T. S. Nagabharana

T S Nagabharana was born on 23 January 1953 to A Srinivasaiah and Rudramma at Talakadu, Mysuru district, Karnataka. He is the second of the total five siblings. His grandfathers on both paternal and maternal side, Maddale Girigowda and Tippegowda, were agriculturists but also Yakshagana exponents. Their influence on young Nagabharana was immense. His father Srinivasaiah served as deputy director in Agriculture Department, Bengaluru. After primary education in Talakadu, Nagabharana's further education was at Bengaluru. During his college days, Nagabharana came under the indelible influence of the great playwright Adya Rangacharya. As a student he directed two plays Evam Indrajit and Shoka Chakra. He got involved with amateur theatre and initially worked backstage and as a technician and eventually became an actor, singer and director.

During his theatre days he met Nagini, who was also involved with theatre. They fell in love and got married on 10 December 1979. They continue to work together in films, TV and theatre till date. Nagini Bharana has won National Award for Best Children's Film, State award for Best Costume for Kallarali Hoovaagi, directed by Nagabharana. The couple have a son Pannaga Bharana, who is also a film director and a daughter Shrutha Bharana, who takes care of BAPA as faculty.

By the time he completed his BSc degree, Nagabharana had established himself as a serious actor-director. He directed and acted in plays like Sangya Balya, Kathale Belaku, Shakarana Sarotu, Jokumaraswamy, Oedipus, Sattavara Neralu, Krishna Parijata, Tingara Buddanna, Mundena Sakhi Mundena, Hayavadana, Neegikonda Samsa, Baka and Blood Wedding.[8]

Nagabharana joined an LLB course at Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College of Law. As a student he worked as assistant director in the films Kaadu, directed by Girish Karnad, which won the national award, and as associate to B V Karanth for Chomana Dudi. As a student he directed his first film, Grahana, which won the National Award 1979 – Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration, National Film Award for Best Screenplay – T S Nagabharana & T S Ranga, Karnataka State Film Awards 1978-79 – First Best Film, and Best Cinematographer (B&W) – S. Ramachandra. The film was also selected for Internationales Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg, Germany.

He also worked as a backstage worker, actor, singer and director. He associated with leading theatre personalities like B. V. Karanth, Chandrashekhara Kambara and Girish Karnad.

He received a gold medal from the Government of India for his achievement in theatre. He is the founder of a theatre organisation called Benaka.[9] He also started Shruthalaya, an organisation for organising, writing, composing, camera work, lighting, art, acting, editing and directing.[10]

• He holds several records for many of his films, like Janumada Jodi, which had a record silver jubilee theatrical run for the highest number of theatres across Karnataka, some more than 365 days. The film is a subject for study in the humanities by an American university.
• Directed a total of 36 films, of which 18 films have received prestigious awards.
• Directed four children's films.
• Film fare awards seven times as Best Director.
• Has won ten National Awards (three for National Integration)
• 23 State Awards (various categories)
• Eight of his films have secured Indian Panorama Entry in International Film Festivals.
• Has been on the jury four times of the National Film Awards
• Represented India on the jury and his films have been featured in International Film Festivals in Manheim, Milan, Iran, Chicago, Armenia and Karlovy Vary.
• Allama, his film on the 12th century saint, represented India at International U N Gandhi Medal. Also selected to Indian Panorama.
• Mysuru Mallige, a first of its kind experimental film, completely based on the poems of poet K S Narasimhaswamy.
• He has made a host of short and documentary films for Films Division, Government of India and the State Govt.
• He was awarded the Puttanna Kanagal Award for Life Time Achievement by Govt of Karnataka.

Nagabharana has won nine National and 14 State awards.[12][11][13]

• Directed a total of 36 films of which 19 films have received prestigious awards & 4 are Children's films.
• 1st BRICS Film Festival Chairperson of Jury.
• Represented India as Jury and his films have been featured in International Film Festivals in Manheim, Milan, Iran, Chicago, Armenia, china and Karlovy Vary
• Jury member of Dadasaheb phalke Award at 64th National Film Award
• Executive Committee Member, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce - 3 years
• Chairman of Subsidy Committee for Films, Government of Karnataka
• President of Karnataka Film Directors’ Association
• ONLY director who has secured ENTRY in both Mainstream and Indian Panorama TWICE in 1993-1994 and 1995–1996 in International Film Festivals of India
• CIFEJ (‘Centre International de Film pour l’enfance et La Jeunesse’ meaning ‘International Centre of Films for Children and Youth’) Board Member for 13 years.
• Adarsh Film Institute Principal and Faculty
• Chairman, Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy 2008-2012
• Member of the Central Censor Board since 2015
• Working as Administrator and teacher in Bharana Academy of Performing Arts (BAPA) school by encouraging and teaching students who are interested in Theatre and Film acting.

• T. S. Nagabharana at IMDb