Film director Nagesh Baba of ‘Pragati Studio’ fame no more
2 min read
Bengaluru: Film director Nagesh Baba passed away here on Tuesday. He was 82.
A native of Belakavadi in Mandya district, Baba breathed his last at a private hospital in the city. He is survived by his wife Shyamala and three children.
Profile
A BSc graduate Baba who wanted to try his luck in filmdom went to Madras in 1956. He started as an assistant to noted Kannada film director and producer R Nagendra Rao and debuted as an assistant director for Rao in his directorial venture ‘Premada Putri’ in 1957 followed by ‘Bettada Kalla’ and ‘ Pratima’, technical director for Koti- Chennaya Tulu film, dialogue writer for ‘Thoodudeepa’ and ‘Nanna kartavya’.
In 1970, Baba produced and directed ‘Anireekshita’ adaptation of ‘Vasundhare’ of writer Krishnamurty Puranik into silver screen. Poet K S Narasimha Swamy had written lyrics for two songs of the movie with music composed by T M Vijayabhaskar. Narasimha Swamy had gone to Madras to pen lyrics for the tunes composed there. The year also marks 50th year of the release of the movie.
Baba who was into still photography had founded ” Three Stars institute” along with Venkateshwaran at Madras in 1964. When he returned to Bengaluru in 1972, he started Pragati Studio on sixth cross, Gandhinagar, where he was joined by his cousin Ashwathnarayan.
Pragati Studio became a known name in sandalwood, catering to over 350 films till it was closed in 2005.
Baba had also authored a book on S S Vasan the owner of Gemini Studios.
– Team Mysoorunews
Mysooru News
