Augustine V. Williams at 19:20, 7 February 2026

2026-02-07T19:20:56Z

New page

{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Geethapriya
| image = GeethapriyaImg.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name = Lakshman Rao Mohite
| birth_date = {{Birth date |df=yes|1932|06|15}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{death date and age|2016|1|17|1932|6|15|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]], India
| occupation = Lyricist, writer, film director
| spouse =
}}

'''Lakshman Rao Mohite''' (15 June 1932 – 17 January 2016), better known by his pen-name '''Geethapriya''', was an Indian film director and lyricist of the [[Cinema of Karnataka|Kannada film industry]]. He has directed 40 films and penned over 250 songs in Kannada films.<ref>{{cite news |title= Voice embraces silence , but the song lives on |url= http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/voice-embraces-silence-but-the-song-lives-on/article5896146.ece |newspaper= The Hindu |date= 11 April 2014 |access-date= 4 May 2014}}</ref> In 1992–93, he was awarded the [[Puttanna Kanagal Award]] for his contribution to Kannada cinema as a director.<ref name="sgm" />

== Early life ==
Geethapriya was born as Lakshman Rao Mohite in 1931,<ref name="TH1" /> to Ramarao Mohite and Lakshmibai. His father worked for the cavalry regiment of Mysore State Troops called Mysore Lancers, which was stationed in [[Bangalore]]. Even though his mother tongue was [[Marathi language|Marathi]], he was always interested in the [[Kannada language]] and was admitted to a Kannada-medium school. The poet [[P. T. Narasimhachar]] lived in the same quarters as Geethapriya's family and was a huge influence in the latter's career. He was also inspired by the writings of [[K. Shivaram Karanth]], [[Masti Venkatesh Iyengar]], [[T. R. Subba Rao]] and [[A. N. Krishna Rao]]. He tried his hand in writing from his middle school days and sent his poems and short stories to magazines like ''Thaayinaadu'', ''Ramarajya''.

Following his completion of CA intermediate, Geethapriya took up small writing assignments. He then worked as a clerk in Cubbon Park restaurant, [[Bangalore]] where he received a monthly salary of {{INR}}35. Having had a brief association in theatre, he had the music director [[Vijaya Bhaskar]] and film director M. B. Singh as friends. On Bhaskar's promise of paying him {{INR}}40 a month, Geethapriya entered films as a lyricist in 1954.

Geethapriya suffered from various health issues during the last few years of his life. A combination of various health complications resulted in a heart attack that caused his death on 17 Jan 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/south-masala/Breaking-a-jinx-was-his-speciality/articleshow/50615699.cms |title=Breaking a jinx was his speciality |newspaper=[[Bangalore Mirror]] |date=2016-01-17 |access-date=2016-01-30}}</ref>

==Career==

=== As lyricist ===
Geethapriya started his career in films in 1954 as a lyricist, writing a song for the film, ''Sri Rama Pooja''.<ref name="TH1">{{cite news |title= Eight decades of good taste |url= http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/16/stories/2011061661140200.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110621011310/http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/16/stories/2011061661140200.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 21 June 2011 |date= 16 June 2011 |newspaper= [[The Hindu]] |access-date= 4 May 2014}}</ref> He then moved to [[Madras]] (now Chennai). He worked with [[Yaragudipati Varada Rao|Y. V. Rao]] for the film ''Bhagya Chakra'' (1956) by writing dialogues and songs. ''Sri Ramanjaneya Yuddha'' (1963) became hit with songs like "Jagadishanaduva Jagave Natakaranga" and eleven others all whose lyrics were written by Geethapriya. This was followed by "Aadutiruva Modagale" for the film ''Bettada Huli'' (1965) and ''Onde Balliya Hoogalu'' (1967) for which [[Mohammed Rafi]] sang "Neenelli Nadeve Doora", the only song sung by him for a [[Cinema of Karnataka|Kannada film]].

=== As director ===
Geethapriya directed his first film in 1968 with ''[[Mannina Maga]]'' that had [[Dr. Rajkumar|Rajkumar]] and [[Kalpana (Kannada actress)|Kalpana]] playing the lead roles. It was awarded the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/16th_nff_1970.pdf|title=16th National Film Awards|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]|access-date=4 May 2014|page=2}}</ref> and he won the [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Screenplay]]. The film ran for a hundred days in Bangalore's Kapali and Bharat theatres.

He directed other successful films like ''Yaava Janmada Maithri'', (1972), ''Beluvalada Madilalli'' (1975), ''[[Besuge]]'' (1976), ''[[Hombisilu]]'' (1978), ''[[Putani Agent 123]]'' (1979) and ''Mouna Geethe'' (1985). Having directed 40 films during his career, he was awarded the [[Puttanna Kanagal Award]] for expertise in direction.<ref name="sgm">{{cite web |title= SR Puttanna Kanagal Awards! |url= http://www.supergoodmovies.com/13424/sandalwood/sr-puttanna-kanagal-awards-exclusives-details |website= supergoodmovies.com |date= 28 February 2011 |access-date= 4 May 2014 |url-status= usurped |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140822203138/http://www.supergoodmovies.com/13424/sandalwood/sr-puttanna-kanagal-awards-exclusives-details |archive-date= 22 August 2014 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> He also directed three [[Tulu language]] films and one Hindi film, ''Anmol Sitaare''.

