Puttanna Kanagal
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| Puttanna Kanagal | |
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 Puttanna Kanagal
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| Born | December 1, 1933 Kanagal, Karnataka |
| Died | June 5, 1985 Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Occupation | Director, Writer |
| Spouse | Lakshmi Puttana Kanagal |
Puttanna Kanagal was arguably the greatest Kannada film director of the 1960s and the 70s. Although majority of his films were on offbeat or taboo subjects, he endeared both to the critics and ordinary film goers alike.
[edit] Early Days
Shubraveti Ramaswamiah Seetharama Sharma or S.K. Puttanna Kanagal, as he was popularly known, was born in Kanagal village in Mysore district. As he hailed from a poor family, he had to endure hardships and struggled to get a decent job. He worked as a cleaner, salesman and even a teacher to earn his bread. However, his job as a publicity boy brought him closer to theatre and subsequently to cinema. His association with films began when he started working for B.R.Pantulu as an assistant director.
[edit] As a Director
Puttanna's maiden directorial venture was in Malayalam movie " Poochi kanne " based on the Kannada Novel by Treveni ' Bekkina Kannu ". In kannada his first cenema was " Bettada hadi " which was never released. Puttanna's first break directorial venture was Bellimoda or silver clouds. Starring Kalpana and Kalyan Kumar, this movie was a critical and commercial success. Legend has it that Puttanna scouted for a week to find the perfect location for the mellifluous song Moodala manyeaa. Buoyed by the success, Puttanna directed masterpieces like Gejjepooje, Sharapanjara, Nagarahavu etc.
He also provided a platform for many actors and actress like Kalpana, Aarathi, Jayanthi, Padma vasanthi, Srinath, Vishnuvardhan , Ambarish, Rajani kanth the super star in Tamil, Jai jagadish ,Chandra shekhar, Gangadhar , Shivaram, Vajra Muni,Sridhar,Ramkrishna, to showcase their talents. In devotion to Puttanna, Puttanna has introduced most of the actors in the Kannada cenema world.
Vishnuvardhan says that
[edit] The Visualiser
The Kannada film industry in the 60s and the 70s started moving from mythological and historical subjects to socially relevant themes. This metamorphosis was reflected in the rise of bandaya sahitya or rebellious literature. The New Wave Cinema or Alternate Cinema movement spread across India, particularly in Karnataka, West Bengal and Kerala. Puttanna's movies, however, were seen as a bridge between commercial cinema and alternate cinema. While his stories, being based on popular Kannada novels revolved around strong characters and distinct themes, he added mandatory songs and emotions to distinguish from alternate cinemas.
Puttanna was also considered as a pioneer in picturising songs. In general, his movies contained 4-5 songs. Even with respect to song picturisation, Puttanna had a strong sense of colour and imagery. He would go to great lengths to select the locations and costumes for the song. The songs generally reflected the inherent mood of the film. For instance, the song from the movie Manasasarovara, Nee ne saakida gini, a poignant song, was shot amidst the dust-filled mining areas, thereby reflecting the agony of a man who has lost his true love. Similarly the song Uttara druvadim from the movie Sharapanjara was shot in the Madikeri, with innumerable oranges strewn around.
He was well known for his effective use of freeze shots and negative images to heighten the introspective effect of key scenes. Although his films were accused of being too woman-centric, Puttanna personally felt that such notions were wrong.
[edit] Filmography
[edit] Kannada
[edit] Bellimoda
(Silver cloud - 1966) Starring Kalpana, Kalyan Kumar.
It was based on the novel Belli Moda, written by acclaimed writer Triveni. The movie examines the transformation in the lives of the people residing in Bellimoda estate. The estate owner's daughter is engaged to a simple, yet dignified young man who dreams of owning the estate after the owner's death. The daughter imagines that the young man is in love with her and not her position as an heiress. In a strange twist of fate, the estate owner's wife gives birth to a male child, thereby shattering the young man's hopes. This also breaks the daughters dreams and the silver cloud is dispelled. Kalpana gives a restrained performance that remains a lesson in acting. Puttanna is at his best in his first film as independent director and Belli Moda is a classic.
FOR SONGS http://www.kannadaaudio.com/Songs/Moviewise/home/BelliModa.php
[edit] Mallammana Pavaada
(Mallamma's Miracle - 1969) Starring Rajkumar, Sarojadevi.
The herione of the film, Mallamma is married to a dullard by her parents. While in her in-laws house, Mallamma realises that her husband has been made a dullard due to his scheming step-mother, who wants to appropriate the vast property. She educates her husband and frees him from the clutches of his mother and makes him realise the value of life.
[edit] Kappu Bilupu
(Black and White - 1969) Starring Kalpana (double role).
