TUMAKURU: Noted Kannada film director Siddalingaiah’s life story could well have been a movie considering the twists and turns it had.
Born to a humble farmer couple Linganna-Gangamma at Taruru village of Kallambella hobli in Sira taluk, Siddalingaiah wanted to achieve something big in life. He left behind the parched land and ran away from home. His parents too had no clue of his whereabouts and presumed him to be dead.
It was after he gave a phenomenal hit Bangarada Manushya (starring Raj Kumar and Bharathi) that the people of the village realised that the successful director was none other their Siddalingaiah. By then, his father too had died. He visited the village and interestingly, got a huge open well dug for his younger brother Basavaraju in his barren land and wished him to become a bangarada manushya (man with a golden heart). Indeed, his brother grew coconut and plantain and settled down there.
Siddalaingaiah had his primary education at the village’s 100-year-old school. The village wanted Siddalaingaiah to grace the school’s centenary celebrations a couple of years ago. But he couldn’t oblige them as he was unwell at the time.
Today, the entire village sat glued to the TV after hearing the news of Siddalingaiah’s demise.