==Filmography==

===Direction===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:35px;"| Year
! rowspan="2" style="width:200px;"| Film
! colspan="2" style="width:195px;"| Credited as
! rowspan="2" style="text-align:center; width:80px;"| Language
! rowspan="2" style="text-align:center; width:350px;" class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
! style="width:65px;" | Director
! width=65 | Writer
|-
| 1968 || ''[[Mannina Maga]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada || [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada]]
|-
| 1969 || ''[[Kadina Rahasya]]'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1969 || ''[[Maduve Maduve Maduve]]'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Bhoopathi Ranga]]'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Kalyani (1971 film)|Kalyani]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Nari Munidare Mari]]'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Yaava Janmada Maitri]]'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Jeevana Jokali]]'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1975 || ''[[Beluvalada Madilalli]]'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1976 || ''[[Besuge]]'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1978 || ''[[Hombisilu]]'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1978 || ''Anuraga Bandhana'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1978 || ''Premayana'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1979 || ''[[Putani Agent 123]]'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1980 || ''Prema Jwala'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1981 || ''Prachanda Putanigalu'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1981 || ''Baalu Bangara'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1981 || ''[[Preetisi Nodu]]'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1982 || ''Jodi Jeeva'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Suvarna Sethuve]]'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1982 || ''Anmol Sitaare'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || [[Hindi language|Hindi]] ||
|-
| 1983 || ''Manege Banda Mahalakshmi'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1984 || ''Shubha Muhurtha'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1986 || ''Mouna Geethe'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Manasa Veene]]'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1988 || ''Baalondu Baavageethe'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 1991 || ''Durgashtami'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|-
| 2003 || ''Shravana Sambhrama'' ||style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Kannada ||
|}

== Lyrics ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Song
! Movie name
! Year
|-
| Jagadishanaduva Jagave Natakaranga || Sriramanjaneya Yuddam || 1963
|-
| Hanumana Prana Prabho Raghurama || Sriramanjaneya Yuddam || 1963
|-
| Aduthiruva Modagale || Bettada Huli || 1965
|-
| Anna Ninna Sodhariyanna || Onde Balliya Hoogalu || 1967
|-
| Neenelli Nadeva Doora(Sung by Mohammed Rafi) || Onde Balliya Hoogalu || 1967
|-
| Bhagavantha Kai Kotta Dudiyokantha || Mannina Maga || 1968
|-
| Idhena Sabyathe Idhena Samskrithi || Mannina Maga || 1968
|-
| Nagutha Hadale Alutha Hadale|| Uyyale || 1969
|-
| Manava Nagarika Manava || Boopathi Ranga || 1970
|-
| Veena Ninageko Yee Kampana || Kalyani || 1971
|-
| Modake Sikkithu Andha Andha || Kalyani || 1971
|-
| Matheya Mamatheya Roopugale || Naari Munidhare Maari || 1972
|-
| Nammurange Nanobne Jaana || Naari Munidhare Maari || 1972
|-
| Gopilola Hey Gopala || Naari Munidhare Maari || 1972
|-
| Nade Nade Nade Manave || Hrudaya Sangama || 1972
|-
| Belavaladha Madilalli Bevara Hani Biddaga || Beluvaladha Madilalli || 1975
|-
| Ellaran Kayo Devre Neenu Elli Kunthiddhe || Beluvaladha Madilalli || 1975
|-
| Mutthu Malegaagi Hoththu Kadidhe || Beluvaladha Madilalli || 1975
|-
| Gudiyaliruva Shilegalla Devaranthe || Makkala Bhagya || 1976
|-
| Besuge Besuge Jeevanavella(Besuge word 64 times used in this song) || Besuge || 1976
|-
| Jeeva Veene Needu Midithadha Sangeetha || Hombisilu || 1978
|-
| Hoovinda Hoovige Haruva Dhumbi || Hombisilu || 1978
|-
| "Premavide Manedha Nagutha" || ''[[Antha (1981 film)|Antha]]'' || 1981
|-
| Balli Hoovigaasare || Preetisi Nodu || 1981
|-
| Duddu Idhre Jagavella || Sidideddha Sahodhara || 1983
|-
|Love Me Ennuva Vayassu || Asha || 1983
|-
|Naguva Hoova neenu || Mouna Geetha || 1986
|-
|Aasegala Lokadali || Kavya || 1995
|}

==Awards==
* 1968 – [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada]] – ''[[Mannina Maga]]''
* [[Puttanna Kanagal Award]] from Karnataka Government
* 2012 – [[B. Sarojadevi|Saroja Devi Award]]<ref>{{cite news |title= Saroja Devi Award for Geethapriya |url= http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article544387.ece |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140503123420/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article544387.ece |url-status= dead |archive-date= 3 May 2014 |newspaper= The New Indian Express |date= 17 June 2012}}</ref>
* 2012 – Sandesha Award<ref>{{cite news |title= Geethapriya, Padre to get Sandesha Award |url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/geethapriya-padre-to-get-sandesha-award/article2902967.ece |newspaper= The Hindu |date= 17 February 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|5724683}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Kannada-language lyricists]]
[[Category:Kannada film directors]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:Kannada-language writers]]
[[Category:Film directors from Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Indian lyricists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Bengaluru]]

Geethapriya - Revision history

Augustine V. Williams at 19:20, 7 February 2026