K S Ashwath

Karaganahalli Subbaraya Ashwathanarayana (25 March 1925 – 18 January 2010) was an Indian veteran actor who appeared in Kannada films. He appeared in over 370 films during his five-decade-long career. His memorial is in the Kengeri satellite town, Bengaluru. Memorial name - "K. S. Ashwath Memorial Children's Park".

Early life Ashwath was born on 25 March 1925 in Mysore city in the Kingdom of Mysore of British India as Karaganahalli Subbaraya Ashwathanarayana. He completed his primary education from Dalvoy School, Mysore. He then attained the Bachelor of Commerce degree from Maharaja's College, Mysore with seventh rank in the university. His formal education came to an end in 1942 as he joined the Indian freedom struggle. Two years later, he got a job as a Food Inspector. He later became a stenographer in the Deputy Commissioner's office and spent ten years in Government service.

Career Ashwath's acting began when he started participating in radio plays produced by Mysore All India Radio. His theatre career thus took off and played major roles in plays of A. N. Murthy Rao, Parvathavani and others. Film director K. Subramanyam, who saw him in one of these plays, selected him for a role in Streerathna in 1956, which was Ashwath's debut as a film actor. He was associated with a theatre group shripita .

In 1960, he played the role of a Swami in Kittur Chennamma with B. Saroja Devi in the lead role. In the same year, he played Narada in the hit Bhakta Prahlada. His role in Gali Gopura gave him an edge and helped shape his career as an artiste of immense calibre. Ashwath then got a role in the English film Seven Wonders of the World and even became the first Kannada actor to appear in a colour film.

Several of his films became big hits. His character role in Naagarahaavu as Chamayya meshtru (i.e., Chamayya Teacher) is still remembered and emulated. Another performance in the film Gange Gauri as Narada (the mythological son of Lord Vishnu) is remarkable in the style, rendering in his inimitable style. He accepted the roles of a father to many co-artistes of around his age as long as the character he was playing was strong. In all, he appeared in 370 films, of which 98 came in supportive roles in films with Rajkumar as the lead actor.

