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G.V.
IYER PASSES AWAY
Gem
Of An Era Ends
Report
by - CNB
Date - 21st December 2003
 The
crowning glory of Kannada cinema G.V.Iyer the committed
director of repute at the national and international level
died of kidney infection at Mumbai on Sunday at 6 pm sources
reaching Chitraloka has disclosed. His body will reach
Bangalore at 5.30 am on Monday. For the paying the final
respects his body will be kept at Sri Bharadwaj Ashrama
his residence at Ramohalli on the outskirts of Bangalore.
Iyer had been to Mumbai to complete the dubbing formalities
for his television serial ‘Bana Bhatta’ novel.
Iyer
the barefoot Brahmin the ‘Bhishma’ of Kannada cinema
is undoubtedly the stalwart. He made debut as an actor
from ‘Radharamana’. At the age of eight he came walking
with his father to Nanjangud to join the Gubbi Veeranna
theatre group. After a strong stay in the theatre Iyer
acted in the debut film of Dr.Rajkumar – Bedara Kannappa.
The other films he acted are Mahakavi Kalidasa, Sodhari,
Hemavathi and Hari Bhakta.
 An
orator in Kannada and Sanskrit Iyer acquired the major
distinction in 1975 when he directed ‘Hamsageethe’ (music
by Dr.Balamuralikrishna and B.V.Karanth) the mellifluous
musical film starring Ananthnag that had only 18 minutes
of dialogues has been the root cause for many of the musical
films made later in Indian cinema. Dr.Balamuralikrishna
had lent his voice for all the songs in this film that
was rated high even to this day. Acquiring the position
of team leader, this ring master controlled on all areas
of film making and never left void or shortcomings in
his makings. His commercial films like Dashavathara, Boodhana,
Post Master, Kiladi Ranga, Rajasekhara, Mysore Tanga,
Chowkadha Deepa, Nalegalannu Maduvavaru got him recognition
in commercial arena. Iyer’s still unreleased films are
‘Kudure Motte’ and ‘Wall Poster’. Iyer was responsible
for formulating a film cooperative that made ‘Ranadheera
Kanteerava’.
 After
acquiring the ‘Acharya’ position in 1975 Iyer thoughts,
style of living turned divine. He made remarkable masterpieces
like ‘Adi Shankara’ (1984), the first Sanskrit film. The
pains he took to make this film in the Himalayan terrain
at his old age and the cinematic skill he has used to
give expression to Shankara’s philosophy is legendary.
In Kannada he made ‘Sri Madhwacharya’ in 1986 and ‘Sri
Ramanujacharya’ in 1988 in Tamil. All of them received
national recognition. He is the only one in the country
who had profound knowledge on the Adwaitha, Dwaitha and
Vishistadwaitha philosophy.
With
one after another challenging tasks Iyer never satisfied
his hunger for making films. In Hindi and English he made
‘Swami Vivekananda’ that was produced by Subbarami Reddy.
Victor Banerji and Mithun Chakravarthy figured in key
roles of Vivekananda and Sri Paramahamsa respectively.
Till
his last breath he thought of cinema, breathed cinema
and slept thinking on cinema. For Iyer the quest for making
innovative films was never ending. Highly short tempered
Iyer always used to say that ‘I don’t do either cinema
or television serials for masses and I don’t need their
reaction. I do my work for my satisfaction and for others.
Iyer’s
recent works include the long cherished project of ‘Natyarani
Shanthale’. What was thought as film in 1982 was completed
as 26 episodes as commissioned TV serial for national
network. ‘Sri Krishnaleele’ in Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada
– the ‘Leelas’ as seen by Sri Purandaradasa has also been
completed. Another project ‘Sampoorna Ramayana’ – comparing
Sri Ramayana to that of human body Iyer had done deep
study on this. But fortunately before seeing the light
of this film he has left this world.
For
the departed soul of G.V.Iyer, the eccentric genius Chitraloka
team makes a final salute.
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