Veteran Kannada actor Ambreesh, who was believed to be the ‘trouble-shooter’ and only person who could stop internal star-war in Sandalwood, has passed away on Saturday in Bengaluru’s Vikram hospital after suffering from a cardiac arrest.
Ambareesh, will always be remembered as a superstar by the thousands of his fans. But his journey in the Sandalwood was not a cakewalk. Veteran actor’s maiden name was Amaranath Hucchegowda, but while entering into the industry he was named as Ambareesh by the well-known director of Kannada movies, Late Puttanna Kanagal.
He was born on May 29, 1952 to Hucchegowda and Padmamma. Ambareesh’s grandfather was a popular violin artiste Chowdaiah. He had completed his primary schooling in Mandya and got his degree in Mysore.
Cinema journey:
1970s has been known as the golden era of Kannada film industry and it was the time when the whole of India was keeping an eye on Kannada movies. Puttanna Kanagal, one of the best directors Karnataka has ever witnessed was leading the show for Kannada audience with the novel-based cinema.
In 1971, Amaranath Hucchegowda emerged as Ambareesh, who started his career as ‘Jaleela’, in Nagara Havu movie. Nagara Havu in Kannada means Cobra. The film was directed by Puttanna Kanagal and Ambareesh was given a small character with Vishnuvardhan in the lead role. Ambareesh as Jaleela and Vishnuvardhan as Ramachari had stolen the show. And since then the duo became friends for life.
Ambareesh was unhappy with director Puttanna Kanagal for giving him a small role and expressed his displeasure with the latter. Pacifying Ambareesh, Puttana Kanagal had said, “You will be a star once the movie hit the theatres.” And Putatna’s words come true, people applauded Ambareesh’s role and clapped for him. “Yake Bull Bull Matadakilva,” means Why girl, why don’t you talk? Was his dialogue that went viral even without the presence of social media those days. He later thanked his director Kanagal.
After being a successful villain, Ambareesh had to struggle in the industry for his survival and faced almost a nine-year drought in his career. After a long gap, Ambareesh got a lead role in a movie named ‘Amaranath’. But it didn’t help him to get fame. However, it was his close friend Rajendra Singh Babu’s directorial ‘Anta’ that rose him to fame in 1980. Anta was a blockbuster of 1980s and give a big push to Ambareesh’s career.
With Anta, Ambareesh’s dialogue, “Kutte Kanwar Nahin, Kanwar Lal Bolo,” become a huge hit among youngsters and a trendsetter in Kannada industry.
After this movie, the actor tasted success and never looked back. Later, in his career, he acted in several Kanagal movies – Paduvaralli Pandavaru, Shubha Mangala and Ranganayaki. In his life span, he acted in over 200 films. Despite being having many offers from Tamil and Telugu film industry, the actor chose only to work with Kannada film industry. He had played major roles in Tamil films namely Priya, Thaimeethu, Sathiyam, Ethu Nejama, Arjun, Neethi Nermai Dharmam and in Malayalam he acted in a movie named Gaanam and a guest appearance in Mohini Yattam.
The actor also had some Telugu films in his kitty which include, Vonde Mataram, Sri Manjunatha, Vijaya Kadgam and Amara Simhams. His major blockbuster movies are Ranganayaki, Toni, Masanada Hoovu, Chakravyuha, Hrudaya Haditu, Olavina Udugore, Hong Kongnalli Agent Amar, Elu Suttina Kote, Rani Maharani, Mannina and Maga. His last movie was Ambi Ninge Vayassayto, in Kannada it means ‘Ambareesh you are aged’. It was released recently but did not make noise on the box office.
Ambareesh was offered a role with Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan in 1980, but circumstances did not permit him to share the screen with him.
In 1991, he was married to a multilingual actress Sumalatha. The couple has a son named Abhishek. Abhiskeh is also getting launched in Kannada film industry with Amar. Unfortunately, his father is not there to watch his son on the silver screen.
Source: News18