Kalpana (Kannada actress)

Kalpana (18 July 1943 – 12 May 1979), born Sharat Lata, was an Indian Kannada film actress. She was affectionately referred to as Minugu Taare ("A Shining Star") among the film fraternity. She was widely recognised as one of the greatest actresses of Kannada cinema who enjoyed both fan following and critical acclaim. She made her screen debut as a lead actress in the 1963 release Saaku Magalu directed by veteran B. R. Panthulu. During a career that spanned from the early 1960s to the late 1970s, Kalpana appeared in numerous commercially successful as well as critically appreciated films, many of which featured her alongside actor Rajkumar. She worked in a few Tamil, Tulu, Malayalam and Telugu films as well.[1] Many of her successful films were female-centric, giving ample scope for her performance.

Kalpana
Born
Sharat Lata

18 July 1943
Died12 May 1979(1979-05-12) (aged 35)
Other names"Minugu Taare"
OccupationActress
Spouse(s)B. N. Viswanath, Gudigeri Basavaraj

One of her best-known roles was that of "Kaveri" in the multi-award-winning film Sharapanjara released in 1971, a performance that won her the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress for that year. Her portrayal of a highly spirited and complex woman who fights her mental trauma won her the largest fan following ever for a Kannada actress. Her association with the veteran film maker Puttanna Kanagal both professionally and personally became the talk of the town back in the 1970s. They both went on to work in many commercially and critically successful films until they grew apart. In her career Kalpana received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada once and the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress thrice.

Early life

Kalpana was born to a Tulu speaking couple, Krishnamurthy and Janakamma, as Sharat Lata in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka state. She was very passionate about acting and took part in all the talent competitions held at her school. She was also very conscious about prevailing style statement but had her own distinct style in her outfits. She, along with her younger brother and her mother moved to the Uttara Kannada district to experience the basics of movie and stage performances. When she moved to Davangere, she was introduced to Shiv Kumar who took her to Madras and introduced her to Narsimharaju. She was given a break into films by noted director B. R. Pantulu, who was impressed by her. Kalpana decided that she wanted to be an established film actress and soon achieved her goal and gained prominence in the industry.[2]

Career

Kalpana in Sharapanjara (1971)

Sharat Lata was recruited to the Kannada film industry in 1963 by director B. R. Pantulu for his Rajkumar-starrer Saaku Magalu. Later, she changed her screen name to Kalpana. However, it was the 1967 released Belli Moda, directed by Puttanna Kanagal that brought her to the forefront. This portrayal of hers was instantly accepted and she soon was catapulted to the top among the actresses of the 1960s. She dominated the Kannada film industry during the late 1960s and 1970s and was critically acclaimed for some of her author-backed roles in movies like Sharapanjara, Gejje Pooje, Belli Moda, Eradu Kanasu, Kappu Bilupu, Bayalu Daari, Gandhada Gudi and Bangarada Hoovu. She worked with almost all the leading actors and directors of her time. Her most frequent co-stars were Rajkumar, Gangadhar and Udaya Kumar. P. Susheela and S. Janaki were the regular voices behind her songs in the films. She gave stiff competition to her contemporaries such as Jayanthi, Bharathi and Chandrakala among others.

Initially she was the most favoured actress of ace director Puttanna Kanagal. Their association produced some of the finest movies in the history of Kannada cinema. Many of their films had strong, hard-hitting messages which were treasured in the cinema history. Kanagal groomed Kalpana to a great extent and though they were romantically linked by the media, industry folks are unanimous that their relationship was that of Guru-Shishya. However, they fell apart when Kanagal refused to offer her a pivotal role in Nagarahaavu. Kanagal went on to groom Aarathi while Kalpana featured in some average films later on.[3] Her efforts to resurrect her career failed. Even though her later movies with Rajkumar (Daari Tappida Maga and Eradu Kanasu), and Anant Nag (Bayalu Daari) were hits, they failed to resurrect her career. By 1977 she had no movies in hand. She then started focusing on drama companies in Uttara Karnataka and mainly worked in Gudigeri Basavaraj's drama company. With mounting debts and declining film offers, she went into deep depression.

She had also acted in a few Tamil and Telugu movies, such as Madras To Pondicherry and Sadhu Mirandal.These films were later made in Hindi as Bombay to Goa and Sadhu Aur Shaitan. Both the films were very successful at the box office. She also acted in Koti Channayya, a Tulu movie, directed by Vishu Kumar. She also acted in the Malayalam movie School Master. She lived for only 35 years of which she had spent 15 years in the Sandalwood film industry. She won the Karnataka state award for Best Actress thrice for Belli Moda, Hannele Chiguridaga and Sharapanjara. In her film career, she has acted in over eighty movies, of which the majority are in Kannada.[4]

Legacy

The sway that actor Kalpana – who had won the title "Minugu Taare" (twinkling star) – held over Kannada film enthusiasts has not quite disappeared since her death. Known for playing complex and tragic roles, she died under mysterious circumstances. She ruled the Kannada film industry from 1967 until 1972.

