About Us

Mr Katte Ramachandra

- Cine Director, Actor, Producer, State & National Awardee

Notable Achievements:

He is the chairperson of Benaka Makkala Nataka Kendra founded by legend Shri. B.V.Karanth and Shrimathi. Prema Karanth
Founder of SRI HARI CHITRALAYA
Started his theatre career in 1967 as director and actor
So far (till 2018), Katte Ramachandra has produced and directed more than 40 major plays, acted in 70 plays
Was a special invitee for Moscow Film Festival 1982
Made two documentaries along with B.V.Karanth
Worked as co-director for four feature films
Started a theatre workshop for children - Benaka Makkala Nataka Kendra & continuing till date
The jury on board for Indian Panorama, October 2012
Invited as Special Delegate for 43rd International Film Festival, Goa in November 2012
Till date, conducting workshops for children's across schools in Bengaluru and later post-workshop sessions, 3 shows are conducted in the auditorium to boost children's confidence. This is an annual workshop from BENAKA. This is the 42nd year of the Benaka Children's Theatre Workshop.

Filmography:

1967 - Started theatre career as director and actor.

1968 to 1969 - So far (till 2010), produced and directed more than 30 major plays, acted in 60 plays.

1970 - Made a Radio Play. Scripted, acted, directed and produced first-ever ticketed public play based on a published novel at National High School, Bangalore.

1971 - Worked for children theatre. Government of Karnataka adjudged Best Director twice. Directed Chandrakant Kusnur’s “Kanasu” in the director’s version and playwright’s version separately and staged.

1972 - Joined Aseema, a talented creative directors group. Made 6 short films.

1973 - Directed “Shantatha Court Chalu Hai” and “Vultures” Marathi plays of Playwright Tendulkar in Kannada and performed all over Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Associated with Dr M.N.Srinivas of Bangalore Little Theatre (BLT) an English theatre troupe.

1974 to 1979 - Took up film acting under internationally acclaimed director Laxminarayan. Since then, acted in 36 films 6 of which are National Award films and one of them being Hindi film “Godhooli” directed by Girish Karnad and B.V.Karanth. Worked and acted in first cinemascope black and white Kannada film “Ondu Premada Kathe” alongside Rajanikant. Acting till date.

1980 - Directed first Kannada Film “Arivu”, won State and National Award for Best Direction. Directed Marathi Playwright Anil Barve’s “Thank you Mr Glad” in Kannada and staged all over Karnataka. Worked with B.V.Karanth for “Light and Sound at Sabaramathi Ashram”. Had an opportunity to work with Pt. Bhimsen Joshi and Kumar Gandharva. Was nominated “Committee Member” on International Children Films Festival, 1980.

1981 - Associated with Prema Karanth in NCERT, New Delhi sponsored Theatre Workshop in Bangalore for all school teachers throughout Karnataka.

1982 - Was a special invitee for the Moscow Film Festival 1982. Made two documentaries along with B.V.Karanth. Worked as co-director for four feature films.Started a theatre workshop for children. Continuing to date.

1983 - Made three short films on Family Planning for Madhya Pradesh Government.

1984 - “What a Life!” film on Family Planning for Doordarshan, Bangalore.

1985 - 5 short films for SERB, International organization on Health which was dubbed in all major Indian languages and English, beamed on European TV Channels.

1986 to 1987 - Directed five Varadachar plays for veteran theatre artistes of Bangalore which are video-graphed. Adopted Anton Chekov’s short story “Bet” and directed in Kannada for stage and received the best award. Translated Iansco’s play “Lesson” to Kannada.

1988 - Directed the technically best super hit Kannada serial “Alegalu” for Bangalore Doordarshan.

1989 - “Alegalu” was telecast on Mumbai Channel II. Scripted and made “Kendada Male” Kannada feature film with B.C.Gowrishankar, renowned cameraman.

1990 - Directed popular Kannada Serial “Nagelesu” for Doordarshan with leading Kannada cine stars.

