Shivaram

S. Shivaram (28 January 1938 – 4 December 2021), popularly known simply as Shivaram or Shivaramanna, was an Indian actor, producer and director whose Kannada cinema career spanned six decades. He has played roles including lead hero performances, character roles, comedic roles, as well as supporting parts. He teamed up with his elder brother, S. Ramanathan and produced several films under the name Rashi Brothers apart from directing Hrudaya Sangama in 1972. They together produced movies directed by Puttanna Kanagal like Gejje Pooje and Upasane. They also produced Dr. Rajkumar 's 175th movie Nanobba Kalla and the Tamil movie Dharma Durai starring Rajinikanth which was a remake of the 1989 Kannada movie Deva. The brothers together produced few Bollywood films as well including the 1985 movie Geraftaar which is known to be the only Indian movie to star three stalwarts - Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth - in a single movie. As an actor, Shivaram has the distinction of working with many stalwart directors out of which his association with Puttanna Kanagal is much remembered. He has acted in all the seven Kannada movies directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao starring Rajkumar.

Early life Shivaram was born in a middle class Hindu family in Choodasandra Village in Madras Presidency, a place bordering the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states. After having his primary education completed, he moved to Bangalore city along with his elder brother Srikanteshwara, who was running, esteemed Vani typewriting & Commerce Institute. Influenced by the theater screenings of Gubbi Veeranna, Shivaram developed a strong liking towards the film-making and acting. He began to act in several stage plays and migrated to cinema in 1958 assisting various directors such as Ku. Ra. Seetharama Sastry. He also worked as a camera assistant to the veteran cinematographer Boman D. Irani.

Shivaram's first appearance as an actor on the silver screen was with Beratha Jeeva in 1965 directed and co-produced by K. R. Seetharama Sastry. Meanwhile, he was assisting various prominent directors like K. S. L. Swamy, Geethapriya, Singeetam Srinivasa Rao and Puttanna Kanagal.

Career After his stint as the assistant director from 1958 through 1965, he got his acting break in supporting role in Seetharama Shastry's Beretha Jeeva starring Kalyan Kumar. From then on, he acted with almost all the directors of the 1970s and 1980s through 2000s. Some of his most memorable performances as a character actor include Sharapanjara, Naagarahaavu, Shubhamangala; all of which are directed by Puttanna Kanagal. His comic roles were appreciated in many films such as Chalisuva Modagalu, Shravana Banthu, Haalu Jenu, Hombisilu, Hosa Belaku, Guru Shishyaru, Simhada Mari Sainya, Makkala Sainya to name a few. He appeared in the lead role in Driver Hanumanthu (1980) which was also co-produced by him. Post 2000 year, he switched to character roles performing in major blockbusters such as Apthamitra , Huchcha and parallel cinemas such as Bara and Thaayi Saheba. He also acted in television series Grihabhanga, directed by Girish Kasaravalli and Baduku directed by Ravikiran.

Associating with his brother, S. Ramanathan and forming a home production named "Rashi Brothers", Shivaram co-produced many of the blockbuster and critically acclaimed movies such as Gejje Pooje (1970), Upasane (1974), Nanobba Kalla (1979), Driver Hanumanthu (1980) and Bahala Chennagide (2001).

Death Shivaram died from brain haemorrhage on 4 December 2021 at the age of 83 in a private hospital in Bangalore.

Filmography

As director +Direction Filmography Year Film 1972 Hrudaya Sangama

As producer +Production Filmography Year Film Notes 1970 Gejje Pooje 1974 Upasane 1979 Nanobba Kalla 1980 Driver Hanumanthu 1991 Dharma Durai Tamil film 2001 Bahala Chennagide

As actor (partial) Year Title Role Notes 1965 Beratha Jeeva Mavana Magalu 1966 Dudde Doddappa 1967 Sri Purandara Dasaru Lagna Pathrike 1969 Namma Makkalu 1970 Anireekshita Mukti Shivaram 1971 Sharapanjara Bhatta Bhale Adrushtavo Adrushta 1972 Sipayi Ramu Lakhan Singh Naagarahaavu Varadha Naa Mechida Huduga Shankar Hrudaya Sangama 1973 Mooroovare Vajragalu Edakallu Guddada Mele Nanjunda's uncle 1974 Upasane Shankarabharana Bangaarada Panjara 1975 Hennu Samsarada Kannu Shubhamangala Thimma Onde Roopa Eradu Guna Padmanabhayya Devara Gudi Kitty 1976 Hudugatada Hudugi Mangalya Bhagya Besuge Ranga Bangarada Gudi Shami 1977 Bayasade Banda Bhagya Nagarahole Gundu Rao 1978 Sneha Sedu Premayana P. V. Raman Muyyige Muyyi Shiva Kiladi Kittu Hombisilu Dr. Srinath Priya Also in Tamil Chithegu Chinthe 1979 Nanobba Kalla Puttappa Kaadu Kudure Dharmasere Keshava 1980 Driver Hanumanthu Maria My Darling Sundar Rao Makkala Sainya Bangarada Jinke Lecturer 1981 Simhada Mari Sainya Mareyada Haadu Guru Shishyaru Vishwa Geetha Linganna Gharjane 1982 Tony Colonel Donald Malcolm Cameo Hosa Belaku Raja Rao Bara Haalu Jenu Hasyaratna Ramakrishna Chalisuva Modagalu Judge Baadada Hoo Raghavendra Rao 1983 Pallavi Anu Pallavi Gedda Maga Ramanath Hosa Theerpu Govindayya Eradu Nakshatragalu Bhakta Prahlada Prahlada's teacher Chandi Chamundi Jattappa 1984 Bekkina Kannu Benki Birugali Aithal Yarivanu Samayada Gombe Sub-inspector Naane Raja Maruthi Bandhana Ward boy Shravana Banthu Eradu Rekhegalu 1985 Mugila Mallige 1986 Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma 1988 Chiranjeevi Sudhakar 1989 Balu Hombale Subba Rao Raja Kempu Roja 1990 Halliya Surasuraru Qasim Gandu Sidigundu Halli Rambhe Belli Bombe Mangalya 1991 Dharma Durai Tamil film 1992 Sahasi Ksheera Sagara Prema Sangama 1993 Bhagavan Sri Saibaba Narada 1995 Kona Edaithe Baba Beladingala Baale Professor Huchuraya 1996 Karnataka Suputra 1997 Ammavra Ganda Thaayi Saheba 1999 Prathyartha Madhav 2000 Hats Off India 2001 Yajamana Hotel owner 2001 Lankesha Jipuna Nanna Ganda 2002 Simhadriya Simha Hrudayavantha 2003 Raja Narasimha 2004 Apthamitra Rangajja 2006 Paramasivan Tamil film 2007 Sajni 2009 Ghauttham Bellary Naga 2010 Kiladi Krishna Narayana Rao 2012 Breaking News Karmananda 2013 Bhajarangi Mugila Chumbana 2015 Shivam Care of Footpath 2 2016 ...Re Govinda Rao Sharmana "Samskrutha" Hey Sarasu Mukunda Murari Swamiji Sri Omkara Ayyappane 2017 Bangara s/o Bangarada Manushya Once More Kaurava 2021 Snehitha Drishya 2 Tea shop owner 2022 Tajmahal 2 Purohit Aavartha 2023 Vidhi (Article) 370 Gadhayuddha Astrologer 2025 Rhythm Warden Posthumous release

Awards

2013 - Padmabhushan Dr. B. Sarojadevi National Award. 2010-11 - Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award from Karnataka Government.