Kalpana (Kannada actress)

Kalpana
Kalpana in Sharapanjara (1971)
Native name	ಶರತ್ ಲತಾ / ಕಲ್ಪನಾ
Born	Sharat Lata 18 July 1943 Dakshina Kannada, Madras Presidency, British India
Died	12 May 1979(1979-05-12) (aged 35) Sankeshwar, Karnataka, India
Other names	"Minugu Taare"
Occupation	Actress
Spouse(s)	B.N.Viswanath, Gudigeri Basavaraj

Kalpana (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 – Kannada once and Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress thrice.

Early life

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.^[2]

Career

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.^[3] 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.^[4]

Legacy

The sway that the late actor Kalpana – who had won the title ‘Minugu Taare’ (twinking star) – held over Kannada film enthusiasts has not quite disappeared since her death. Known for playing complex and tragic roles, she died under mysterious circumstances. She ruled the Kannada film industry for nearly 10 years spanning the 1960s and 1970s.

V. Sreedhara, a teacher at a school in Mysuru who was born six years after her death, has brought out a 1,114-page volume chronicling her life and work spanning 79 films. It has details of the characters she played and opinions of various directors, co-artistes and writers. He started working on the book at 21 and completed it when he turned 27. “Even after working for so long, I have not completely understood the persona of Kalpana, as she was a complex person,” he says. "Rajatha Rangada Dhruvathare" by Mr. Sreedhara was released in Bengaluru at a function organised by Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy.^[5]

Death

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. As per the post mortem reports, she had consumed 56 sleeping pills which caused her death. She spent her last days staying at a inspection bungalow at Gotur near Sankeshwar.

Filmography

^[7]

Awards

Filmfare Awards South

• Best Actress – Kannada – Yaava Janmada Maitri (1972)

Karnataka State Film Awards

• Best Actress – Belli Moda (1967)
• Best Actress – Hannele Chiguridaga (1968)
• Best Actress – Sharapanjara (1971)

References