B. R. Nagesh

Nagesh was born on 10 November 1931 at Mangalore and died on 10 March 2007 in his apartment at Dombivli West Thane District, Mumbai, where he was residing with his wife, Ramabai, and his younger daughter's family.

Nagesh taught in schools and colleges in the towns of Kundapur and Mulky. He then became an English lecturer at Poorna Prajna College in Udupi.

Although Nagesh created his plays in the B V Karanth era in Karnataka, he tread a separate path for himself. Unlike the productions of many of his contemporaries, his theatrical productions never bore the stamp of Karanth nor that of the NSD style of production that Karanth brought with him.

Based out of a small place like Udupi, Nagesh kept track of what was happening in the field of theater. His ideas, like that of his contemporary Udyavara Madhava Acharya, were original. However, like Acharya, Nagesh did not extensively use dance forms as a mode of expression in his stage narratives. Additionally, he tried his hand in directing some musical plays of K Shivarama Karanth in an early stage of his life. In the production of 'Vibrame' (Delusion), a translation of a Badal Sarkar play, he is said to have tried to stimulate the smell of the dead body by burning some raw vegetables.

Subtle humor to comment on a situation was his forte. He took great care in the stage setting, properties, costumes, lighting, visual look, color patterns, and stage movements – so much so that the designs that he created through his theatrical tools often told a story by themselves. Though he weaned towards a somber minimalist approach, he insisted that the settings and costumes be prepared afresh. So, his productions cost a lot. He valued theater discipline and was often said to cancel rehearsals when anyone came late. In the 1990s, his productions became rarities. After retirement, he moved first to Bengaluru and then to Mumbai, where he died due to an old-age related illness.

Nagesh was the recipient of the Karnataka Theater Academy. A festival of plays in his remembrance was held in 2009 in Udupi.[1]

Tippu Sulataan for the organisation 'Rupa Ranga', Kundapur; Musical plays of Kota Shivaram Karanth in Mulki; Nee Mayavo, Ninnolu Maayavo [ನೀ ಮಾಯವೋ ನಿನ್ನೊಳು ಮಾಯವೋ] (Are you the 'Maya' or is 'Maya' within you?) by playwright Aadya Rangachaar; Gummanelliha Thoramma [ಗುಮ್ಮನೆಲ್ಲಿಹ ತೋರಮ್ಮಾ] (Show me the Ghost, Mother) by playwright: Aadya Rangachaar;[2] Baduka Mannisu Prabhuve [ಬದುಕ ಮನ್ನಿಸು ಪ್ರಭುವೇ] (Oh Lord, help us attain Salvation) for 'Lalita Kala Sadhan', Kasaragodu; Mundena Saki Mundena (What next, Girl?); Aani Bantaani [ಆನೆ ಬಂತಾನೆ] (There comes the Elephant); Kali Gulla [ಕಲಿ ಗುಳ್ಳ]; Macbeth (1983) by playwright Shakespeare for Rathabeedi Gelyaru, Udupi;[3] Julius Caesar in Chikmagaluru; Hittina Hunja; Saarvajanika Rasthe Alla (This is not a public road); Rekke (Wings); Tadrupi (The Duplicate); Vibrame (Delusion)

Yeddu Bidda Teregalu (Curtains that got raised and closed) a historical account of theater in the coastal district of Karnataka.

Yakshi Hidida Moda (The Cloud that was held by Yakshi)

Sneha Smruthi (Friendly Memories); Bhaavaarchane (An emotional offering); Runayaatre (The journey of Obligation); Mamata; Bannada Neralu (The Coloured Shadow); Hariva Neerige Kanasugalilla (Flowing Streams Don't Dream);

Pativrute Hengasaadaddu (When the Housewife turned into a Lady);[4] Rajaneeshaniguu Arthavaagada Kajji (The infection that even Rajneesh could not understand)

The legacy of Nagesh can be found in the works of his various students or people who have been influenced by him, spread all over India – like Kannada Theater director in Mumbai Barath Kumar Polipu;[5] Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam film actress Vinaya Prasad;[6] Kannada TV Actors Sujata Kurahatti [7] and Ravi Bhat;[8] Ramchandra PN, and filmmaker and graduate from FTII,[9] Eshwar Chitpady, P. B. Prasanna, Dr Sudakar Naik of Kasturba Medical Hospital, Manipal and many others.