S. Siddalingaiah

Siddalingaiah
Born15 December 1936
Died12 March 2015 (aged 78)
Bangalore, India
OccupationsWriter, film director and producer
Years active1969–1999
SpouseDhanalakshmi
ChildrenS. D. Murali (elder son)
S.D. Suresh (younger son)
RelativesAtharvaa (grandson)
Daniel Balaji (nephew)

Siddalingaiah (15 December 1936 – 12 March 2015) was an Indian film director, scriptwriter and producer who worked mainly in the Kannada films. He was well known for his distinct film-making style, and the industry knew him as a master of social themes and rural subject matter.[1] He was one of the most commercially successful directors in the Kannada industry. He began his film career in 1964 as a director with Mayor Muthanna (1969).[2] In a career that spanned 30 years, he directed over 20 films.[3]

His most well-known films usually starred matinee idol Rajkumar. They have collaborated 7 times. His most popular works include Bangaarada Manushya, Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu, Nyayave Devaru, Biligiriya Banadalli, Doorada Betta and Bhoolokadalli Yamaraja.[4] In 1993, he was awarded the Puttanna Kanagal Award for his contribution to the Kannada film industry as a director.[5]

Family and early life

Siddalingaiah joined the film industry as both a floor and a spot boy for Navajyothi studios. He became an assistant for director Shanker Singh and later worked as junior actor and assistant as the protégé of B. Vittalacharya.

Siddalingaiah's elder son Murali was an actor in Tamil and Kannada films. Murali died on the morning of 8 September 2010 in Chennai due to a massive heart attack. His younger son S. D. Suresh is an actor, producer, co-director, musician and filmmaker. His grandson Atharvaa started his acting career in Baana Kaathadi in 2010. His second grandson Akash Murali has also started his acting career. His nephew Daniel Balaji was an actor in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam films. Balaji also died of a heart attack in Chennai on 29 March 2024.

Career

Siddalingaiah directed Mayor Muthanna in 1969 starring Rajkumar, Bharathi and Dwarakish in his film debut. He cast the same lead pair in Baalu Belagithu, Namma Samsara, Thayi Devaru and Bangaarada Manushya.

After Bangaarda Manushya, he worked with other actors including Vishnuvardhan, Ananth Nag, Lokesh and Srinivasa Murthy. He introduced his son Murali in the 1983 romantic drama Prema Parva. He also directed a Tamil film Puthir in 1986 with Murali as the lead actor. His last film, Prema Prema Prema, was released in 1999 after which he retired from directing.

Death

Siddalingaiah died on 12 March 2015 in Bangalore where he had been hospitalized for treatment of H1N1 influenza.[6]

Filmography

Year Film title Credited as Notes
Director Writer Producer
1969 Mayor Muthanna Yes
1970 Baalu Belagithu Yes Yes
1971 Namma Samsara Yes
Thayi Devaru Yes
Nyayave Devaru Yes
1972 Bangaarada Manushya Yes Screenplay
1973 Doorada Betta Yes Screenplay
1974 Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu Yes Screenplay Yes
1977 Hemavathi Yes Screenplay Yes
1979 Bhoolokadalli Yamaraja Yes Yes
1980 Narada Vijaya Yes Yes
Biligiriya Banadalli Yes
1981 Naari Swargakke Daari Yes
Koodi Balidare Swarga Sukha Yes Screenplay Yes
1982 Parajitha Yes Screenplay Yes
1983 Prema Parva Yes Yes
1985 Ajeya Yes Screenplay Yes
1986 Puthir Yes Screenplay Yes Tamil film
1988 Sambhavami Yuge Yuge Yes Screenplay Yes
1990 Baare Nanna Muddina Rani Yes Screenplay Yes
1992 Baa Nanna Preethisu Yes Screenplay Yes
1994 Bhootayi Makkalu Yes Yes Yes
1999 Prema Prema Prema Yes Screenplay Yes [7]

References

  1. ^ "Puttanna and Siddalingaiah – The Social Directors". Filmysphere. Retrieved 4 September 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ^ "History 51 – Siddalingaiah Enters Industry". Chitraloka.
  3. ^ "Siddalingaiah at Belli Hejje". IndiaGlitz. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  4. ^ "Popular Hero Passes Away". Behindwoods.
  5. ^ "SR Puttanna Kanagal Awards!". Supergoodmovies. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Veteran Kannada film director Siddalingaiah dies". The Indian Express. 12 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Reviews – Deccan Herald".