KALPANA ,KANNADA ACTRESS BORN 1943 JULY 8 - 1979 MAY 12

KALPANA ,KANNADA ACTRESS 

BORN 1943 JULY 8 - 1979 MAY 12

Kalpana (Kannada: ಕಲ್ಪನಾ; 8 July 1943 – 12 May 1979), born Sharat Lata, was a Kannada film actress. She was affectionately referred to as Minugu Taare ("A Shining Star") among the film fraternity. She was widely recognised as one of the greatest actresses of Kannada cinema who enjoyed both fan following and critical acclaim. She made her screen debut as a lead actress in the 1963 release Saaku Magalu directed by veteran B.R. Pantulu. During a career that spanned from the early 1960s to the late 1970s, Kalpana appeared in numerous commercially successful as well as critically appreciated films, many of which featured her alongside actor Rajkumar. She worked in few Tamil, Tulu, Malayalam and Telugu films as well.[1] Many of her successful films were female-centric that gave ample scope for her performance.

One of her best-known roles was that of 'Kaveri' in the multi-award-winning film Sharapanjara released in 1971, a performance that won her Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress for that year. Her portrayal of a highly spirited and complex woman who fights her mental trauma won her the largest fan following ever for a Kannada actress. Her association with the veteran film maker Puttanna Kanagal both professionally and personally became the talk of the town back in the 1970s. They both went on to work in many commercially and critically successful films until they grew apart. In her career Kalpana received Filmfare award for Best Actress once and Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress three times.

Kalpana committed suicide at the age of 35 on 12 May 1979 after her alleged failed romance with Gudigeri Basavaraj.[2] Her career was in decline at the time of her death. A film based on her life, titled Abhinetri, was released in 2015.[3]

Early life[edit]
Kalpana was born to a Tulu speaking couple, Krishnamurthy and Janakamma, as Sharat Lata in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka state. She was very passionate about acting and took part in all the talent competitions held at her school. She was also very conscious about prevailing style statement but had her own distinct style in her outfits. She, along with her younger brother and her mother moved to the Uttara Kannada district to experience the basics of movie and stage performances. When she moved to Davangere, she was introduced to Shiv Kumar who took her to Madras and introduced her to Narsimharaju. She was given a break into films by noted director B. R Pantulu who was impressed by her. Kalpana decided that she wanted to be an established film actress and soon achieved her goal and gained prominence in the industry.[4]

Career[edit]

Kalpana in Sharapanjara(1971).
Sharat lata was recruited to the Kannada film industry in 1963 by director B.R. Pantulu for his Rajkumar-starrer Saaku Magalu. Later Changed her screen name to Kalpana. However, it was the 1967 released Belli Moda Directed by Puttanna Kanagal that brought her to the forefront. This portrayal of hers was instantly accepted and she soon was catapulted to the top among the actresses of the 1960s. She dominated the Kannada film industry during the late 1960s and 1970s and was critically acclaimed for some of her author-backed roles in movies like Sharapanjara, Gejje Pooje, Belli Moda, Eradu Kanasu, Kappu Bilupu, Bayalu Daari, Gandhada Gudi and Bangarada Hoovu. She worked with almost all the leading actors and directors of her time. Her most frequent co-stars were Rajkumar, Gangadhar and Udaya Kumar. P. Susheela and S. Janaki were the regular voices behind her songs in the films. She gave a competition to her contemporaries such as Jayanthi, Bharathi, Aarathi, and Manjula among others.

Initially she was the most favoured actress of ace director Puttana Kanagal. Their association produced some of the finest movies in the history of Kannada cinema. Many of their films had strong, hard-hitting messages which were treasured in the cinema history. Kanagal groomed Kalpana to a great extent and they were also romantically linked by the media, much to their denial. However, they fell apart due to misunderstandings and Kanagal went on to groom other heroines like Aarathi and Padma Vasanti while Kalpana featured in some average and above average films later on.[5] Her efforts to resurrect her career failed. Even though her later movies with Rajkumar (Daari Tappida Maga and Eradu Kanasu), and Ananth Nag (Bayaludaari) were hits, they failed to do her any good. By 1977 she had no movies in hand. She then started focusing on drama companies in Uttara Karnataka and mainly worked in Gudigeri Basavaraj's drama company. With mounting debts and declining film offers, she went into deep depression.

She had also acted in a few Tamil and Telugu movies, such as Madras To Pondicherry and Sadhu Mirandal.These films were later made in Hindi as Bombay to Goa and Sadhu Aur Shaitan. Both the films were very successful at the box office. She also acted in Koti Channayya, a Tulu movie, directed by K. Shivaram Karanth. She also acted in Malayalam movie School Master. She lived for only 35 years of which she had spent 15 years in sandalwood film industry. She won the Karnataka state award for Best Actress thrice for Belli Moda, Hannele Chiguridaaga and Sharapanjara. In her film career, she has acted over eighty movies of which majority are in Kannada. [6]

Fashion Icon[edit]

Kalpana was a fashion icon of her time. Her elegance, taste and sophistication in dressing could not be matched by other female stars of the time. The mega sleeve blouses, frill blouses are her contribution to Karnataka's style. Some of her fashion statements are big ear rings, big rings in the hand, brocade silk saris, chiffon saris, Bangles and long necklaces.[7]

