Rebel Star Ambarish passed away due to prolonged illness
Bengaluru, November 25:
Veteran film actor turned politician M H Ambareesh, who was popularly known as ‘Rebel Star’ had acted in more than 200 films in Kannada, Malayalam and Telugu launguages.
Ambareesh came to limelight in Kannada film by acting as vilan in popular film Director Puttanna Kanagal directed ‘Nagara Havu’ in which veteran actor late Vishnuvardhan was the hero in 1970. Thereafter he donned acted in many movies but the reballion in him was reflected in film like ‘Anta’ when he shoots down a Minister as a police officer in rage to fight against corruption and nepotism.
The actor was also known as ‘Karna’ for his large hartedness in supporting the Kannada cinema industry and his popularity rose. Belonging to dominent Vokalliga caste and cashing on his popularity, he entered politics by joining Janata Party then led by former Prime Minister H D Devegowda and rose to further prominence in this party being the Lok Sabha member from the community dominated Mandya district.
Thereafter, he joined Congress. He was elected to Lok Sabha and became Union Minister under late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Ambarish was a three time Lok Sabha member from Mandya since 1998 and there after he was elected to State Assembly and was Minister for Housing in the previous Congress government headed by Siddaramaiah who droped him from the cabinet during a reshufle.
The Cauvery conflict had put Ambareesh in the Centre of a major agitation in 2008 and he quit his minister’s post in the Coaliion government in Karnataka. Mr Ambarish had won many awards including Filmfare Lifetime Award for being best actor in ‘Olivania Udugore’, and NTR National Award in 2005.
Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy who was in touch with union defence minister Nirmala Sitaraman had sought a military helicopter to airlift the body to Mandya. The centre had agreed to provide military helicopter to use left the body from Bengaluru.
The death of the Congress leader has come as a shock to the people of Mandya district, where he was affectionately called Mandyada Gandu for many decades.
The district administration has geared up to receive body and made arrangements for the public view today.
The icon of the Kannada film industry was a native of Doddarasinakere, Maddur taluk. Hucche Gowda and Padmamma of Doddarasinakere were his parents.
The legendary violin maestro, T. Chowdaiah, popularly known as ‘Pitilu Chowdaiah’, was his grandfather.
Security has been intensified at different places across the district following his death.