V. Sreedhara, a teacher in Mysuru, has brought out a 1,114-page volume "Rajatha Rangada Dhruvathare", chronicling her life and work spanning 79 films. It has details of the characters she played and opinions of various directors, co-artistes and writers. He started working on the book at 21 and completed it when he turned 27. "Even after working for so long, I have not completely understood the persona of Kalpana, as she was a complex person", he says. The book was released in Bengaluru at a function organised by Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy.[5]

Fashion icon

Kalpana was a fashion icon of her time. Her elegance, taste and sophistication in dressing could not be matched by other female stars of the time. The mega sleeve blouses, frill blouses are her contribution to Karnataka's style. Some of her fashion statements are elaborate hairdos, big rings on fingers, rich zari saris and chiffon saris, multiple bangles and long necklaces.[6]

Death

Kalpana died on 12 May 1979. Her suicide was attributed to multiple causes from health issues, poor financial condition to failed romance, though nothing was established. As per post-mortem reports, she had consumed 56 sleeping pills. She had spent her last days at an inspection bungalow at Gotur near Sankeshwar, Belagavi, Karnataka.

Filmography

YearNoFilmCostars
19631Saaku MagaluRajashankar
19642NaandiUday Kumar, Raj Kumar
3Pathiye DaivaSudarshan
4School MasterMalayalam film
5Chinnada Gombe Rajashankar
6KarnanTamil film. Acted as a fairy goddess in the climax scene
19667Namma MakkaluNagaraj
8Mantralaya MahatmeRaj Kumar
9Madras to PondicherryTamil film
10Bala NagammaRaj Kumar
11Sri Kanyaka Parameshwari KatheRaj Kumar
12Sadhu MirandalTamil film
196713Belli ModaKalyan Kumar
14PadavidharaUday Kumar
15Pattathu RaniTamil film
16Immadi PulikeshiRaj Kumar
17Dhana PishachiRanga
18Bangarada HoovuRaj Kumar
196819Hoovu MulluUday Kumar
20Anna ThammaKalyan Kumar
21Mannina MagaRaj Kumar
22Ananda KandaKalyan Kumar
23GandhinagaraRaj Kumar
24Hannele ChiguridagaRaj Kumar
25SarvamangalaRaj Kumar
196926KaanikeRajesh
27Kappu BilupuRajesh, Sudarshan
28Gejje PoojeGangadhar
29MathrubhoomiRamesh
30BrindavanaRajesh
31Premakkoo PermitteKalyan Kumar
32UyyaleRaj Kumar, Aswath
197033AnirikshitaSrinath
34Arishina KumkumaKalyan Kumar, Rajesh
35Devara MakkaluRajesh
36Namma ManeRamesh
37PratheekaraRamesh
38Karulina KareRaj Kumar
39SeethaGangadhar, Srinath, Ramesh
40 Vaagdana Ramesh
197141SharapanjaraGangadhar
42Sothu GeddavaluGangadhar
43MukthiUday Kumar
44Nari Munidare MariNone
45Bhale Adrushtavo AdrushtaGangadhar
197246Mareyada DeepavaliRajesh, Sudarshan
47Naa Mechida HudugaSrinath, Ramesh
48 Yaava Janmada MaitriGangadhar
49 Subhadra Kalyana Gangadhar
50 Uttara Dakshina Ramesh
197351Gandhada GudiRaj Kumar
52Kesarina KamalaNagaraj
53Kattila ThottilaTamil film
54Koti ChennayyaTulu film
55BidugadeRaj Kumar
56TriveniUday Kumar
197457Eradu KanasuRaj Kumar
58Yer Malthina ThappuTulu film
197559ThennangkeetruTamil film
60NireeksheSrinath
61Mantra ShakthiNone
62Beluvalada MadilalliRajesh
63Daari Tappida MagaRaj Kumar
197664Rajanarthakiya RahasyaRajesh
65Vijaya VaniSrinath
66Idhu Namma DeshaNagaraj
197767Bayalu DaariAnant Nag
68SandarbhaNone
69Vamsha JyothiVishnuvardhan, Rajesh, Lokesh
197870Maleya MakkaluTulu
71Anuraga BandhanaKalyan Kumar

[7]

Awards

Filmfare Awards South
Karnataka State Film Awards

References

  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "KALPANA: Film Database – CITWF". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
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