Umashri

Umashree born on May 10th 1957) is an Indian character actress of Kannada Film Industry and well known politician. She was a Member of the Legislative Council in Karnataka.CNB (13 August 2008). [http://www.chitraloka.com/sections/action_cut/2006/umashri_50_06.shtml "UMASHREE 50 - Peerless Actress"] , Chitraloka.com.] She has done so many varied roles as an character artiste with equal finesse and aplomb. However she is most famous for her potryal of comic roles. Her range in acting is unparalleled - mainly due to her stint in stage plays - and has acted in more than 325 Kannada movies, of which her potryal in Swabimana, Anjadagandu, Putnanja, Yaru Hone, Laalihaadu, Minchina Ota, Mani, Ranga SSLC, Kotigalu Sir Kotigalu, Yaarige Saalutte Sambala, Kurigalu Sir Kurigalu, Tumbida Mane, Sangya balya,Tayyavva, Monalisa, Veeru, Kotreshi Kanasu, Chellata, Bhairavi, Malla, Kattegalu Sir Kattegalu now recently Gulabi Talkies are few to be appreciated.

Career

She is currently acting in various movies which offers her better roles. She is interested in politics and was an MLC (Member of Legislative Council) in the Karnataka State Government and currently an sitting President for Other Backward Class Department in Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. She had also contested in the 13th Karnataka State Assembly elections from Terdal constituency in Bagalkot district, under an Congress ticket. But she lost the election with a resonable margin. And that to was with just 20 days of campaighing. [ [http://www.chitraloka.com/flash/2008/may_2008/newsflash_25_5_08.shtml News 25-5-08] . Chtraloka.com.]

She started her movie career with an inconsequential role in the movie Anubhava opposite Kashinath in the late 1980s. Even though she had only an supporting role - which had a comic streak and also grey shades - in the movie, her acting was appreciated by one and all. She even bagged an award for the role. But later she was branded for same kind of comedy roles bordering on the line of indecency with double meaning dialogs. Initially she formed the best pair with N. S. Rao and with his unique kind of dialog delivery, they both regaled the Kannada audiences in many movies. Later after the actor's demise she was paired with Mukhyamantri Chandru and karibasavaiah with whom also she formed a great pairing and shared a unique comic timing. Her acting in the movie Kotigalu Sir Kotigalu as "Muniyamma" [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gTJtnP_dfQ YouTube - kothigalu saar kothigalu-Umashree's Dance movements ] ] a limp washer-women was enjoyed thoroughly by children as well as grown-ups.

The role in the movie "Puttananja" changed everything for Umashree. Her potrayal of an old grandmother in the movie made everyone sit-up and notice her immense talent, even though she was praised for her performances in movies like Tayyavva, Amrutha Ghalige, Sangya Balya, etc. Later she was provided better roles which had immense scope to perform and display her talent by many directors S. V. Rajendra Singh Babu, Yograj Bhat. Her potrayal as an aged prostitute trying hard to save her daughter from the flesh-trade in the movie Mani was exemplary and won her Karnataka State award for Best Supporting Actress in the year 2005. She is the only Kannada actress to receive Karnataka State awards five times. She is also the reciptent of the prestigious Rajyothsava Award Gold Medal.

Umashree starred in the 2008 film "Gulabi Talkies" by director Girish Kasaravalli,which even bought her The Osians' Cinefan Film Festival's Best Actress Award. [ [http://entertainment.oneindia.in/kannada/top-stories/2008/girish-kasaravalli-gulabi-talkies-070208.html "Gulabi Talkies ready for release"] , OneIndia.in (7 February 2008). Retrieved on 2008-08-06.] . Gulabi Talkies is also nominated for Middle East International Film Festival 2008.

Personal life

Umashree's husband had deserted her at an very early age and had married someone else. She had single-handedly brought up her two children. That is the reason she took to acting - to ably support her family. Her elder daughter is a doctor, got married to a doctor in Davanagere and her son is an Advocate, also completed his higher studies from Australia in Master of Laws. She is also involved in many social activities in upliftment of rural and suppressed women and has done many stage-plays highlighting the issues they face, in many interior villages of Karnataka. She also brought these issues to notice of the Karnataka government as a sitting MLC.

References