Awards 1993–94: Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award by the Karnataka Government. Honorary Doctorate: Ashwath was conferred an honorary doctorate from the Tumkur University in the year 2008 for his great contribution to the Kannada cinema for five long decades. He was supposedly the first actor to receive a doctorate from the Tumkur University. While receiving the award, Ashwath said he would dedicate this award to all his directors who brought out the actor in him. He is the recipient of 3 national awards.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1955 Shivasharane Nambekka Sthree Rathna 1956 Kacha Devayani Kokilavani 1957 Chinthamani Prabhulinga Leele 1958 Bhookailasa (film) Shiva Anna Thangi Somanna Gowda 1959 Manege Banda Mahalakshmi Jagajyothi Basveshwara Mahishasura Mardini Narada 1960 Shivalinga Sakshi Ranadheera Kanteerava Nirisha Dashavathara (film) Bhakta Kanakadasa 1961 Kittur Chennamma (film) Kaiwara Mahathme Nagarjuna (film) 1962 Rathna Manjari Gaali Gopura Ranganna Bhoodana Swarna Gowri Narada Karuneye Kutumbada Kannu K. Venkanna Thayi Karalu Vidhivilasa King Malayakethu Thejaswini 1963 Nanda Deepa Gowri Jeevana Tharanga Malli Maduve Kulavadhu Kalitharu Henne Veera Kesari Mana Mecchida Madadi Umakanth Ananda Bashpa Bangari Jenu Goodu Raghanna Santha Thukaram Sri Ramanjaneya Yuddha Sathi Shakthi 1964 Mangala Muhurta Shivarathri Mahathme Veera Simha Navajeevana Annapoorna (film) Shivashankar Thumbida Koda Sitapathi Shivagange Mahathme Muriyada Mane Ramegowda Prathigne Mahadevayya Chinnada Gombe Pathiye Daiva Mane Aliya Shivappa 1965 Beratha Jeeva Chandrahasa Munishwara Sarvagna Murthy Satya Harishchandra Vashistha Mahasathi Anasuya Athri Muni Mavana Magalu Bettada Huli Sathi Savithri Miss Leelavathi Govindachar Maduve Madi Nodu Parameshwaraiah 1966 Mamatheya Bandhana Mahaashilpi Premamayi Raghavayya Deva Maanava Subba Shastry Madhu Malathi Keshava Chandragupta Sri Kanyaka Parameshwari Kathe Sandhya Raga Srinivasa Rao 1967 Onde Balliya Hoogalu Veerabhadra Anuradha Sadanand Rao Sathi Sukanya Gange Gowri Narada Kallu Sakkare Belli Moda Sadashivaiah Muddu Meena Manassiddare Marga Police Commissioner Narayan Rao Sri Purandara Dasaru Srinivasa Nayaka/Sri Purandara Daasaru Dhana Pishachi Immadi Pulikeshi (film) Harshavardhana 1968 Jedara Bale Rao Bahadur Narasimha Rao Gandhinagara Sarvamangala Bhagya Devathe Madhu Shetty Bangalore Mail Mamathe Bhagyada Bagilu Shyam Rao Namma Ooru Dhoomakethu Amma Vasu 1969 Madhura Milana Namma Makkalu Kaadina Rahasya Dr. Ranganath Eradu Mukha Choori Chikkanna Krishnaraja Bhageerathi Kalpavruksha Bhale Raja Uyyale Seshu Rao Ade Hrudaya Ade Mamathe Gruhalakshmi Srikantayya Ellellu Naane Manashanthi Mukunda Chandra 1970 Gejje Pooje Ananthaiah Arishina Kumkuma Nanjundaiah Anireekshitha Aparajithe Mruthyu Panjaradalli Goodachari 555 Mooru Mutthugalu Namma Mane C.I.D. Rajanna Aaru Mooru Ombhatthu Lawyer Rangachari Seetha 1971 Kasturi Nivasa Ramaiah Sidila Mari Onde Kula Onde Daiva Sharapanjara Narayanappa Paapa Punya Naguva Hoovu Anugraha (film) Namma Baduku Thayi Devaru Raja Rao Kalyani Bhale Adrushtavo Adrushta Rao Bahadur Sundareshwar Thande Makkalu Mukthi Nyayave Devaru Chandrashekharaiah Sri Krishna Rukmini Satyabhama Satrajit 1972 Naagarahaavu Chamayya Meshtru Janma Rahasya Ramanath Sipayi Ramu Hari Singh Vishakanye Utthara Dakshina Yaava Janmada Maitri Shankar Bhale Rani Hrudaya Sangama Naa Mechida Huduga Bhaskar Rao Nanda Gokula Seetharamayya Bandhavya Jaga Mecchida Maga King Mareyada Deepavali 1973 Sahadharmini Bidugade Bhyrappa Doorada Betta Kaanada Kai Mooruvare Vajragalu Dharmaja 1974 Chamundeshwari Mahime Bangaarada Panjara Junjappa Hemareddy Mallamma Eradu Kanasu Ramu's father Upasane Subba Rao Maha Thyaga Maga Mommaga Anna Attige Siddappa 1975 Devara Gudi Bhaskar and Suchitra's father Daari Tappida Maga D C Raju Shubhamangala Kasthuri Vijaya Mane Belaku Kaveri Bhagya Jyothi Mayura Shadananasharma Hennu Samsarada Kannu Aasha Soudha 1976 Devaru Kotta Vara Ranganna Makkala Bhagya Bhama's father Baduku Bangaravayithu Besuge Venu's father Mugiyada Kathe Raja Nanna Raja Badavara Bandhu Badrinatha Bayalu Daari Madhava Rao Bangarada Gudi Ramanappa Mangalya Bhagya Kanasu Nanasu 1977 Sri Renukadevi Mahathme Sose Tanda