Mysore Srikantayya Umesh, popularly known as M. S. Umesh or simply Umesh, is an Indian actor whose Kannada cinema career has spanned SEVEN decades. After having featured in several stage shows as an actor in his childhood, he was roped in for the lead character in the film Makkala Rajya. Since then, he has acted in over 350 feature films renowned for his unique dialogue delivery, facial expressions and comedy timing.
Early life and family
Umesh was born on 24 April 1945 to A. L. Srikantayya and Nanjamma. His basic schooling was in Mysore where he was drawn towards theater and stage performances. At the age of 4, he joined the popular theater troupe run by K. Hirannaiah. Soon he joined the more famous Gubbi Veeranna's company and performed various roles as a child artist. It was in one of such stage plays that the then assistant directorPuttanna Kanagal noticed him and recommended his name to B. R. Panthulu's next film. Umesh's first appearance as an actor on the silver screen was with Makkala Rajya in 1960 directed by veteran actor-director B. R. Panthulu for his Padmini films banner. This was also the second film produced by M. V. Rajamma. This film also featured veteran Tamil actorSivaji Ganesan in a cameo role.
Career
Post the superhit debut film, Umesh who was 15, could no longer feature in child roles and adult roles either. He moved back to stage shows and took up jobs which included some back stage labor works. He struggled to find himself a good role in drama plays too. It was then that Puttanna Kanagal again came to his rescue and cast him in his anthology filmKatha Sangama. His portrayal as "Thimmarayi" in the Munithaayi episode featuring Rajinikanth and Aarathi fetched him multiple laurels including the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. Starting from here, Umesh was cast in a series of films from 1980's through 2000's. Some of his best remembered films include Nagara Hole, Guru Shishyaru, Anupama, Kaamana Billu, Apoorva Sangama, Shruthi Seridaaga, Shravana Banthu, Malaya Marutha, Golmaal Radhakrishna, Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare, Venkata in Sankata to name a few. Umesh's comedy role as "Sithapathi" in the 1990 comedy film, Golmaal Radhakrishna starring Ananth Nag in the lead is considered one of the best comedy roles in Kannada cinema. His catchy dialogue "Apaartha Madkondbitro Eno" is widely acclaimed among the masses. His role as an old toothless widow grandmother in Ramesh Aravind's directorial Venkata in Sankata was also widely appreciated.