Based on a novel by Aryambha Pattabhi, this movie revolves around the contrasting behaviors of identical, yet distinct pair of twins. Puttanna used the movie as a medium for speaking to the youth of the ideals he derived from Vivekananda. The settings were simple and mostly rural. The story was about the how domestic peace was better than a glamourously consumptive lifestyle. The juxtapostioning of the two sisters played by Kalpana in a black and white background was a clever trick. Ashwath and Balakrishna play dignified elders who in may ways are symphathetic but helpless. There were a couple of simple but moving melodies.
[edit] Gejje Pooje
(Mock Marriage - 1969) Starring Kalpana, Gangadhar and Leelavathy.
This socially relevant movie tackles the problem of religious prostitutes known as devadasis. It was based on the eponymous novel written by M K Indira. The daughter of a devadasi is in love with a rich, young man. Pressure from the society and personal suspicion forces the young man to abandon the devadasi's daughter.
FOR SONGS http://www.kannadaaudio.com/Songs/Moviewise/home/GejjePooje.php
[edit] Karulina Kare
(The Voice of Affection - 1970) Starring Rajkumar, Kalpana.
[edit] Sakshatkara
(The Realisation - 1971) Starring Rajkumar, Jamuna and Prithviraj Kapoor.
Veteran Hindi actor Prithviraj Kapoor starred in this socially relevant movie.it revolved around the dangers of superstition particularly when it concerned marriage and how unscrupulous elements in society could manipulate these beliefs to their benefit and lead to tragic consequences .The title song is a classic by itself.
Olave Jeevana Sakshatkara Olave Marayeda Mamakara, Olave Marayeda mamakara
Dhummikki hariyuva jaladhareyallu dumbiya haadina jhenkaradallu gammane hommiruva hosa hoovinallu tumbide olavina Sakshatkara
Olave...... mamakara
Vasantha Kogile Panchama noswara gandhara baasheya hakkigalinchara ee malenaadina bhurame shrungara olavina cheluvine sakshatkara
Olave...... mamakara
olavina pujege olave mandhara olave bhadukina bangara olavina nenape hrudhayake madhra olave dhaivadha sakshathkara...
[edit] Sharapanjara
(Cage of Arrows - 1971) Starring Kalpana, Gangadhar.
It is based on the eponymous novel by the acclaimed writer Triveni and revolves around a young, married woman who was forced to premarital sex. During post partum period, she remembers this incident and loses her mental balance and is admitted to a mental hospital. She recovers and returns home only to face scorn from her family, neighbours and her husband. Unable to bear it, she ultimately goes insane and is admitted to the same mental hospital. Kalpana's performance as a traumatic woman was widely acclaimed by critics.
[edit] Nagarahaavu
(The Cobra - 1972) Starring Vishnuvardhan, Arati, Ashwath.
The movie was based on three novels written by famous writer TaRaSu. This was the film that launched Vishnuvardhan and gave a tremendous boost to his nascent movie career. It also starred Ambarish, a feature star, in a cameo. The story revolves around a short tempered, yet affable college student Ramachari. Ramachari's penchant for picking up a fight at the drop of a hat usually lands him in trouble. Ramachari's high school teacher, Chamayya Master invariably bails him out of trouble. The movie was extensively shot in and around the forts of Chitradurga. This movie is also noted for the first ever slow-motion song titled "Baare baare."A great actor Ashwath plays the role of Chamayya Master .He wins the heart of audience and proves himself a best actor once again.
However, after watching this movie, TaRaSu, remarked that Puttanna Kanagal has turned 'Nagarahaavu' into 'Kerehaavu'. (The implied meaning is that the characterisation of Ramachari in the novel and the movie is strikingly different and less effective).Nevertheless Nagara Havu is an all time favorite movie and remains popular in all its reruns. Over a period of time the initially less noticed character roles of Leelavati, Dheerendra Gopal, Loknath, Lakshmi Devi have come in for their share of applause.
FOR SONGS http://www.kannadaaudio.com/Songs/Moviewise/home/Nagarahavuold.php
[edit] Edakallu Guddada Mele
(On the Edakallu Hillock - 1973) Starring Jayanthi, Arati, Chandrasekhar.
Loosely based on the eponymous novel by Bharathi Suta, this movie highlights the sexual frustations of a middle-aged woman trapped in a loveless marriage. Her life is transformed when she meets a young bachelor and falls in love with him. The song "viraha nooru nooru tharaha" has very good picturization.
[edit] Upasane
(The Devotion - 1974) Starring Arati, Seetaram.
This movie is dedicated to three of the greatest Carnatic musicians - Shyama Shastry, Thyagaraja and Muttuswami Dikshitar. Actor Seetaram is known as Upasane Seetaram after this film. A very melodious song is been picturised in kanyakumari...which even describes the beauty of Kanyakumari.
