Somashekar Rao

Somashekar Rao was a prominent luminary personality in Indian theatre and a champion of artistic integrity in filmmaking. He was born in 1932 to Indian freedom fighters Harihar Gundu Rao and Venkamma in Chitradurga. He also took part in the freedom fight for a brief period. Rao's journey to the theatres began in childhood when he appeared as a child artist in a Kailasam play. He was not only a brilliant student but also a theatrical prodigy. He received a gold medal in M.A. (Sociology) and earned the title of best actor and orator for three consecutive years through his talent.

Rao had an extensive journey of 33 years with Canara Bank to be awarded the esteemed position of assistant general manager while keeping his passion for theatre and films intact. He was also the principal of the Canara Bank staff training college. Rao also played an instrumental role at the National Institute of Personnel Management for three decades in shaping the future of human resources. In his entire career, Somashekar Rao acted in over 300 plays and more than 50 films.

He made his acting debut in the 1975 Kannada film Geejagana Goodu. 777 Savitri, Harakeya Kuri, Mithileya Seetheyaru, 27 Mavalli Circle, and Accident are some widely appreciated movies. His 2015 film Last Page was critically acclaimed and received the Best Film award at the 2015 Kolkata International Film Festival. He received the prestigious Karnataka State Government Award for his role in Mithileya Seetheyaru and the state award for best supporting role in Harakeya Kuri. Rao was the proud recipient of the Karnataka Nataka Academy Award, Goruru Sahitya Prashasti, Sri Huilgol Narayana Rao Prashasti, Kannadashree Prashasti, and many prestigious awards.

Rao also appeared in the first-ever short film of Doordarshan. Somashekar Rao founded the Abhinaya Taranga Drama School to guide aspiring thespians to excellence as a principal and later became the chairman. He was also an excellent writer and wrote over 25 books in his lifetime. His autobiography, Somannana Stockninda, was very well received. The maestro passed away in 2020, leaving behind a legacy of firm dedication to artistic integrity and a significant impact on the cultural history of Kannada.