One of the senior most Kannada cinema production house of Shanker Singh family loses a senior actress Pratima Devi. Wife of epoch making film maker Shanker Singh, mother of national acclaimed director SV Rajendra Singh, mother of actress, director and producer Vijayalakshmi Singh, mother in law of Jai Jagadish, grandmother of Deadly Soma fame Adhitya, actress Rishika Singh – Pratima Devi was one of the pillars of the family that has contributed magnificently to cinema.

Pratima Devi of 88 years (she would have step to 89 on April 9 2021) started her career in stage as ‘Mohini’ she was very famous. From CV Raju ‘Krishna Leela’ entered as heroine. Nagakanye, Jaganmohini, Srinivasa Kalyana, Muttidella Chinna, Chanchala Kumari, Dharmasthala Mahatme, Mangala Soothra, Dharani Mandala Madhyadolage....over 60 films credited to Pratima Devi.

As a producer with her husband Shanker Singh ‘Mahatma Pictures’ she produced over 50 films.

A flashback story of Pratima Devi at Belli Hejje of KCA in June 2011

PRATIMA DEVI AT ‘BELLI HEJJE’

The first generation in the family of Shanker Singh Babu to play the heroine Smt Pratima Devi, mother of SV Rajednra Singh Babu, Vijayalakshmi Singh the two big names in Kannada cinema industry, grandmother of actors Aditya and Rishika Singh, mother in law of actor, producer, director Jai Jagdish was guest of honour at ‘Belli Hejje’ organized by Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy.

Smt Protima Devi is the first heroine to give silver jubilee film in Kannada cinema in the early 50’s. It was ‘Jaganmohini’. From then on with her husband Shanker Singh as producer and director in Mahathma Pictures went on to achieve many records.

Pratima Devi acted in over 60 films made debut in ‘Krishna Leela’. Nagakanye, Jaganmohini, Srinivasa Kalyana, Muttidella Chinna, Chanchala Kumari, Dharmasthala Mahathme, Mangala Suthra, Dharani Mandala Madhyadolage and others.