[edit] Katha Sangama
(Collection of Stories - 1975) Starring Arati, Sarojadevi, Rajnikanth).
An experimental film, that is a blend of three different stories. This was first movie in kannada of the future Tamil superstar Rajnikanth.
[edit] Shubhamangala
(Happy Ending - 1975) Starring Arati, Srinath.
A romantic movie that depicted the relationship between two childhood friends.
[edit] Bili Hendthi
(Fair Wife - 1975) Starring Arati.
It deals with the cultural clash when a young Indian marries an American and brings her home.
[edit] Phalithamsha
(The Result - 1976) Starring Arati, Jai Jagadish.
This movie was late Amrish Puri's first foray into Kannada cinema.
[edit] College Ranga (Kaaleju ranga)
(The College Stage - 1976) Starring Kalyan Kumar, Jaya simha, Leelavathi, Lokanath, Gode Lakshminarayana.
This movie highlights the ambience of a typical college campus, its politics and the students.
[edit] Paduvarahalli Pandavaru
(Pandavas of Paduvarahalli - 1978) Starring Ambarish, Ramakrishna, Jai Jagadish.
A modern version of the epic Mahabharata, this movie highlights the clash between village zamindar and five men.
[edit] Dharmasere
(The Religious Bind - 1979) Starring Arati, Srinath.
A movie with a strong social message. This movie explores the plight of a dumb young women(Aarthi). Srinath the hero falls in love with Aarthi's younger sister. But the father of the girls is in the Dharmasere (the religious bind) that he cant get his younger daughter even as the elder daughter is unmarried. So he requests Srinath to marry both of them even if it is a symbolic marriage to the elder dumb girl. As fate would have it, the younger one fails to beget offspring. Desperate for an offspring, Srinath turns to Aarthi and she promptly begets a child. This movie is a poignant portrayal of young dumb women of that era, the scorn, humiliation and neglect they faced from the society.
[edit] Ranganayaki
(The Heroine of the Opera - 1981) Starring Ambarish, Arati, Ramakrishna, Ashok, Rajanand.
A bold movie that explores the nuance of Oedipus Complex. The heroine, a popular theatre artist, falls in love with a rich, young man. They eventually get married and beget a child. But the heroine is bored of married life and wants to dabble in acting. The husband refuses and leaves the town with his child. The herione gets a lucky break in cinema and becomes a household name. Years later, as fate had it, a young man falls in love with the heroine and she reciprocates his love. Upon discovering that he is her son, she commits suicide.
[edit] Maanasa Sarovara
Starring Srinath, Padmavasanthi, Ramakrishna. (1983)
A middle aged doctor finds a young woman wandering aimlessly along the streets. He takes her to his abode for treatment. Slowly the woman recovers from her trauma. The doctor promptly falls in love with her and decides to marry her. In the meantime, the doctor's nephew arrives and falls head over heels to her. The doctor cannot tolerate this intimacy and goes insane.
[edit] Dharani Mandala Madhyadolage
(At the Centre of Dharani Mandala - 1983) Starring Srinath, Chandrashekar, Ramakrishna, Jaijagadeesh, TN Seetharam.
This a story of rich, but misguided youths. As time teaches lesson to realise their faults they go to a poor village work in a bridge construction. They learn the value of money. They love poor girls but at the end the 2 society's the rich and the poor, they can't be together
[edit] Amrutha Ghalige
(The Auspicious Moment - 1984) Starring Ramakrishna, Padmavasanthi, Sridhar.
This movie deals with the cause and consequences of teenage pregnancy. The heroine, hailing from a poor background, falls in love with an affluent young man. The young man impregnates her and leaves her in a lurch. The heroine's classmate comes forward to marry her and give an identity to the child. Unfortunately, the classmate dies in an accident soon after. The young man comes back and unexpectedly meets his son. The classmate writes a letter that he had considered the heroine as his sister, and she was as pure as river ganga. Finally the young man accepts the heroine.
[edit] Runamukthalu
(Devoid of Debt - 1984) Starring Bhaarati, SK Urs, Ramakrishna.
A socially relevant movie.
[edit] Masanada Hoovu
(Flower of the Graveyard - 1984) Starring Jayanti, Ambarish, Aparna.
The last and uncompleted movie of Puttanna Kanagal. Later Mr.KSL Swamy ( Ravee ) who is a close friend of Puttanna , completed the movie
[edit] Hindi
[edit] Hum Paancha
(We, five - 1981) Starring Mithun Chakraborthy.
A remake of the Kannada movie Paduvarahalli Pandavaru. this movie was directed by contemporary film director and cartoonist, Bapu.
[edit] Zahareela Insan
(Poisonous man - 1974) Starring Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh.
A remake of the Kannada movie Nagarahavu.
