Book Review #82: Nanna Thamma Shankara By Ananth Nag

Title: Nanna Thamma Shankara

Author: Ananth Nag

Publishers: Total Kannada

Genre: Memoir/Biography

Pages: 180+ (Paperbound)

Source: Personal Copy

As a Kannadiga, I am a huge fan of Actor/Director/Theatre Personality Shankar Nag. A man who has achieved so much in such a short span of time is something remarkable. Acted in more than 80 movies in just 12 years. Directed many award winning films. First person to shoot a film in underwater in India. Man who directed the evergreen television serial ‘Malgudi Days’ and performer of hundreds of plays and a great visionary. Words are short to describe Shankar Nag. He is one of those amazing personalities in the Indian cinema that left this world at a young age of 36 in a tragic accident.

Ananth Nag, another legend in the Kannada film industry and more than that, the elder brother of Shankar Nag decides to write this book, a kind of dual biography where he describes his life and upbringing along with Shankar Nag. Surely, this is a riveting account. We get to read the early childhood days of Ananth Nag and Shankar Nag. The way they brought themselves in the film industry is something unthinkable.

Ananth begins his book by writing about his parents and his siblings, especially Shankar Nag. The Ananda Ashrama where they spent their early childhood is something very pleasant to read from the book. As usual, Ananth and Shankar grew up as any normal brothers. They shared every bit of happiness, joy, sorrow and fights together. Shankar Nag being the youngest in the family was an eye candy for all of them. Both brothers had completed their schooling life in Mumbai and their interests for acting took from that place.

As the book progresses further, we can read about how both Ananth and Shankar has grew up as best friends instead of brothers. They have common interests, that is, films and theatre. While Ananth has debuted years earlier than Shankar, Shankar took his time to debut as an actor. He was more interested in the Direction department than acting. With the strong persuasion from Ananth, Shankar agreed to act in films, and the rest is history.

Shankar has achieved a lot not only through his films, but also from other creative ideas that he has planned and meticulously executed. He has started the first fully equipped electronic recording studio in Bangalore, that is, Sanketh Electronics. He also had a great ideas of the society and that’s when Shankar had this idea of economic houses for the poor. Shankar Nag’s ideas were not only limited to that, he has also expressed his interest in starting a full-fledged country club in Bangalore. This was resulted in the construction of the Country club in the outskirts of Bangalore.

Shankar was also an active supporter of his elder brother, especially when Ananth was contesting in the elections. Shankar took special care in conducting the door to door campaigns, arranging for the helpers during election rallies, organizing most of the public meetings where his brother could deliver his election speeches, etc…

It is really hard to digest the fact that one man can do so many things in life within a short span of time. Ananth was really proud that, his younger brother could able to achieve more fame and name than him. His was a genuine fatherly concern towards his younger brother. Life is really unpredictable as Ananth puts in his own words. When whole family was having a happy time together for the successful opening of their country club, that’s when Ananth received the shocking news of his life. It was the accident news of Shankar Nag. Shankar was declared spot dead in that severe accident. And, he was just 36!!

The book is an excellent narration. Overall, Ananth could able to pass the readers his message. For sure, what might’ve gone through Ananth Nag’s mind when he penned this book is evident in every page. A must read for all the Shankar Nag’s fans. This legend lives in the hearts of millions of Kannadigas.

My Rating:

5/5