Madikeri: Kannada film enthusiasts of the 1970s may still remember ‘Edakallu Guddada Mele’, a 1973 movie directed so brilliantly by the late Shubraveshti Ramaswamaiah Seetarama Sharma, more commonly known as S R Puttanna Kanagal. It was based on a novel of the same name.
The memories of powerful performances by leading ladies of yesteryear Jayanti and Aarati in the movie may have remained etched in the minds of many movie-goers. Chandrashekhar, Ranga and Shivaram who played the other roles got outshadowed by the female duo. Some good songs like ‘Viraha nooru nooru taraha’ too added to the popularity of the movie.
‘Bayalu Daari’, which was released in 1977, was another novel-based movie starring Anant Nag, Kalpana and K S Ashwath. The song ‘Baanallu nine, bhuviyallu nine’ from this movie has still remained a hit.
‘Huliya Haalina Mevu’ released in 1979 was an action film with Rajkumar, Jayachitra and Jayaprada in the lead roles. It was also based on a novel of the same name. The song ‘Beladingalaagi Baa’ from this movie is still being hummed.
But many viewers may not much remember the author of the three novels on which they were based. He was known as Bharatisuta to his readers and in the Kannada literary world. A much less number would have known that his real name was S L Narayana Rao and that he hailed from a village called Biligeri near Madikeri.
Born as the eldest son of Shanubhogara Ramaiah and Subbamma couple on May 15, 2015, Narayana Rao had his early education in Madikeri High School. He had the privilege of having as his teacher a senior man of letters, Panje Mangesh Rao (1874-1937) of Dakshina Kannada origin, who held the credit of having written some classic poems like ‘Nagare have, havoLu hoove, baagila biladali ninnaya Thaave’ and ‘Elli bhoorame deva sannidhi bayasi bimmane bandaLo ‘. The latter poem, singing the bounty of nature that Kodagu is blessed with, has been translated into Kodava language and adopted as the official anthem of the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy.
Mangesh Rao’s influence on his life and creativity was quite marked. Narayana Rao took keen interest in reading and writing. He soon got inspired also to take part in the Independence struggle. After living for some time in Wayanad in the present Kerala, he opted for the teaching profession and appeared for Kannada Vidwan examination. Returning to Kodagu (then Coorg), he joined a school in Ramaswami Kanive. Thereafter he taught in various schools right up to 1973.
Narayana Rao was a prolific writer. Bright sparks of creativity had shown up in him quite early in life as he wrote a novel, ‘Prithviraja’ and stories like ‘Bangaarada Bale’ (Golden Bangle). Over the years, he, assuming the nom de plume ‘Bharatisuta’, went on to pen as many as 32 novels other than the aforementioned, like ‘Bangaarada Kulume’, ‘Ilidu Baa Taayi’ and others, 8 collections of short stories, 19 literary works for children and many others.
He also served as the sub-editor of ‘Rashtrabandhu’ Kannada newspaper. It is a sad state of affairs that his contribution to Kannada literature is hardly being mentioned now. In the backdrop of this neglect, however, the Kodagu district unit of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat graciously observed his birth centenary in its office premises here on the exact day, namely, Friday, May 15.
KSP district president T P Ramesh, author Mahabaleshwar Bhat, KSP district secretary B A Shamsuddin, K T Baby Mathew, Kishan Poovaiah, Chummi Poovaiah, Ambekal Naveen, Kodi Chandrashekhar, Pudiyaneravana Revati Ramesh, Wilfred Crasta, Vasu Rai and other offered floral tributes to Bharatisuta’s portrait.
T P Ramesh spoke on the contribution made by Bharatisuta to the different genres of Kannada literature. He stressed the need to get this great author’s works reprinted for the benefit of the latter-day generation. He also revealed a plan of the Parishat to take up the project with the help of its state unit and Kannada Book Authority.
He also made an appeal that prominent layouts, extensions and streets in different panchayats, towns and cities be named after Bharatisuta to perpetuate his memory. Author Mahabaleshwar Bhat said if Bharatisuta had the right exposure those days, he had the potential to shine at the international level.
On the whole, it could be a commendable idea to bring out an omnibus edition of his complete works.
(With Varta pics)