Career
Beginnings and breakthrough
Aarathi made her film debut with the film '' Gejje Pooje'' (1969) directed by Puttanna Kanagal. She played a short role as the sister of lead actor Gangadhar. Her first lead role came with the Sameulla directed comedy film, ''Takka Bitre Sikka'' (1970), where she played the love interest of actor Srinath. Following this, she featured in supporting roles in several films including the Rajkumar starrers '' Kasturi Nivasa'' (1971), '' Sri Krishna Rukmini Satyabhama'' (1971), '' Sipayi Ramu'' (1972), '' Bangarada Manushya'' (1972) and later played lead roles opposite him in '' Bhale Huchcha'' (1972), '' Bahaddur Gandu'' (1976), '' Premada Kanike'' (1976) and '' Raja Nanna Raja'' (1976) . Her first breakthrough came when Puttanna Kanagal cast her as Alamelu in the action drama '' Naagarahaavu'' (1972). She gained widespread recognition and accolades for playing a soft spoken girl who ends up living a tragic life post her marriage. Actor Vishnuvardhan made his debut with this film and gained instant popularity and the pair went on to star in several films together in future. Aarathi won her first Karnataka State Film Award for her portrayal of the character. The film ran for over 20 weeks across theaters in Karnataka and was remade in several other languages.Collaboration with Puttanna Kanagal
Kanagal introduced and brought Aarathi to the limelight by offering her to star in his films back to back right from '' Gejje Pooje'' in 1970 up until their final association in '' Ranganayaki'' in 1981. During the making of '' Bili Hendthi'' (1975), the duo secretly married even though Kanagal was already married.Kanagal wrote several author-backed character roles for Aarathi and cast her in female-centric films throughout the 1970s. Their combination produced successful films such as '' Naagarahaavu'' (1972), '' Edakallu Guddada Mele'' (1973), '' Upasane'' (1974), '' Bili Hendthi'' (1975), '' Shubhamangala'' (1975), '' Paduvaaralli Pandavaru'' (1978), '' Dharmasere'' (1979) and '' Ranganayaki'' (1981). They did not collaborate in films after ''Ranganayaki'', due to their separation. Aarathi won all her eight awards (four Karnataka State awards and four Filmfare South awards) for movies directed by Kanagal.Widespread success and retirement
Besides her successful films with Kanagal, Aarathi found success in her other collaborations with actors Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Srinath, Ambareesh, Anant Nag and Tiger Prabhakar. Starting from the supporting role in magnum opus '' Kasturi Nivasa'' (1971), she was repeatedly cast opposite Rajkumar in as many as 12 films which were successful at the box-office and also critically acclaimed. Her second successful pairing was with Vishnuvardhan with whom she worked in several films including '' Hanthakana Sanchu'' (1980), '' Bangarada Jinke'' (1980), '' Pedda Gedda'' (1982), '' Kalluveene Nudiyithu'' (1983), '' Khaidi'' (1984) and '' Madhuve Madu Tamashe Nodu'' (1986). Aarathi featured in several female-centered critically acclaimed films such as '' Manini'' (1979), '' Vasantha Lakshmi'' (1978), '' Shubhamangala'' (1975), ''Anurakthe'' (1980), ''Archana'' (1982), ''Kannu Theresida Hennu'' (1982) and ''Sati Sakkubai'' (1985). She retired from acting after her second marriage in 1986 and ''Tiger'' was her last film to release.Filmography
As director
As actress
References
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Aarathi Kannada actresses Indian film actresses Actresses in Kannada cinema Kannada film directors Actresses in Tamil cinema Actresses in Telugu cinema 20th-century Indian actresses Actresses from Mysore Living people Filmfare Awards South winners 1954 births Indian women film directors People from Hassan district Film directors from Karnataka 21st-century Indian people 21st-century Indian actresses Actresses in Malayalam cinema