L.V. Sharada, 78, veteran actor of parallel cinema in Kannada, passed away on Thursday. She was suffering from cancer and breathed her last at Shankara Hospital in the city at 7.30 a.m., according to family sources.

Ms. Sharada is survived by her sister and brother. The final rites were held at the Banashankari crematorium in the evening.

She was best known for her titular role in the 1983 Phaniyamma, directed by Prema Karanth. The film, a sensitive portrayal of a young widow, was based on an eponymous novel by M.K. Indira published in 1977, which went on to win many awards.

Ms. Sharada’s debut film was Vamsha Vriksha, which won the national award. She shared screen space in the film with Girish Karnad, Vishnuvardhan, and Chandrashekar. The film, released in 1972, was directed by B.V. Karanth and Girish Karnad.

Through her characters in Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu, Vatsakta Patha, Kankana, Maithri, Hemavathi, Madhvacharya, Adi Shankaracharya, and Nakkala Rajakumari, she etched an indelible impression on the minds of the audience. She acted with Rajinikanth in Ondu Premada Kathe. Ms. Sharada had also directed a few documentary films.

Her passion for acting did not wane even when she was ailing.

Paying tributes, film-maker P. Sheshadri recounted how he had thought of Ms. Sharada for his Mookajjiya Kanasugalu. He spoke and took her photo and asked whether she could become his “Mookajji”. Citing her illness, Ms. Sharada told him that had he shot the film in Bengaluru, she would have accepted the offer.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – March 22nd, 2019