Death[edit]

Kalpana's high-profile career ended with her tragic death in 1979. Her suicide was due to severe health issues, low financial status and alleged failed romance.[c
Thirty-six years after actress Kalpana downed diamond powd er in the dead of night at the Go tur Inspection Bungalow, her story is back to haunt the village. Rumour has t that her soul is wandering around Gotur in Hukkeri dis rict of Belagavi district.
While locals condemn media reports to this effect as an attempt to malign the vil age, anti-superstition forum Manav Bandhutva Vedike has announced a night-stay programme at the Inspection Bungalow on the next nomoon day (Amavasya) in an attempt to shed the myth.
A fashion icon of the 1960s and 1970s, Sharat Lata, popularly known as Kalpana, committed suicide on May 12, 1979, at the Inspection Bungalow. There for a theatre per formance, she took the extreme step after a quarrel with drama company owner Gudigeri Basavaraj on stage.

The bungalow was then on the outskirts of the village.The suicide had created fear and mystery in people's minds. For around two years, villagers feared to go near the IB, but gradu ally, their fears dissipated. As the village grew, several houses and a government school came up around the government building. IB Cross is popular in the village and youths hang around late at night, but no one has ever sighted Kalpana's soul here. Now, with media telecasts about the ghost surfacing on Amava sya, fear has been reignited. Villagers oppose the media reports. Shivagonda Patil told STOI it is an attempt to disturb the regular life of villagers. "My home is attached to the IB and my family members have never experienced anything spooky so far. Schoolchildren play near the IB.Guests visit regularly , but nobody has ever complained," he said.
Daval Desti, chief cook at the IB, said he should know as he lives in the same building.
Night stay on the anvil:
Manav Bandhutva Vedike (MBV), an anti-superstition forum headed by Ravi Naikar, has come forward to quell the ghost tale doing the rounds, with a night stay at the IB on the coming Amavasya.
Hanumant Shekhanavar, local MBV member, said there is fear in the village after the telecast. "As a local GP member, I have planned a night stay at the IB to create awareness on superstitions and dispel fear among the public," he said.

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Gudigeri Basavaraj, the former husband of top actress Kalpana was traced by the media people at the Basanth residency. The first straight forward question that was put to him was "‘have you got relieved from the charges on you related to Kalapana death’?

He said,”I am free from all those charges after Ravi Belegere in Hai Bangalore wrote in 18 series. I have given him 19 hours interview. Even today I say what said years ago. I have slapped Kalpana on the face when she lifted chappals to hit me. That was obvious for me because I was her husband. You know what she had written in the letter that was found after her death? The face was swollen because the ambassador car could not trace the road bumper and that has resulted in swollen face. She was in deep love with me. That is the reason why she had written like that the six feet plus Basavaraj ( DIED OF CANCER ON 2011 FEBRUARY 8 )explained to a group of media friends”.

She was very possessive. She was calling me Basu. I was returning the same love and affection. Now you might ask what I have given her after death. According to our customs I have done the Punya thithi for 12 consecutive years in all the three drama companies says Basavaraju in the beautiful Hubli accent Kannada.

According to Basavraj's words, Kalpana was a top actress and was wife of him and also she was in many plays too in our theatre group Basavaraj remembers.











நடிகை கல்பனா BORN 8 July 1943 

நடிகை கல்பனா கர்நாடக மாநிலத்தை சேர்ந்தவர் . பி ஆர் பந்துலுவால் அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்ட கதா நாயகியருள் இவரும் ஒருவர் 1963 . ஜெயலலிதாவை 1965 இல் அறிமுகபடுத்தினார் .
இவர் புட்டண்ணா கனகள் என்ற இயக்குனருடன் நீண்ட கால தொடர்பில் இருந்தார் .இருவரும் இணைந்தே வாழ்ந்தனர் . வயது முதிர்ந்தவுடன் வேறு கதாநாயகி ஆர்த்தி மற்றும் பத்ம வசந்தி போன்ற இளவட்ட நடிகை தேட ஆரம்பித்தார் .மேலும் நிறைய நடிகைகள் போட்டி வேறு . போட்டியாளர்கள் ஜெயந்தி ,பாரதி ,கன்னட மஞ்சுளா போன்றவர்கள்

எனவே சம்பாதித்த பணம் போன்றவையும் தன் குடும்ப நலனுக்கே செலவிட்டு விட்டார் . எனவே நாடகத்திலாவது நடித்து பிழைக்க லாம் என்று குடிகேரி பசவராஜ் நடத்திய நாடக கம்பெனியில் சேர்ந்தார் .அப்புறம் அவருடன் காதல் ஆரம்பம் ஆனது . ஆனால் பசவராஜ் கல்பனாவை வைத்து சம்பாரிக்க திட்டம் இட்டான் .சம்பவ நாளில் பசவராஜை செருப்பால் அடிப்பேன் என்று சொன்னதால் செமையாக அவனிடம் அடி வாங்கினார் .அன்று இரவு மோதிரத்தில் உள்ள கல்லை பொடி செய்து உட்கொண்டு தற்கொலை செய்து கொண்டார்

எனக்கு தெரிந்த சுருக்கமான வரலாறு இதுவே