State award winning Kannada filmmaker Guruprasad was found dead at his flat at Madanayakanahalli, on the outskirts of Bengaluru on Sunday (November 3, 2024) morning.
His neighbours in the apartment alerted the police on Sunday after foul smell started emanating from his flat, which was locked from inside.
The police broke open the door to find him dead. The body was found in a highly decomposed state.
“He had come to apartment five or six days ago and never ventured out. We suspect that during this time he night have taken the extreme step . Initial probe revealed that he had financial problems; however, a detailed probe is under way,” said C. K. Baba, Superintendent of Police, Bengaluru Rural district.
The director, who was 52 years of age, is survived by wife and two daughters. Industry insiders said the filmmaker was under financial stress.
Guruprasad’s last film was Ranganayaka, starring veteran actor Jaggesh in the lead. The film, produced by Vikyath, bombed at the box office. It had released on March 8, 2024.
Guruprasad, who started his career as a poultry scientist, turned director owing to his love for movies. He debuted with Matha, starring Jaggesh.
The movie delved into the world of mathas. Jaggesh was presented with the Karnataka State Film Award for the Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film.
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Guruprasad talks about writing comedy films and making quirky films with bold themes.
Eddelu Manjunatha, Guruprasad’s sophomore movie, was a runaway hit. Tracking the story of an aimless lazy man, the movie was praised for its humour and Jaggesh’s performance. Guruprasad won the State award for best screenplay.
ALSO READ: ‘Ranganayaka’ movie review: Jaggesh-Guruprasad combo fails to create magic
The director failed to strike a hat trick as his third movie, Director’s Special, did average business at the box office. The movie starred Rangayana Raghu and Dhananjaya in lead roles. His fourth film, Eradane Sala, was a flop.
Guruprasad’s films were laced with dark humour and adult comedy. He is also an author, with ‘Director’s Special’, a collection of short stories, being one of his noted works. He also wrote the script and dialogues for the show Kannadada Kotiyadhipati, hosted by the late Puneeth Rajkumar.
(Those in distress or having suicidal tendencies can contact Arogya Sahayavani for help. Ph. :104)
Published - November 03, 2024 01:35 pm IST
