K. S. L. Swamy, Indian film director and singer, Died at 77

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Kikkeri Shamanna Lakshminarasimha Swamy was born in 1938, and passed away on October 20, 2015.

Popularly known as K. S. L. Swamy / Lalitha Ravee / Ravee, was an Indian film director, producer, actor and playback singer.

He entered the cinema at an early age as an assistant to popular directors of the time such as G. V. Iyer and M. R. Vittal.

Kikkeri debuted as an independent film director with the 1966 film, Thoogudeepa.

His other films such as Gandhinagara (1968) and Bhagya Jyothi (1975) and Malaya Marutha (1986) proved successful.

Kikkeri 1989 film Jamboo Savari won the National Film Award for Best Children’s Film at the 37th National Film Awards.

Kikkeri was a close associate of director Puttanna Kanagal, and completed two of his films – Masanada Hoovu (1984) and the long delayed Saavira Mettilu that released in 2006, following the latter’s death.

Recognizing his contribution to cinema, Swamy was awarded the Padma Bhushan Dr. B. Saroja Devi National Award in 2013.

Kikkeri is married to B. V. Radha, a former actress.

He was also an adept singer well known for the song “Suryangu Chandrangu” from the movie Shubhamangala and “Ille Swarga Ille Naraka” from the movie Naagara Hole.

Kikkeri died on 20 October 2015 due to breathing complications in Bangalore.