One of the successful duo directors of past golden era of Kannada cinema is ‘Dorai-Bhagwan’. Dorai is not living today but Bhagwan was there to give a complete birds eye view of his career in films recalling Dr Rajakumar, Dorai Raj, GV Iyer and other luminaries in his 90 minutes talk at Belli Hejje organized by Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy on last Saturday.

Born on July 5, 1933 Mysorean SK Bhagwan began his career as assistant in the camp of Kanagal Prabhakara Shastri in 1956 for the film ‘Bhagyodaya’.

Dorai Bhagwan duo made debut from a bond film ‘Jedara Bale’ in 1965 and went on to give some of the epoch making films like Kasthuri Nivasa, Eradu Kanasu, Bayalu dhari, Gaali Mathu, Chandayana Gombe, Hosa Belaku, Benkiya Bale, Jeeva Chaitra etc. the duo have jointly directed twenty three novels in Kannada.

Dr Rajakumar daughter Smt Lakshmi her husband SA Govindaraju and some of the directors of Kannada were present at this ‘Belli Hejje’ of SK Bhagwan. Smt KH Savithri senior journalist of Samyuktha Karnataka held the proceedings of the ‘Bath-cheeth’ with Bhagwan. HN Maruthi was also present on dais.

We give you a glimpse:

• Coming from Mysore to Bangalore I was the student of first batch of Bangalore High school. Prof G Venkatasubbaiah who is 97 years today is my guru.
• I was doing the ‘Sthree’ roles on stage with famous Hirannaiah Mithra Mandali.
• So far 55 films with Dorairaj most of them my last film was ‘Mangalya Bandhana’. I have seen many successes in my career.
• Currently at Adarsha Film institute as principal. At this age of 76 I am told as the tip top director.
• I worked for Veera Puthra first and those were the days I had nothing to fill my stomach.
• I was taking Kai Thutthe when Parvathamma Rajakumar was mixing anna and rasam. Dr Rajakumar and Varadappa were also taking the ‘Kai Thutthu’.
• In Cinema my Guru is GV Iyer. The script of Bedara Kannappa the launch pad of Dr Rajakumar I wrote on the instructions of director and Iyer is still there at AVM Studio Chennai.
• Rajan-Nagendra are known for Thai Bhakthi, Udaykumar and Rajkumar were known for Pithru Bhakthi and Dorai and Bhagwan were known for Mithra Bhakthi in those days.
• 25 films we did together with no quarrel.
• Karuneye Kutumba Kannnu I have worked the first novel based film in Kannada.
• The acquaintance of Ta Ra Su, Beechi, Ana Krishna Rao was memorable.
• When Industry shifted from Madras to Bangalore the break also started cropping up.
• In the social novel films Dr Rajakumar acted there was no anti activity on screen. He was always ‘Shreshta’.
• Today cinema should give up weapons. Novelty is required despite of technological advancement.
• For Mantralaya Mahatme Dr Rajakumar was very strict for 43 days even in food consumption. He climbed the 18000 by walk without wearing chappal.
• That ‘Tanmayathe and Bhadrathe’ is required.
• That is the reason why Dr Rajakumar and Dr Vishnuvardhana could do 200 plus films.
• Even today Dr Raj children give prominence to subjects.
  
• I have given reading of three scripts to Shivarajakuar and two he has liked.
• Time should come to take up direction once again.

The chairman of Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy TS Nagabharana joined the ‘Belli Hejje’ with Bhagwan at the felicitation time for the guest.