BENGALURU: Kannada filmmaker Kikkeri Shamanna Lakshminarayana Swamy passed away at his residence in the early hours of Tuesday. The 77-year-old veteran was undergoing treatment for a respiratory problem at a private hospital for over a month. He is survived by his wife and actor B V Radha and daughter Dhanalakshmi.
A National Award and Padma Bhushan awardee, Swamy started his journey in films as an assistant director to well known filmmakers like G V Iyer and M R Vittal. He turned an independent director in 1966 with the Kannada film Toogudeepa. Lagna Pathrike, Huli Hejje, Driver Hanumantha, Kulla Agent 000, Devara Duddu, Mitheya Seetheyaru, Malaya Marutha are some of his popular films. Swamy was a good singer and the song Ille Swarga Ille Naraka from the film, Nagarahole is still remembered. He has also acted in about hundred films over a span of five decades.