T. N. Seetharam

Thalagavara Narayanarao Seetharam (born 6 December 1948)[1] is a prominent Kannada film and TV serial director, actor and screenwriter. He has become a cultural icon in Karnataka, India, through his work in several art mediums. Seetharam has written, directed, and produced plays, movies, and top-rated television series which have attracted millions of viewers.

T. N. Seetharam
Seetharam (Beru, 2005 Kannada film)
Born (1948-12-06) 6 December 1948
Occupation(s)Director, Producer, Actor, Screenwriter
SpouseGeetha
ChildrenSatyajith, Ashwini
Parent(s)Narayan Rao
Sundaramma

Early life

Seetharam was born on 6 December 1948 in Thalagavara village near the Doddaballapura town in the erstwhile Mysore State. He was the third child to his parents Narayanrao and Sundaramma. He completed his high school education in Doddaballapur Municipal School, Doddaballapura, and pre-university course in National College, Bangalore. He then obtained his degree in Bachelor of Science before obtaining his bachelor's degree in Law. This was when he decided to take keen interest in plays, having worked with playwright P. Lankesh during the time. Seetharam decided to stay in Bangalore after completing his education, by participating in plays. He rejected his father's request to return to his village and involve himself in agriculture and to practice as a lawyer. Having been influenced by Lankesh and U. R. Ananthamurthy, he believed owning a piece of land is a sin. Saddened by his decision, his father, a patient, stopped consuming medicine and died shortly thereafter leaving Seetharam with guilt. In 2014, during his appearance in the talk show Weekend with Ramesh, Seetharam said that many of his plays were made as tributes to his father and his television serials were made as tributes to women, inspired mainly by his deceased sister, Padma.[1]

Career

P.Sheshadri, K. S. Narasimhaswamy and T.N. Seetharam, during the making of Mayamruga

Seetharam began his career as an associate to playwright and film director, P. Lankesh. He played a pivotal role in the Lankesh directed National Award winning film Pallavi (1976). He was also associated with the famous director Puttanna Kanagal and had written scripts for his movies. He also made appearances as an actor in some movies. He was noticed when he started directing TV serials for Doordarshan. Fame and recognition came when he directed Mayamruga, a daily Kannada serial which stood apart for its take on reality. Mayamruga has seen a DVD avatar, probably a first for a Kannada serial. He then went on to direct Kamanabillu which was the first serial on a satellite TV to be watched widely His association with ETV Kannada resulted in famous serials like Manvantara and Muktha. He has acted in most of his serials and he likes to play the character of a lawyer who comes to the rescue of the oppressed.

He developed a concept of Samvada, wherein he held organised meetings with his audience throughout Karnataka. These became so popular that ETV Kannada telecasted these interactions as well.

He was the president of Karnataka State Film Awards jury for the year 2006.Currently hosting Popular TV shows 'Nanu Mukhyamantri' in newsfirst channel.

Filmography

Films

Year Film Notes
1982 Maanasa Sarovara Dialogues
1983 Dharani Mandala Madhyadolage Acting
1990 Panchama Veda Dialogues
1996 Kraurya Story, Screenplay
2001 Mathadana Direction[2]
2005 Beru Acting
2007 Meera Madhava Raghava Story, Dialogues, Screenplay and Direction
2016 Vaastu Prakaara Acting
2017 Kaafi Thota Story, Screenplay and Direction
2018 Dhwaja Acting

Television

As Director and writer

Year Title Television Direction Note
1990 Sankalana Doordarshan
1991 Navellaru onde Doordarshan
1994 Pattedari prabhakar Doordarshan
1995 Mukha Mukhi Doordarshan
1995 College Taranga Doordarshan
1998 Mayamruga Doordarshan[3] Yes Jointly direct with P. Sheshadri & Nagendra Shaa
1998 Jwalamukhi Udaya TV Yes
2001 Manvantara ETV Kannada Yes
2003 Dashavataara ETV Kannada Yes
2004 Male Billu ETV Kannada
2004 Muktha ETV Kannada Yes
2006 Mohini Vs Mahalinga ETV Kannada
2007 Minchu ETV Kannada
2008–2010 Muktha Muktha ETV Kannada Yes
2013–2014 Maha Parva ETV Kannada Yes
2016 Drama Juniors Zee Kannada Show judge for Season 1& 2
2018–2020 Magalu Janaki Colors Super Yes
2022–Present Mathe Mayamruga Siri Kannada Yes Jointly direct with P. Sheshadri & Nagendra Shaa

Dramas

  • Nammolagobba Naajukayya
  • Baduka Mannisu Prabhuve
  • Asphota

Awards

References

  1. Seetharam, T. N. (24 September 2014). Weekend With Ramesh - Episode 10 - August 31, 2014. India: Zee Kannada.
  2. About Matadaana - the film
  3. Deccan Herald Interview: Serial King Seetharam
  4. "A class apart". Deccan Herald. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
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