1991 - Directed “Shodash” (“Adolescent”) for World Bank, dubbed into all major Indian Languages and English, telecast in Italy. The feature film “Jagruthi” with leading stars.

1992 - Directed a first of its kind serial “Shrungara Taranga” using popular Kannada poems by leading poets for Bangalore Doordarshan. Directed “Chavundaraya” dance ballet during Mahamastakabhisheka at Shravana Belagola.

1993 - Produced and directed Kannada feature film “Vyshakhada Dinagalu” with Vishnuvardhan and Moon Moon Sen in lead roles

1994 - Directed “Jagruthi” serial on consumer awareness for Deccan Herald Group.

1995 - Directed “Nanna Aseya Hoove” best short film on aids for Doordarshan Bangalore.

1996 - Directed “Aidu Dashakagala Karnataka” a 4 episode serial on the occasion of 50 Years of Indian Independence for Doordarshan.

1997 - Directed “Samrat Ashoka” a historical serial for Doordarshan. Directed Hindi serial “Kanthapura” based on a novel of the same name written by internationally famous Indian Writer in English Raja Rao.

1998 - Directed and produced “Jagruthi”, a one-hour feature film on Hindu Joint Family for Films Division.

1999 - Directed “Katha Sagara”, adjudged best serial, based on short stories by famous female writers for Udaya T.V

2000 - Katha Sagara received “Sandesha Award 2000”.

2001 - Made Kannada feature film “Mahalakshmi”, an Abhinaya Sharade Jayanthi, Ramesh, Shruthi, Kumar Govind starrer. Mahalakshmi received an award for best music.

2002 - Directed "Tanu Ninnadu Mana Ninnadu" Mega Serial for Udaya T.V.

2003 - Received “Dhruva” Prashasti for Cinema and Theatre achievement. Written Hindi film script titled “[email protected]” and English film script “Adolescence”

2004 - Written Kannada film scripts titled “Dharmecha Arthecha Kamecha”, “Makkala School Manelalve” and “Super Star”.

2005 - Received “Manappa” Prashasti for achievement in Kannada Films and theatre.

2006 - Directed a short film based on “Big Thug and Small Thug” a one-line story by Dr.A.K.Ramanujam under Indian Classics for Doordarshan, Bangalore. Was Jury on Board for 53rd National Film Awards, 2005-2006. Organised two production-oriented workshops for children.

2007 - Musical Albums on Dasa Padas, pops, children songs in Kannada, Hindi and English.

Was jury on board for 53rd national film awards, 2006-2007

2008 - Scripted and anchored “Nagona Swami Nagona” a serial on popular cine personalities for Bangalore Doordarshan

2009 - Acted in films and TV serials.

2010 - Acted in films and serials. Written script for a Sanskrit Movie. Directed a play “Samsara Nowke”, the first social play (which was made a film earlier in 1952-53 film) for Bangalore Doordarshan. A jury on Board for Indian Panorama, September 2010. Invited as Special Delegate for 41st International Film Festival, Goa in November 2010.

2011 - Participated in (special Invite) The Open International University for Complementary Medicines, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 2011. Collections of Short Stories in English titled SHODASH released in FEB 2011. Conducted a theatre workshop for school children’s and staged a play on 18th May 2011, and planning to tour through India from the next Year 2012. One more short story FAITH released in February 2012 in India. Conducted a theatre workshop for school children’s and staged a play on 15th June 2012, and toured throughout Karnataka.

2012 - A jury on Board for Indian Panorama, October 2012. Invited as Special Delegate for 43rd International Film Festival, Goa in November 2012.

2013 - Workshop for children and scripting for a children film.

2014 - Workshop for children and scripting for a children film.

2015 - A children film in Hindi and English will be on set in the month of November/December and will be released in the month of April 2016.

2016 to 2020 - Till date, conducting workshops for children's across schools in Bengaluru and later post-workshop sessions, 3 shows are conducted in the auditorium to boost children's confidence. This is an annual workshop from BENAKA. This is the 42nd year of the Benaka Children's Theatre Workshop.

Working on a multilingual feature film in English, Sanskrit, Hindi, Kannada languages.