The legendary producer of 52 films, actor in hundreds, and director—an eloquent personality who wielded great authority in his profession—passed away at the age of 82 at his residence on Tuesday morning.
A luminary of Kannada cinema with numerous firsts to his credit in his 65-year tenure in the film industry, Dwarakish lived a remarkable life, amassing considerable wealth, only to lose it later. A great lover of life and a devotee of Sri Raghavendra Swamy, Dwarakish led a modest life for a few years at his residence in Huskur, on the outskirts of Bengaluru.
Dwarakish, an actor, director, and producer who found greater fulfillment in the craft of direction, was a man brimming with memories that were opulent and enduring, imparting lessons both to himself and to those who experienced his productions.
“Cinema is not akin to writing examinations and passing. Like academic studies, it entails hard work, yet there’s a ‘Gottillada Guttu’—a secret one cannot comprehend in cinema,” he remarked.
His 51st cinematic venture, announced on his birthday, was ‘Amma I Love You,’ a remake of the Tamil film ‘Pichchakaaran.’ His 52nd film, under Dwarakish Chitra, was ‘Aayushmanbhava.’
Here are some insights from the grand master of Kannada cinema, Dwarakish:
“I’ve completed a 55-year journey in cinema. I entered the field in 1962 with the guidance of my maternal uncle, Hunusuru Krishnamurthy. It was not an easy journey. The challenges were immense. Nobody in their household suggested entering the cinema field.
“I spent my initial 20 years in Mysuru—attended Banamaiah High School, pursued automobile studies, and worked at Bharat automobile spare parts shop. Whether in spare parts or cinema, the choice was mine.
“I initially thought I’d be in just one film and return. But my brother advised, ‘If you’re entering cinema, do it wholeheartedly.’
“My journey began in 1962, with a joint production, and later, I produced ‘Mamateya Bandhana.’ It was with Veenus Rathnam Iyer, father of Manirathnam. I became a producer because of Dr. Rajakumar. Rajanna is my Rajanna. Without his cooperation in 1969, I wouldn’t have become a producer and actor later. He was a repository of wisdom, setting an example for living. I’m indebted to Varadappa and Smt. Parvathamma Rajakumar for this phase in my life,” he expressed his gratitude.
“I owe a lot to Dr. Raj, Dr. Vishnu, Shanker Nag, Dr. Ambarish in my journey. During that time, Dr. Raj and I acting together gained immense popularity. I paid Re. 1 to Siddalingaiah to direct ‘Mayor Muthanna.’ The film fared well despite its shoestring budget. In 1982, I ventured into making a Tamil film with Rajinikanth.
“The ’90s marked my golden era. Actors were proud to be part of my banner.
“Watching ‘Ulagam Sutram Vaaliban,’ I conceived ‘Singapuradalli Raja Kulla.’ The ‘Kulla’ series—’Kulla Agent 000,’ ‘Kalla Kulla,’ etc., were major hits.
“I deliberately chose ‘000’—signifying no brain, no stature, and no qualification.
“I embarked on foreign trips, supported by N. Veeraswamy. Observing the locations, I created scenarios.
“Africadalli Sheela wiped out all my earnings, turning it into ‘Indiadalli Saala!’
“For over 14 years, I abstained from filmmaking, incurring heavy losses during that period.
“In 2005, ‘Aptha Mithra’ emerged. Soundarya confidently predicted its success.
“With my directorial debut, ‘Nee Bareda Kadambari,’ the box office response was overwhelming. I acquired the rights to ‘Sharaabi’ during this period, earning the moniker ‘Remake Raja.’
“‘Nee Bareda Kadambari’ was made in 21 lakhs. Despite receiving an offer of 27 lakhs, I didn’t release it on a Friday; it fetched Rs. 65 lakhs on a Monday.
“Jayaprada initially committed to the project with Vishnu in the lead but withdrew at the last minute. Jayasudha replaced her, but the film flopped.
“For failures, explanations weren’t necessary. Veterans like SS Vasan and LV Prasad have encountered them. LV Prasad once recalled all 170 prints of a film, reshooting it. He analyzed the causes of failure, yielding better results.
“In my case, the release date was announced on the muhurut day. Lab analyzers marked it. I was the sole practitioner of this method. The film’s release extended to no more than 18 theaters. For B centers, it took six months or more.
“I’ve been a keen listener to numerous stories. N. Veeraswamy used to say, ‘Tell stories that captivate.’
“Failure is an integral aspect of cinema. It spared not even luminaries like Puttanna Kanagal, Siddalingaiah, and many others.
“Drowning in debts, Dr. Dwarakish, the stalwart of Kannada cinema, eventually sold his 13th property to settle longstanding debts. The nine-room house in HSR Layout, acquired from the profits of ‘Aptha Mithra’ (featuring Dr. Vishnuvardhana and Soundarya), was sold for Rs. 10.5 crores, according to sources.”
