H. G. Somashekar Rao

Harihar Gundurao Somashekar Rao (3 November 2020) was an Indian Kannada-language theatre artist and actor. He acted in over 300 plays and 60 films over a career that spanned 50 years. He was a recipient of the Karnataka State Government's award for his role in Mithileya Seetheyaru.

Early life Rao was born in Chitradurga, in the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore of British India (now in Karnataka) to lawyer and freedom fighter Harihar Gundu Rao and Venkamma. He had completed his degree in sociology from the University of Mysore and was a gold medalist. He went on to become an assistant general manager at Canara Bank while continuing to pursue his acting career. Over the course of his career spanning 50 years, he acted in notable films including Mithileya Seeteyaru, Minchina Oota, Accident and Harakeya Kuri. Plays he acted in included 777 Charlie, Nane Bijjala, Jokumaraswamy, Ashadhabooti and Kadadida Neeru. In his career he worked with noted directors including T. N. Seetharam, Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar, K. S. L. Swamy, T. N. Narasimhan, and Kiran Raj. He was also a writer of over 25 books, including two novels, and an autobiography that remained unfinished at the time of his death.

Filmography

Films of Rao as an actor include:

Geejagana Goodu (1975) Savithri (1979) Kaamana Billu (1983) Accident (1984) Vajra Mushti (1985) 27 Mavalli Circle (1986) Ravana Rajya (1987) Mithileya Seetheyaru (1988) Sura Sundaranga (1989) Mane (1989) Abhimana (1989) Ajagajantara (1991) Prajegalu Prabhugalu (1992) Harakeya Kuri (1992) Minugu Thare (1996) Hoomale (1998) Pravaha (2004) Kurmavathara (2013) Last Page (2015) 777 Charlie (2022)