Geethapriya, Indian director, Died at 84

  Dead Famous

Lakshman Rao Mohite was born on June 15, 1931, and died on January 17, 2016.

Also known by his pen-name Geethapriya (Kannada: ಗೀತಪ್ರಿಯ).

He was an Indian film director and lyricist of the Kannada film industry.

Geethapriya has directed 40 films and penned over 250 songs in Kannada films.

In 1992–93, Geethapriya was awarded the Puttanna Kanagal Award for his contribution to Kannada cinema as a director.

He began his career in films in 1954 as a lyricist, writing a song for the film, Sri Rama Pooja.

Geethapriya then moved to Madras (now Chennai).

Geethapriya served with Y. V. Rao for the film Bhagya Chakra (1956) by writing dialogues and songs.

Sri Ramanjaneya Yuddha (1963) had hit with songs like “Jagadishanaduva Jagave Natakaranga” and eleven others all whose lyrics were written by Geethapriya.

Then it was followed by “Aadutiruva Modagale” for the film Bettada Huli (1965) and Onde Balliya Hoogalu (1967) for which Mohammed Rafi sang “Neenelli Nadeve Doora”, the only song sung by him for a Kannada film.

The Indian director directed his first film in 1968 with Mannina Maga that had Rajkumar and Kalpana playing the lead roles.

It was awarded at the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada and he won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Screenplay.

The film continued for a hundred days in Bangalore’s Kapali and Bharat theatres.

Geethapriya directed other successful films like Yaava Janmada Maithri, (1972), Beluvalada Madilalli (1975), Besuge (1976), Hombisilu (1978), Putani Agent 123 (1979) and Mouna Geethe (1985).

Geethapriya passed away at 84 yrs old.