Dwarakish

Dwarakish
Dwarakish in 1994 Kannada film Kiladigalu
Born	Bungle Shama Rao Dwarakanath1 (1942-08-19)19 August 19422 Hunsur, Kingdom of Mysore
Died	16 April 2024(2024-04-16) (aged 81) Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Occupations	Actor director producer screenwriter
Years active	1963–2024
Works	Full list
Spouses	Ambuja ​ (died 2021)​ 3 Shailaja ​ (m. 1993)​
Children	6; including Giri4
Relatives	Hunsur Krishnamurthy (uncle)
Website	dwarakishchitra.com

Bungle Shama Rao Dwarakanath (19 August 1942 – 16 April 2024), known by his stage name Dwarakish (/ˈdwɑːrkɪʃ/ DWAR-kish),⁵⁶ was an Indian actor, comedian and filmmaker who predominantly worked in Kannada cinema in addition to few Tamil and Hindi films. Starting his career as a supporting actor in Veera Sankalpa (1964) and co-producer for the film Mamatheya Madilu in 1966, Dwarakish went on to work over five decades in cinema. He debuted as a director with the film Nee Bareda Kadambari (1985).

Fondly remembered as "Karnatakada Kulla" (lit. 'Dwarf of Karnataka'), Dwarakish produced over 50 films under his home production called "Dwarakish Chitra". Mayor Muthanna (1969) was the first film to be produced under his banner. He is referred to be the "First showman of Kannada cinema" for his daring and lavish experiments and his films were known for grand sets, songs and exotic locations.⁷

He appeared in more than 200 films starting 1962. In 1969, he founded Dwarakish Chitra, and produced more than 50 films, while also directing 25 films. In addition to Kannada, Dwarakish also worked on Tamil and Hindi films. Many films that he worked as a director and/or producer were remake films.⁸

Dwarakish was born on 19 August 1942. He grew up in Ittigegud, Mysore.⁹ He received his primary education in Sharada Vilas and Banumaiah's school, and he graduated from CPC Polytechnic with a Diploma in Automobile Engineering.¹⁰ After completing his education, Dwarakish and his brother started an automotive spare-parts business called "Bharath Auto Spares" in Gandhi Square, Mysore.¹⁰ He was strongly attracted to acting and often asked his maternal uncle, a famous cinema director Hunusur Krishnamurthy, to give him a chance to act in movies. In 1963, he decided to quit business and start acting in movies.¹⁰ He was rechristened as Dwarakish by director C. V. Shivashankar.¹¹¹²

Dwarkish started his film journey by doing a small role, that of a prince in the film Veera Sankalpa (1964) directed by his uncle Hunsur Krishnamurthy. Later he did small roles in Maduve Madi Nodu (1965) and Satya Harischandra (1965).

As an actor, he was known to play comedic roles, and his early films saw his frequently appear alongside T. N. Balakrishna and Narasimharaju.¹³ Dwarakish generally capitalised on his short stature to build his characters.¹⁴

In 1966, Dwarakish co-produced Mamatheya Bandhana with two others under the banner of Thunga Pictures.² In 1969, his first independent production Mayor Muthanna starring Dr. Rajkumar and Bharathi Vishnuvardhan in the lead roles was a box office success.¹⁵ After Mayor Muthanna, Dwarakish delivered a series of box office successes as producer, one after the other for the next two decades.¹⁶

Singaporenalli Raja Kulla (1978), which he produced and starred in, was the first Kannada film to be shot outside India. Dwarakish was known for his frequent collaborations with Vishnuvardhan both as actor and producer in films such as Kalla Kulla (1975), Kittu Puttu (1977), Guru Shishyaru and Apthamitra (2004).¹⁷ Other than Kannada, he produced two Tamil films, Adutha Varisu (1983) and Naan Adimai Illai (1986), both starring Rajinikanth and Sridevi.¹⁸ He produced two Hindi films including Gangvaa (1984).¹⁹ After a string of 19 commercial failures, he found success with Apthamitra. Ayushman Bhava was the last film he produced before his death in 2024.²⁰

Dwarakish was the first Kannada producer to introduce Kishore Kumar to the Kannada film industry via the film Kulla Agent 000, and the song "Aadu Aata Aadu" became popular.²

From the year 1985, Dwarakish started directing movies; his first movie as a director was Nee Bareda Kadambari. He went on to direct movies for other producers. Behind the camera, Dwarakish was successful.² As a director, he created movies such as Dance Raja Dance, Nee Bareda Kadambari, Shruthi, Shruthi Haakidha Hejje, Rayaru Bandaru Mavana Manege and Kilaadigalu.

Dwarakish Chitra faced problems after the failure of some movies. With huge losses from box office failures, Dwarakish was written off by his own colleagues and the entire film industry. Despite failures, Dwarakish did not despair. He continued to make movies introducing new faces to Kannada cinema.²

As a producer, he introduced many new actors, actresses, directors, and technicians into cinema. Whom all consider him to be their "Godfather". Dwarakish produced Apthamitra in the year 2004 which ended up as a massive success.¹⁵

Dwarakish died from cardiac arrest in Bengaluru, on 16 April 2024, at the age of 81.²¹²²

Produced First Kannada movie to be shot outside India. Apthamitra created records in Kannada Cinema. It was the first Kannada movie to celebrate screening for one year in two theatres, at Santosh in Bangalore and at Ranajith in Mysore and was the first Kannada movie to successfully complete one year of screening with four shows daily.²

Dwarakish received an NTR Award.²³