M.S. Rajashekar

M. S. Rajashekar (died 29 October 2018) was an Indian Kannada film director based in Bangalore. He made his directorial debut with Dhruva Thare starring Rajkumar which earned the Karnataka State Award for Second Best Film. His second movie Anuraga Aralithu was remade in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. He went on to make successful films like Ratha Sapthami and Nanjundi Kalyana.

Most of his films were either remakes or adapted from novels. Rajasekhar's son Raghavendra (Dharani) made his directorial debut with Baalashiva (2003) and went on to direct Dhool (2011).

Career He started his career as a clap boy for the film Kasturi Nivasa. Both films alongside Anand became successful and earned Shivrajkumar the tag of "Hat Trick Hero". Rajasekhar again directed him in films during 1980s like Ade Raaga Ade Haadu and Aasegobba Meesegobba with former being average grosser and latter being a super hit. He introduced Rajkumar's second son in the leading role in family comedy Nanjundi Kalyana which also marked the debut of actress Malashree. The film became a successful venture which led the cast and crew to collaborate with Gajapathi Garvabhanga in a similar genre. Hrudaya Haadithu and Mannina Doni were both films which starred Ambareesh and were adapted from novels which were successful. Both films featured Ambareesh in a soft natured character as opposed to action roles which he was playing up to that part of career. Midida Shruti and Muthanna which he again directed with Shivaraj did well. After the average success of Mana midiyuthu, Rajasekhar after four years sabbatical returned with Hrudaya Hrudaya, a romantic film with Shivarajkumar and Ramesh Aravind which was an average grosser but was well known for the song "O Premada". However, in the later part of Rajasekhar's career in 2000s, he directed mostly remakes with Yaarige Saluthe Sambala and Dakota Express being only successful ventures while his subsequent ventures like Vijayasimha, Pakkadmane Hudugi and Ravi Shastri became failures. Ravi Shastri was the last film he had directed before his retirement.

Death Rajasekhar died on 29 October 2018 at the age of 75 due to breathing problems.

Filmography Year Film Notes 1985 Dhruva Thare 1986 Anuraga Aralithu 1986 Ratha Sapthami 1987 Manamecchida Hudugi 1989 Nanjundi Kalyana 1989 Gajapathi Garvabhanga 1989 Ade Raaga Ade Haadu 1990 Aasegobba Meesegobba 1990 Anukoolakkobba Ganda 1991 Modada Mareyalli 1991 Hrudaya Haadithu 1991 Gandu Sidigundu 1991 Halli Rambhe Belli Bombe 1991 Sutradhara 1992 Mannina Doni 1992 Kanasina Rani 1992 Midida Shruthi 1992 Purushottama 1993 Chirabandhavya 1993 Kalyana Rekhe 1993 Navibbaru Namagibbaru 1994 Mutthanna 1995 Savyasachi 1995 Mana Midiyithu 1996 Shivaranjani 1999 Hrudaya Hrudaya 2000 Yaarige Saluthe Sambala 2001 Sundarakanda 2002 Bahala Chennagide 2002 Manase O Manase 2002 Dakota Express 2003 Vijayasimha 2003 Nanna Hendthi Maduve 2004 Pakkadmane Hudugi 2006 Ravi Shastri co-director