Shashank | |
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Born |
Taalya, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India |
24 June 1972
Occupation | Film director, screenwriter, lyricist |
Years active | 2007–present |
Shashank (born 24 June 1972) is an Indian film director, screenwriter and lyricist who works in Kannada cinema. He made his debut as a director with the 2007 film Sixer. His second directorial Moggina Manasu (2008) received critical acclaim for its screenplay and its coming-of-age theme. He went on to direct other successful films in the romance genre such as Krishnan Love Story (2010) and Krishna-Leela (2015). He is also credited to have introduced actors Yash and Radhika Pandit who went on to become successful actors in Kannada cinema.
Shashank was born in a small village called Thaalya, in Chitradurga district, Karnataka. He is the third child of his parent’s Hanumanthappa and Lakkamma, his father was a small farmer. However he was later adopted by his maternal uncle and aunt, Chandrashekarappa and Shantamma. Since Chandrashekarappa worked in VISL, Bhadravati, Shashank completed his matriculation in Bhadravati. Later he did his diploma in civil engineering (1988–91) in Chikmagalur. His birth name was Umesh B.H. which he later changed to Shashank at his mentor Hamsalekha’s insistence.
He is married to Smt. Veena H.M and has two daughters, Chaitra and Khushi.
Though Shashank had an engineering certificate, his passion, aspiration and dream was always on the paths of camera, lights and action. He took up a job in Bangalore as a site engineer, the sole intention of getting into the film industry. After a heavy turmoil of attempting for nearly two years, he became an assistant to S.Mahendar, in the film "Taayi illada tavaru" (1994). The journey continued for next 9 movies. Here he met legendary music director Hamsalekha and learned the tricks of screenplay constructions and musical narration. And after 13 years of patient Endeavour, he became an independent director with the movie SIXER (2007), which was produced by the great Ramoji rao and music was composed by Hamsalekha.
Apart from writing story, screenplay and dialogues for films, he has also penned the lyrics for Hudugigaagi, Giri, Ok sir ok, Yeshwant, Baa baaro Rasika, Moggina Manasu, Krishnan Love Story, Lucky and Jaraasandha. Songs like Moggina manasali, I Love You (Moggina Manasu), Mosa madalende (Krishnan Love Story), Neerige baare channi, Avarivara jothe serade (Jaraasandha) are among the list of evergreen songs.