards them (as Arjuna did with Karna), Uluci, the Naga princess and yet another abandoned wife of Arjuna’s, reminds Babhruvahana of the teaching of the Kurukshetra battle that in the battlefield there is no space for feelings even towards parents. What Babhruvahana must do is to establish his mother’s good name and thereby his own character. This film captures this conflict spectacularly. The eerie parallels with the moral dilemmas of the great Mahabharata battle aside, here all the familial relationships (in particular, strong mothers and dutiful sons) become exaggerated and demand our attention.
Babruvahana

At his detective wife's request, a young man joins a boxing club to find out about the illegal activities carried out by the head of the establishment.
Thaayige Thakka Maga

Krishna refuses to accept Kamini's love for him. But when Kamini dies and her ghost possesses Krishna, his wife, Gayatri, tries to save him from this situation.
Naa Ninna Bidalaare

Mohan and his wife, Leela, are the leading lawyers. Trouble brews in their marital life and careers when Mohan defends his past lover who murdered her husband.
Chalisuva Modagalu

Chengumani is commander-in-chief in the 18th-century Coorg region of present-day Karnataka. He becomes the king's commander-in-chief after saving his life, but his life gets complicated when he falls in love with Poovi and marries her in disguise. The movie was dubbed in Telugu as Prachanda Bheri. This was also Rajkumar's first cinemascope movie.
Huliya Halina Mevu

Badavara Bandhu is a 1976 Indian Kannada language drama film directed by Vijay. It stars Rajkumar and Jayamala. The movie is also notable for the negative character played by K. S. Ashwath.The movie saw a theatrical run of 25 weeks and was declared a Blockbuster at the box office.
Badavara Bandhu

Based on a novel of same name by K Puranik, which is loosely based on real life events of Appanna, a rural shehnai artist from Karnataka. Appanna, falls in love with a dancer, Basanti. But when Basanti dies, things changes a lot for Appanna.
Sanaadi Appanna

Bengaluru Mail is a 1968 Indian Kannada-language mystery thriller film directed by L. S. Narayana and produced by Y. V. Rao. The film stars Rajkumar, Narasimharaju and Jayanthi. The movie is a remake of the 1967 Malayalam movie Cochin Express, which was also subsequently remade in Telugu as Circar Express, in Tamil as Neelagiri Express and in Hindi as The Train.
Bengaluru Mail

Rajashekhar earns the enmity of his business partners when he opposes their illegal plans. Circumstances force him to run from the police and he is separated from his wife in the process.
Shankar Guru

The movie portrays Sai Baba as a child abandoned by his Hindu parents and raised by a Muslim couple, who later returns to Shirdi, preaches communal harmony, and performs miracles. The film also depicts the transition from Shirdi Sai Baba to Sathya Sai Baba, considered his reincarnation.
Bhagavan Sri Saibaba

Bhakta Kumbara is a 1974 Indian Kannada biographical film, directed by Hunsur Krishnamurthy and produced by N R Anuradha Devi. The film stars Rajkumar, Leelavati and Balkrishna in lead roles. The film had a musical score by G.K. Venkatesh. Actress Sridevi essayed the role of Muktha Bai (as a child artist), thereby the latter making her Kannada film debut. The movie is based on the life of Gora Kumbhar, a potter turned into a saint who lived in the 13th and 14th centuries in Teredoki village. He supposedly lost his child while curing the clay by his legs for making pots, because he did not notice his child fumbling under his feet as he immersed himself in chanting the name of God. He was called Saint Gora Kumbara by the people of Maharashtra.
Bhaktha Kumbara

Olavu Geluvu is a 1977 Indian Kannada-language film, directed by H. R. Bhargava and produced by S. A. Srinivas. The film stars Rajkumar, Lakshmi, Balakrishna and Sampath. The film has musical score by G. K. Venkatesh.
Olavu Geluvu

A young woman is married against her will. After she delivers a baby, the child grows up to become a fine girl, who fights to ensure that her mother gets justice for everything she went through.
Aahuthi

The movie is about a reporter who concocts a false case so as to get himself convicted for first degree murder so that he can prove that the death sentence can be given based on circumstantial evidence and that it be done away with. However, by the time he is out of the prison proving his innocence, his father is falsely arrested in another murder case and is awarded a death penalty!
Bidugade

A tutor hired by a wealthy family witnesses a murder, while travelling by a train. She faces a dilemma when she realizes that the murderer is the patriarch of the family she has been hired by.
Premada Kanike

The film starred Rajkumar and Bharathi Vishnuvardhan. It had Balakrishna, K. S. Ashwath and Sampath playing supporting roles. The film, along with Mooruvare Vajragalu (1973), was Rajkumar's last movie in black-and-white. However, this movie had a few sequences shot in colour. This was also the last film where Rajkumar and Bharathi were seen together. This was also Rajkumar's last collaboration with Siddalingaiah. The film is seen as a landmark in the career of Siddalingaiah.The movie saw a theatrical run of 25 weeks.
Doorada Betta

Bahaddur Gandu is a 1976 Indian Kannada film, directed by A V Sheshgiri Rao and produced by Srikanth Nahatha and Srikanth Patel. The film Stars Dr Rajkumar, Jayanthi, Aarathi and Shantha in lead roles. The music of the film was composed by M Ranga Rao.
Bahaddur Gandu

Jayasimha, a forest officer, endeavours to stop animal poaching in a village he is transferred to. However, his efforts land him and his family in trouble.
Jayasimha

Janaki leaves her son, Beera, with Kenchi and Jungappa. Years later, Janaki returns to take her son along with her, but Kenchi refuses to let Beera go.