Kannada loses its 'Angry Young Man' Rebel Star in the demise of MH Ambareesh
MH Ambareesh,former Union Minister of state for Information and Broadcasting is no more.He passed away due to a massive heart attack at a private hospital here late in the evening Yesterday.He was 66 years old.The film actor turned politician is bereaved by Sumalatha,wife and multilingual actor,Abhishek Gowda, son and Kannada actor apart from a huge fan following across the old Mysuru region of the state.
The state government has declared three days mourning apart from announcing a state funeral for the departed leader. Politicians from all parties and people belonging to all walks of life are making a bee line to pay their last respects to the Kanteerava Stadium in the city where his mortal remains has been placed.
Malavalli Huchhegowda Amarnath was born in Doddarasanakere village of Mandya district. T.Chowdaiah,renowned violinist of the royal Mysuru dynasty was the grandfather of MH Ambareesh. MH Amarnath was rechristened as Ambareesh as he entered the film world.
In fact his stint in the glamour world is said to be accidental.He was spotted by the late Puttanna Kanagal,legendary film director when the former had been to the sets of a film shooting. Puttanna Kanagal handpicked him in 1972 for the role of Jaleel,a villain character to 'Nagarahaavu'(Cobra) film which became a epoch making picture later.
The maiden film to both Vishnuwardhan and Ambareesh as a hero and villain set the foundation for a bright career in the tinsel world.Then on there was no looking back for both of them.He slowly started graduating in the industry with supporting characters and villain roles
But it was SV Rajendra Singh Babu's 'Antha' which gave him an altogether different image of a 'Rebel Star' for his role of Susheelkumar,police sub inspector fighting against the corrupt system.The film became a super duper hit not only in Kannada but also in many other languages including Bollywood. Jitendra did the hero's role in Hindi remake 'Meri Awaaz Suno' with Hema Malini also in the lead cast.
'Hongkongnalli Agent Amar' released during 1989 was his 100th film while he has acted in more than 200 films.'Ambi Ninge Vayassaito'(Ambi You are Aged) was his latest and last film.He couldn't see his actor son's first film which is due for release.
His film career had typical filmy twists and turns all along with several types of rumours afloat throughout his life.Just like he was infamous for his craze towards chain smoking,racing,boozing and weakness for the fairer sex he was also claimed to be generous guy when it came to helping people in distress.
He is said to have helped many of his producers who suffered loses due to failure of films at the box offices.During an interview with this correspondent on the eve of his completion of 100 films he was candid enough to admit:Many of them have been found misusing this attitude while some of them have returned asking help for the same operations carried earlier!
Interestingly his political career was also not devoid of many a flip flop till the end. He joined the Congress during 1994 when PV Narasimha Rao had become the prime minister.But he suddenly switched sides to Janata Dal when HD Devegowda,the Vokkaliga strong man became the state chief minister.
Subsequently when HD Devegwoda went to the Lok Sabha through Kanakpura constituency in 1996 to become the prime minister and vacated Ramanagar Assembly constituency MH Ambareesh had his maiden test for electoral politics.
But quite surprisingly the political novice was humbled by CM Lingappa of the Congress.However he was elected to the Lok Sabha on a Janata Dal ticket from Mandya constituency in 1998.But within a year he again went back to the Congress and contested as the party candidate from the same Mandya constituency during the 1999 Parliamentary elections.
He was again reelected from Mandya Lok Sabha constituency during 2004 general elections and was sworn in as the state minister of Information and Broadcasting ministry in Dr Manmohan Singh's cabinet.But he never assumed office as by then the Cauvery River water dispute related farmers movement was at a all time high in his home Mandya district.
In that way he also earned the dubious distinction of keeping away from the ministry in spite of being duly sworn in as a minister.As the agitating farmers committee had called upon all elected leaders of the district holding power positions to desist from them he quit as a minister.
Later he had a rough patch for some time as he kept on losing in the elections he contested.Once he lost as a Congress candidate from Mandya Assembly constituency during the 2008 Assembly elections and later during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections from Mandya constituency.
However he managed to win from Mandya Assembly constituency in the 2013 elections and was also inducted in the Siddaramaiah led Congress government as housing minister.But he was dropped from the ministry in 2014 for failing health,the reasons he failed to admit and never took the decision lightly till the end.
His health became so miserable that he had to be flown to Singapore for treatment and continued to remain as a minister.It was at this time all the synonyms like Daanashorra Karna,Kaliyugada Karna and what not proved to be hollow.
He kept on insisting that the state government should bear his expenses incurred in Singapore although there was enough hue and cry on funding the same from the state exchequer.However his will prevailed and the state treasury had to cough up with Rs 1.65 crores medical bill!.
In spite of being elected multiple times and on the rival parties he was never in touch with the people who elected him.He inaugurated the MP's office in Mandya DC office and never returned even once in the five years tenure.Such was his response even after becoming a minister,yet the same voters also kept on electing him!
