MonteZaleski33 at 06:22, 25 April 2026

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{{Short description|Indian (Kannada-cinema) cinematographer, and director (1950-2004)}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = B. C. Gowrishankar
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1950|02|26}}
| birth_place = Bangalore, [[Mysore State]] (now [[Karnataka]]), India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2004|11|16|1950|02|26}}
| death_place = Bangalore, India
| other_names =
| occupation = Cinematographer, film director, screenwriter
| known_for =
| years_active= 1977–2004
| spouse = Mamatha Rao
| children = [[Rakshita]]
}}

'''B. C. Gowrishankar''' (25 February 1950 – 16 November 2004) was an Indian [[cinematographer]] and occasional film director and screenwriter who worked primarily in [[Cinema of Karnataka|Kannada cinema]]. He was known for his unorthodox style as a cinematographer and was recognised for his work in both art and commercial films.<ref>{{cite web |title=B.C. Gowrishankar dead |url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/11/17/stories/2004111717030300.htm |website=The Hindu |access-date=23 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050207222012/http://www.hindu.com/2004/11/17/stories/2004111717030300.htm |archive-date=7 February 2005 |date=17 November 2004 |url-status=live }}</ref> Gowrishankar won six [[Karnataka State Film Awards]] during his career as a cinematographer.<ref name="DH">{{cite news |title= Camera was his magic wand |url= http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/dec052004/enter1.asp |newspaper= Deccan Herald |date= 5 December 2004 |accessdate= 30 March 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160113032624/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/dec052004/enter1.asp |archive-date= 13 January 2016 |url-status= dead }}</ref> In 1988 he directed the fairly successful ''[[Elu Suttina Kote]]'' with [[Ambareesh]], [[Gautami]] and a young [[Ramesh Aravind]].

==Personal life==
=== Early life ===
Gowrishankar was born on 26 February 1950 to B. Channabasappa and Shashimukhi in Bangalore. He received the Diploma in Cinematography from Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic and worked in the [[Kanteerava Studios]], Bangalore for some time.

===Married life===
Gowrishankar married Mamatha Rao, a Kannada actress who acted in movies like Hosa Belaku, Praaya Praaya Praaya and Antharala.
His daughter [[Rakshita]] was a popular actress during the 2000s.

== Career ==
Gowrishankar debuted as a cinematographer in the 1977 [[Kannada language]] film ''Anuroopa''. Along with ''Anuroopa'', his work in 1970s films like ''Spandana'' (1978) and ''Arivu'' (1979) won his critical acclaim.<ref name="DH" />

In the 1995 critically acclaimed mafia film ''[[Om (Kannada film)|Om]]'' (1995), he used filters to capture the mood of the underworld. His work in ''[[Pushpaka Vimana (1987 film)|Pushpaka Vimana]]'' (1987) and ''[[Mungarina Minchu]]'' (1998) was appreciated. In the 1996 film ''[[Janumada Jodi]]'', he picturised the song "Mani Mani Manigondu Daara" on [[Shivarajkumar]], [[Chippy (actress)|Shilpa]] and Pavithra Lokesh with the sunset in the backdrop, for nine days, as the sunset would last only for a few minutes. The song "Deepavu Ninnade Gaaliyu Ninnade" from the film ''Mysore Mallige'' (1992) was picturised by him on [[Sudharani]] in the light of one small lamp. His work in the film won him his fifth [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Cinematographer|State Film Award]].

== Death ==
In November 2004, Gowrishankar died at a private clinic, where he had been admitted with lung and liver problems three days ago.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2004-11-17 |title=Award winning cameraman Gowrishankar passes away |url=https://indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/gecs/award-winning-cameraman-gowrishankar-passes-away-041117 |access-date=2025-10-06 |website=indiantelevision.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Awards ==
* [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Cinematographer]]
** ''Spandana'' (1977–78)
** ''Arivu'' (1979–80)
** ''[[Minchina Ota (1980 film)|Minchina Ota]]'' (1979–80)
** ''[[Dhruva Thare]]'' (1985–86)
** ''[[Mysore Mallige (film)|Mysore Mallige]]'' (1991–92)
** ''[[Om (Kannada film)|Om]]'' (1995–96)

