Bollywood Actors: Ambareesh

Malavallii Huche Gowda Amarnath (Ambareesh) or M.H.Amarnath (Ambaresh) (Kannada:ಅಂಬರೀಶ್) (known as Rebel-Star and Mandyada Gandu ಕನ್ನಡ: ಮಂಡ್ಯದ ಗಂಡು) born 29 May 1952[1] at Maddur Taluk in Mandya District of Karnataka State is a Kannada film actor. He is also a prominent politician from Karnataka state.
Ambareesh was born in Doddarasinakere village near K M Doddi of Mandya district in Karnataka. His grandfather was the legendary violinist Tirumakudalu Chowdiah {the famous Chowdiah memorial hall and Choudayya Rd.in Bangalore are named after him.}. He was the 6th of 7 children and the youngest among the brothers. Born as Amarnath and his father, Mysore Huche Gowda, was a gentle and generous person. Ambareesh's childhood was very much under his famous, musician , and maternal grandfather's shadow. Theirs was a large joint family in Mysore and that’s where he started his formal studies.

Film career

In the golden era of Kannada movies, the 70s, Puttanna Kanagal was the name that spelled magic in the Kannada film industry. A maker of several big hits, he was respected by critics as well as the masses. He was known as a man who could even make a stone emote. In 1971, Puttanna was hunting for new faces to cast in his new movie "Nagara Havu and Ambareesh's good friend, Sangram suggested his name for a screen test much against his wishes. When the day of the screen test dawned, Ambareesh went into hiding and poor Sangram was left desperately hunting for him.

When he finally managed to locate him, he had to literally drag him to the studios [the famous Premier studios in Mysore]. The enigmatic director took one look at him and asked him go put on his make-up and get ready for his test. Ambi was so sure that he would flunk in this test.He was tested for a small but powerful part of an eve-teasing college boy and he was okayed for the part. The film also introduced Vishnuvardhan another future super star as the hero, went on to create history in the Karnataka movie industry. Ambareesh, though playing a small role named "Jaleel", his famous dialogue was "bul bul matadakkilwa" garnered a lot of attention and the Kannada film industry got a new young villain. He played the same role when the film was remade in Hindi as Zehereela Insaan.

Ambareesh became a hero with a film titled "Amarnath". Introduced as Hero by V.K.Ramesh (Art Director). But his first success as a hero in a film directed by his close friend Rajendra Singh Babu. The year was 1980 and the film was Antha, a record-breaking hit. The movie was remade into Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. He played a famous role called "Kanwar Lal", his famous dialogue was "Kutte, Kanwar nahi, Kanwar Lal bolo".

Ambareesh has acted in about 208 films, including Puttanna Kanagal movies like Paduvara Halli Panddavaru, Shuba Mangala and Ranganayaki.As in 2010, Ambareesh had acted in most films as lead actor in Kannada films surpassing superstar Dr. Raj Kumar's record of 206 films as lead actor.Another superstar Dr.Vishnuvardhan, one of his best friends in the Kannada film industry, is another actor to act in 200 films as lead actor.

Ambareesh played in many films as the angry young man of the 1980s, and several films were tailor-made accordingly. The earliest of them was the political satire "Antha" (1981), directed by Mr. Rajendra Singh Babu and remade into Hindi and Tamil. This controversial film was the first in India to depict politicians and government officials as corrput and villainous. Chakravyuha and "New Delhi" were made on the same lines, the first remade into Hindi as "Inqulaab", starring Amitabh Bachchan and the second a remake of the Malayalam hit of the same name. His other notable films include Ranganayaki, Tony, Rani Maharani, Olavina Udugore, Hrudaya Haaditu, Hongkongnalli Agent Amar, Mannina Doni and Oda Huttidavaru. His performance in "Masanada Hoovu", "Elu Suttina Kote" and the Malayalam film "Gaanam" were critically acclaimed. He also acted with legend Dr. Rajkumar. He is well known as 'Mandyada Gandu', Kaliyuga Karna(for his generosity), Rebel Star. He has also been awarded the State award, NTR Award by Andhra Pradesh Government and Film Fare Award{lifetime achievement award}.He was the first kannada actor who honoured to inaugurate Mysore Dasara festival from govt of karnataka.

Political career

Ambareesh was elected to the 12th Lok Sabha from Mandya Parliamentary Constituency as member of the Janata Dal. He later joined the Indian National Congress and has since continued to represent the same Mandya Lok Sabha constituency for two more terms. He was minister of state for Information and Broadcasting in the 14th Lok Sabha, but resigned over his dissatisfaction with the Cauvery Dispute Tribunal award, though the resignation was not formally accepted. He was defeated in the May 2009 General Elections.

During the course of his public life, he has held the following positions:

Member, 12th Lok Sabha: 1998-1999

Member, 13th Lok Sabha: 1999-2004

Member, 14th Lok Sabha: 2004-2009

Minister of State, in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, from 24 October 2006 to 2008.

Resigned as the Minister of state in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, protesting against the injustice done to Karnataka by Kaveri dispute tribunal in 2008.

Minister in UPA

M.H. Ambareesh joined the cabinet of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting. He took the oath on 24 October 2006. He however resigned from the Union Council of Ministers over the cauvery issue on 15 February 2007.