churumuri records with regret the passing away of actor, producer and director, M.P. Shankar.
In the aftermath of the success of Gandhada Gudi, Shankar was an imposing figure for young Mysore children. His home, first on 3rd main road, Vontikoppal, and later at Panchavati, Jayalakshmipuram, was a virtual bird sanctuary.
Our first and most abiding memories are of Shankar going around the locality on his white horse every evening. And the white ambassador car no “MEM 6” that was such a crucial member of the hit-film was a familiar sight on Mysore roads for decades.
View the Chitraloka photogallery
Link via Yogesh Devaraj in San Jose
Remember his house in Vontikoppal well and the aforementioned accompaniments… and that Jeep in Gandhada Gudi.. wasnt it his as well?
RIP M.P. Shankar…
My condolences to the bereaving family and the Kannada film industry.
Sad loss…
As a kid on our annual trips to Mysore and when on our way to Vontikoppal in a bus, we used plonk ourselves near window and get a long peep at his house.
RIP MP Shankar..
While his “villain” roles seem to be everybody’s favourite, I will remember him mostly for his stunning cameo in Satya Harishchandra as Veerabahu/Yama. I know I invoke Rajkumar fans’ wrath, but let me say that he totally steals Dr. Raj’s thunder in those few scenes they are together in that movie.
His best acting came as Boothayya in Bothayyana Maga Ayyu. There wasnt anyone who did not hate the character of Boothayya.
Great Actor and probably only other producer who passionately made movies with wild animals. (The other being Chinnappa Thevar of TN).
I remember the pains he took to get a tiger cub from the mysore zoo and the ordeal he went through for gettiing permission from the forest department, for making the movie Rama Laxmana. And of course his magnum opus ‘Gandhada Gudi’ will be an all time favorite of kannadigas.
May his soul rest in peace.
RIP Shankar.
‘Boothayya na Maga Ayyu’ is Shankar’s best movie. As SM said there was no one who did not hate Boothayya.
No one could have enacted Boothayya’s role better than Shankar. Great.
What an intense acting !
Yesterday we lost another Mysooru Star M.P.Shankar.
While he was working in Railways in Mysore, he used to act in stage plays as a hobby. Got a break in acting and as they say rest is history. Unfortunate to know that his long pending ambition of producing another wild life movie did not materialize.
As long as we keep watching the classics ‘Gandhadha gudi” , “Satya harischandra” and “Bhootayya na maga aiyu” , we will not forget him or his contributions to kannada movies…
Shankar avara atmakke shaanthi sigali.
The film industry and public will miss him dearly he had a towering presence in all the movies he did, I love his role of yama in satya harishchandra and have dreamt of doing the dance sequence he did.
This is a sad loss. As others have mentioned it seems he was born to do Boothayya’s role.
RIP
My favourite was (and is) his movie “mrugalaya”…what an experiment it was!
I’m not sure if I would ever be afraid if hell broke loose, but the Mysore Zoo? C’mon heck of a story-teller, performer (dual role), producer and director had all rolled into one in this splendid movie.
It is definitely on my list of must-watch of MP’s movies.
Ou big-man, in a strangest-context, recognised more by his initials than anything, is a soul that evokes condolence not just from every human being in the state of Karnataka, but even the living beings.
Devaru Oledanu madali!
What an imposing personality! Thanks for all the wonderful moments you gave us. RIP, Mr.Shankar.
A mysorean in mourning…
this thread is awesome for it shows that there are so many honest injuns who, even under the mask of an anonymous handle, are honest enough not to utter automatic useless cliches. most remember him for what he did and somebody actually said devaru olledannu maaDali. what a honest thing to say!!
death is tricky and prolly too important to be negotiated with cliches.
MP Shankar was a great showman and a great soul! I just watched “Gandhadha Gudi” some time back and some of the visuals in the movie are simply stunning! His character roles are too solidly acted and he had an extraordinary presence on the screen. May his soul rest in piece while he sings and dances to, “Kuladalli Mel Yavudho…”
Probably he was the only actor in Indian cinema who took pains and enormous pride in preserving wild life. This in itself is rare when you find some of his colleagues in the profession hunting chinkaras and getting bail after the cowrdly act.
Remember watching Narada Vijaya as a kid – and being impressed by his role as the ‘mamsa-parvatha’. Watched the movie again years later, was even more impressed at how well (and differently) he had acted.
Another great actor from a great era in Kannada cinema passes away…
Shame on you Churumuri. Being a pro Kannada website, it is just a 3 para about a great actor and tons about crap movies like (forgot the junk Rajnikanth’s movie name) and dashavataram.
Sad to see such a good actor had to suffer so much.
M.P.Shankar’s portrayal as Bhootayya was simply stunning. Because at that time nobody had imagined that he would enact such a role, though he was acting as villain for long. I remember at that time many people didn’t agree that it was actually M.P.Shankar. After weeks only people started believing that yes it was M.P.Shankar. None else could have enacted the role of Bhootayya as convincingly and so naturally as M.P.Shankar. May his sould rest in peace.
everyone seems to discount ONDE GURI which was identical to MAD MAX,was that from MPS?
The life of actors/lyricists/directors of Kannada film industry is just like a movie. Kannadigas very easily forget their contribution. Who remembers Udaykumar, Kalyankumar, H R Shastry, Pandaribhai, Hunsur Krishnamurthy, Ku Ra Si, Vijaynaarasimha……the same fate awaits M P Shankar….May his soulrest in peace. Avara kuTumbavargakke intha dukha bharisuva shakthi koDali.
MP Shankar – May your soul RIP. Unfortunately, they dont make people like you anymore.
Makes one wonder why people with such passion, creativity and sensibility are not entering Kannada cinema. Movies like Gandhada Gudi, Onde guri, etc were worthy “Indian” films. I hope we will see good times in Kannada films again.
Comments here definitely show fond memories of MP Shankar outside the more well known Gandhada Gudi, Satya Harishchandra and Bhoothayyana maga ayyu. Performances in Naarada Vijaya and Naagara Haavu are worth mentioning.
I remember travelling in the bus past M.P.Shankar’s house in Vontikoppal during my college days. His portrayals in Narada Vijaya was hilarious and I’ll never forget Bhoothayya. May his soul rest in peace.
some of his movies i liked most was ;
1. Narada vijaya
2.bhootayanna maga aayyu
3.satya harishnadra
4.gandhadagudi
5.raja nanna raja ( madakeri huli)
am\nd m,any more
may his soul rest in peace