==Filmography==
===As cinematographer ===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* ''Anuroopa'' (1977)
* ''Huli Banthu Huli'' (1978)
* ''Aparichitha'' (1978)
* ''Spandana'' (1978)
* ''Khandavideko Mamsavideko'' (1979)
* ''Madhu Chandra'' (1979)
* ''Ene Barali Preethi Irali'' (1979)
* ''Arivu'' (1979)
* ''[[Minchina Ota (1980 film)|Minchina Ota]]'' (1980)
* ''Prema Anuraga'' (1980)
* ''Doddamane Estate'' (1980)
* ''[[Janma Janmada Anubandha]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Gaali Maathu]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Geetha (1981 film)|Geetha]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Muniyana Madari]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Aalemane]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Hosa Belaku]]'' (1982)
* ''Amara Madhura Prema'' (1982)
* ''[[Nanna Devaru]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Chalisuva Modagalu]]'' (1982)
* ''Antharala'' (1982)
* ''Betthale Seve'' (1982)
* ''[[Kaamana Billu]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Gayathri Maduve]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Eradu Nakshatragalu]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Samayada Gombe]]'' (1984)
* ''Prema Sakshi'' (1984)
* ''[[Ramapurada Ravana]]'' (1984)
* ''Shrungara Masa'' (1984)
* ''Marali Goodige'' (1984)
* ''[[Apoorva Sangama]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Bettada Hoovu]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Jwaalamukhi]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Dhruva Thare]]'' (1985)
* ''Bangalore Rathriyalli'' (1985)
* ''[[Anand (1986 film)|Anand]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Ondu Muttina Kathe]]'' (1987)
* ''Vijayotsava'' (1987)
* ''[[Manamecchida Hudugi]]'' (1987)
* ''Kendada Male'' (1987)
* ''[[Pushpaka Vimana (1987 film)|Pushpaka Vimana]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Elu Suttina Kote]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Ade Raaga Ade Haadu]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Aasegobba Meesegobba]]'' (1990)
* ''Kadina Veera'' (1990)
* ''[[Michael Madana Kama Rajan]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Aata Bombata]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Hrudaya Haadithu]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Gandu Sidigundu]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Kalyana Mantapa]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Mysore Mallige (film)|Mysore Mallige]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Belliyappa Bangarappa]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Mannina Doni]]'' (1992)
* ''Angaili Apsare'' (1993)
* ''Urvashi Kalyana'' (1993)
* ''[[Chinnari Mutha]]'' (1993)
* ''Roopayi Raja'' (1993)
* ''[[Odahuttidavaru]]'' (1994)
* ''Sagara Deepa'' (1994)
* ''[[Om (Kannada film)|Om]]'' (1995)
* ''Police Power''(1995)
* ''Soothradhara'' (1996)
* ''[[Janumada Jodi]]'' (1996)
* ''Chikka'' (1997)
* ''[[Mungarina Minchu]]'' (1997)
* ''Vimochane'' (1997)
* ''[[Swasthik]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Bhoomi Thayiya Chochchala Maga]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Janumadatha]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Tuvvi Tuvvi Tuvvi]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Hrudaya Hrudaya]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Aryabhata (film)|Aryabhata]]'' (1999)
* ''Mahatma'' (2000)
* ''[[Krishna Leele]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu]]'' (2001)
* ''Premi No.1'' (2001)
* ''[[Kothigalu Saar Kothigalu]]'' (2001)
* ''Love Lavike'' (2002)
* ''[[Prema (2002 film)|Prema]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Singaaravva]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Chigurida Kanasu]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Kanchana Ganga (2004 film)|Kanchana Ganga]]'' (2004)
{{div col end|3}}

===As director===
* ''Kendada Mele'' (1987)
* ''[[Elu Suttina Kote]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Aata Bombata]]'' (1990)

===As screenwriter===
* ''[[Elu Suttina Kote]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Aata Bombata]]'' (1990)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|1389583}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gowrishankar, B. C.}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:Cinematographers from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Kannada film cinematographers]]
[[Category:Indian male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Film directors from Bengaluru]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian screenwriters]]
[[Category:Karnataka State Film Award winners]]

B. C. Gowrishankar - Revision history

MonteZaleski33 at 06:22, 25 April 2026