However he remained far away from the 2018 elections although the party had offered him a B Form to contest as an official candidate.
The state government has declared three days mourning apart from announcing a state funeral for the departed leader. Politicians from all parties and people belonging to all walks of life are making a bee line to pay their last respects to the Kanteerava Stadium in the city where his mortal remains has been placed.
Malavalli Huchhegowda Amarnath was born in Doddarasanakere village of Mandya district. T.Chowdaiah,renowned violinist of the royal Mysuru dynasty was the grandfather of MH Ambareesh. MH Amarnath was rechristened as Ambareesh as he entered the film world.
In fact his stint in the glamour world is said to be accidental.He was spotted by the late Puttanna Kanagal,legendary film director when the former had been to the sets of a film shooting. Puttanna Kanagal handpicked him in 1972 for the role of Jaleel,a villain character to 'Nagarahaavu'(Cobra) film which became a epoch making picture later.
The maiden film to both Vishnuwardhan and Ambareesh as a hero and villain set the foundation for a bright career in the tinsel world.Then on there was no looking back for both of them.He slowly started graduating in the industry with supporting characters and villain roles
But it was SV Rajendra Singh Babu's 'Antha' which gave him an altogether different image of a 'Rebel Star' for his role of Susheelkumar,police sub inspector fighting against the corrupt system.The film became a super duper hit not only in Kannada but also in many other languages including Bollywood. Jitendra did the hero's role in Hindi remake 'Meri Awaaz Suno' with Hema Malini also in the lead cast.
'Hongkongnalli Agent Amar' released during 1989 was his 100th film while he has acted in more than 200 films.'Ambi Ninge Vayassaito'(Ambi You are Aged) was his latest and last film.He couldn't see his actor son's first film which is due for release.
His film career had typical filmy twists and turns all along with several types of rumours afloat throughout his life.Just like he was infamous for his craze towards chain smoking,racing,boozing and weakness for the fairer sex he was also claimed to be generous guy when it came to helping people in distress.
He is said to have helped many of his producers who suffered loses due to failure of films at the box offices.During an interview with this correspondent on the eve of his completion of 100 films he was candid enough to admit:Many of them have been found misusing this attitude while some of them have returned asking help for the same operations carried earlier!
Interestingly his political career was also not devoid of many a flip flop till the end. He joined the Congress during 1994 when PV Narasimha Rao had become the prime minister.But he suddenly switched sides to Janata Dal when HD Devegowda,the Vokkaliga strong man became the state chief minister.
Subsequently when HD Devegwoda went to the Lok Sabha through Kanakpura constituency in 1996 to become the prime minister and vacated Ramanagar Assembly constituency MH Ambareesh had his maiden test for electoral politics.
But quite surprisingly the political novice was humbled by CM Lingappa of the Congress.However he was elected to the Lok Sabha on a Janata Dal ticket from Mandya constituency in 1998.But within a year he again went back to the Congress and contested as the party candidate from the same Mandya constituency during the 1999 Parliamentary elections.
He was again reelected from Mandya Lok Sabha constituency during 2004 general elections and was sworn in as the state minister of Information and Broadcasting ministry in Dr Manmohan Singh's cabinet.But he never assumed office as by then the Cauvery River water dispute related farmers movement was at a all time high in his home Mandya district.
In that way he also earned the dubious distinction of keeping away from the ministry in spite of being duly sworn in as a minister.As the agitating farmers committee had called upon all elected leaders of the district holding power positions to desist from them he quit as a minister.
Later he had a rough patch for some time as he kept on losing in the elections he contested.Once he lost as a Congress candidate from Mandya Assembly constituency during the 2008 Assembly elections and later during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections from Mandya constituency.
However he managed to win from Mandya Assembly constituency in the 2013 elections and was also inducted in the Siddaramaiah led Congress government as housing minister.But he was dropped from the ministry in 2014 for failing health,the reasons he failed to admit and never took the decision lightly till the end.
His health became so miserable that he had to be flown to Singapore for treatment and continued to remain as a minister.It was at this time all the synonyms like Daanashorra Karna,Kaliyugada Karna and what not proved to be hollow.
He kept on insisting that the state government should bear his expenses incurred in Singapore although there was enough hue and cry on funding the same from the state exchequer.However his will prevailed and the state treasury had to cough up with Rs 1.65 crores medical bill!.
In spite of being elected multiple times and on the rival parties he was never in touch with the people who elected him.He inaugurated the MP's office in Mandya DC office and never returned even once in the five years tenure.Such was his response even after becoming a minister,yet the same voters also kept on electing him!
However he remained far away from the 2018 elections although the party had offered him a B Form to contest as an official candidate.
-Hindusthan Samachar/Manohar Yadavatti
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