Shankar Nag

Shankar Nag was a popular actor, screenwriter, director, and producer in Kannada cinema. He was also known for directing the television series Malgudi Days, based on the short stories of R. K. Narayan. He was the younger brother of actor Anant Nag. Shankar Nag started his career in theatre and made his film debut in the Marathi film Sarvasakshi (1978). He then acted in the Kannada film Ondanondu Kaladalli (1978), directed by Girish Karnad, for which he won the Silver Peacock Award for Best Actor at the International Film Festival of India. He went on to act in many commercially successful films, such as Seetharamu (1979), Auto Raja (1980), Sangliyana (1988), and C.B.I. Shankar (1989). He earned the nickname "Karate King" for his action roles and martial arts skills. He also directed seven Kannada films and one Marathi film, and wrote the story and screenplay for many of them. His directorial debut was Minchina Ota (1980), a heist film that he also starred in with his brother. He also directed Accident (1985), a crime drama that won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues. His last film as a director was Ondu Muttina Kathe (1987), starring Dr. Rajkumar. Shankar Nag died in a car crash on 30 September 1990, while he was working on his film Jokumaraswamy. His last film as an actor, Sundarakanda (1991), was released after his death. Shankar Nag is widely regarded as a cultural icon of Karnataka and has a large fan following. He is remembered for his versatile acting, innovative direction, and social commitment.