Soubhagya Ramappa Shrimanthana Magalu Dayananda Rao Shani Prabhava Banashankari (film) Ranganatha's Father Veera Sindhoora Lakshmana Galate Samsara Gubbi Ganesh Rao 1978 Havina Hejje Vamsha Jyothi Sharada's father Maathu Tappada Maga Jagapathi Rao Mythri Muyyige Muyyi Nataraj Siritanakke Savaal Maadha Nanna Prayaschittha Suma's father (guest appearance) Kiladi Jodi Sadaananda Vasantha Lakshmi Narayanappa Amarnath Sridevi Madhura Sangama Srikanthaiah 1979 Priya Janardhan Naa Ninna Bidalaare Krishna's father Pakka Kalla Rajaram Muyyi Putani Agent 123 Vijay Vikram Chandanada Gombe Lakshman Rao Nentaro Gantu Kallaro Honni Maduve 1980 Bhaktha Siriyala Nanna Rosha Nooru Varusha Raamu Varma Heggade Dhairya Lakshmi Auto Raja Bhavani's father Haddina Kannu Dharmappa Kappu Kola Ondu Hennu Aaru Kannu Ajay and Vijay's father Narada Vijaya Scientist Lakshmipathy Nammammana Sose Vasantha Geetha Seshadri Janma Janmada Anubandha Panduranga Nyaya Neethi Dharma Kumar's father Driver Hanumanthu 1981 Leader Vishwanath Chaya Etu Eduretu Gaali Maathu Geetha Srinivas Nee Nanna Gellalare Eshwaraiah Bhoomige Banda Bhagavantha guest Appearance as Ganga's father Snehitara Savaal Vishwanatha Rao Bhagyavantha Krishna's uncle Prema Pallavi Bhagyada Belaku Edeyooru Siddalingeshwara Lakshmi Prasanna 1982 Baadada Hoo Murthy Hosa Belaku Gopalraya Guna Nodi Hennu Kodu Parajitha Jimmy Gallu Nanna Devaru Dr. Ranganath Chalisuva Modagalu Vishwanath Rao Hasyaratna Ramakrishna 1983 Benkiya Bale Kaamana Billu Seshappa Ibbani Karagithu Mududida Tavare Aralithu Govinda Rao Gayathri Maduve Gayathri's father Makkale Devaru Gangadhar Rao Samarpane 1984 Eradu Rekhegalu Shravana Banthu Shankaraiah Premave Baalina Belaku Ramapurada Ravana Basavarajaiah(Special Appearance) Runa Mukthalu Ajnathavasa Male Banthu Male Bilee Gulabi Aaradhane 1985 Bidugadeya Bedi Sanjeeva Rao Guru Jagadguru Shwetha Gulabi Lakshmi Kataksha Giri Baale Jwaalamukhi Rudraiah Dhruva Thare Advocate Johny Briganza 1986 Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma Parvati's grandfather Karna Karna's father Beegara Pandya Hennina Koogu Anuraga Aralithu Mohan Rao Devathe Sundara Swapnagalu Aruna Raaga Raghavayya 1987 Bazar Bheema Karunamayi Shastri, Raja's father Agni Kanye Shubha Milana Shruthi Seridaaga N R Narayan Rao (Nani) Sathyam Shivam Sundaram Guest Appearance 1988 Brahma Vishnu Maheshwara Hayavadan Rao Shanthi Nivasa Nava Bharatha Bharath Samyuktha Veerabhadraiah Jana Nayaka Devatha Manushya Vaikuntha Mahadasohi Sharana Basava Mutthaide Daada Senior Daada 1989 Hongkongnalli Agent Amar Rudra Inspector Sadashiva Inspector Vikram Police Commissioner Chandrashekar Sharavegada Saradara Anthintha Gandu Nanalla Singari Bangari Gagana Ananth (Guest Appearance) Abhimana Gajapathi Garvabhanga Ranganna Meshtru Yaaru Hone 1990 Aasegobba Meesegobba Police Inspector in a guest role Mruthyunjaya Lawyer Ramakrishnaiah Udbhava Muthina Haara Belliappa Halliya Surasuraru Nigooda Rahasya 1991 Hrudaya Haadithu Mahadevayya Aralida Hoovugalu College principal Garuda Dhwaja Modada Mareyalli M. R. Panduranga Rao Jagadeka Veera Mathru Bhagya 1992 Kranthi Gandhi Rajadhi Raja Saptapadi Sahana's father Kanasina Rani Ramu Jeevana Chaitra Rama Rao Megha Mandara Belliappa Belliyappa Bangarappa Police Commissioner Halli Krishna Delhi Radha Moorthy Mana Mecchida Sose Sitapathi Mannina Doni Chandrashekhaiah 1993 Jaga Mechida Huduga Shrikanta Shastri Mangalya Bandhana Geetha's father Anuragada Alegalu Vasantha Poornima Chirabandhavya Mane Devru Ranganath Urvashi Kalyana Jeevana Sangharsha Munjaneya Manju Shrungara Raja Kalyana Rekhe Gejje Naada Kumkuma Bhagya Ananda Jyothi Bhagavan Sri Saibaba Bharadvaja Hoovondu Beku Ballige Navibbaru Namagibbaru Rupayi Raja 1994 Odahuttidavaru Venkanna Gandhada Gudi Part 2 Sammilana Musuku Makkala Sakshi Kaveri Theeradalli 1997 Prema Geethe 1999 Dalavayi 2000 Shabdavedhi G. K. Kamalakar and G. K. Prasad (Dual Roles) Preethsu Thappenilla Nan Hendthi Chennagidale Seetha's father Naxalite 2001 Anjali Geethanjali Shaapa Cook 2002 Law and Order (2002 film) Mutthu Entha Lokavayya Nata 2003 Kiccha Preetisle Beku Aish's father 2005 Karnana Sampatthu 2006 Sirivantha Shankarananda Swamiji (cameo appearance) Saavira Mettilu 2007 Bhoopathi Bhupathi's grandfather