Sanketh Kashi died of heart attack – the news reached the ears around 6 pm today was very shocking. He battled for his heart attack at a private hospital. The profound actor of nearly 150 Kannada cinemas sudden departure is difficult to digest.

Actor of ‘Samskaravantha’ (a real life character of Mahadeva who has done final rites for 5000 unclaimed bodies) Kashi has given chance for someone else to perform his rites as he remained a bachelor. He was one of the companions of late Shanker Nag in ‘Sanketh troup’. As there was Kashinath, he switched his name to Sanketh Kashi.

‘I don’t want to be part of controversy’ – CR Simha has set a trend by resigning for the post of chairmanship of Karnataka state film award committee for 2007-2008 because one film in the film list ‘Mathad Mathad Mallige’ he is part of the cast.

I should follow my senior CR Simhaji – Sankteth Kashi award panel member of the same year had told because he was also part of the film ‘Sundari Ganda Sadananda’ that was also in the fray for awards.

Sanketh Kashi precisely did it and resigned from the jury of 2007-2008. In real life Sanketh Kashi of 62 years followed CR Simha a gem of an actor and theatre personality.

Puffing cigarette and cutting jokes on many topics the media friends did not miss from this gentleman and well mannered actor Sanketh Kashi.

The demise of Sanketh Kashi was such a blow to Kannada film industry and Karnataka because he had developed very good ideas on the education system for the rural India. One of his plans he discussed with this journalist was teaching the young brains without pulling them to schools in the regular pattern of education. Sanketh Kashi prepared the modalities for his special kind of education but kept it in his cupboard.

Such a genius and thinker Sanketh Kashi did not marry in his life and he used to cut joke even for this. We come alone and should go alone he had told.

At 62 years of age shifting his room from Basaveshwaranagara to Rajajinagar industrial town and later days to Moodalapalya Sanketh Kashi has worked on stage and cinema. He made a beginning in 1989 from ‘Madhu Masa’.

‘Ulta Palta’ a film that starred Ramesh Aravind and Sanketh Kashi in double roles was most successful film as it ran for 100 days.

Sanketh Kashi niche for comedy roles earned him many top directors and films. Mane Devru, Annayya, Mangalyam Tantu Naanena, Nammura Mandaara Hoove, April Fool, Nishyabda, Nana Hedthi Channagiddale as hero, Sipaayi, Huliya, Rangoli, Dore, Kiraataka, Naanu Nanna Hendthiru, Vandematharam, Rambo, Padhe Padhe, Nagavalli, Dandupalya, Pandhya, IPC Section 500, Oggarane, Usirigintha, Jyothi Alias Kothi Raja, Vamshoddaraka, Pritiyalli Sahaja, Bhagyaraj, a very popular television serial ‘Lava Lavike’ with anchor Anupama as daughter are his film from nearly 150 Kannada films to his credit.

Kashi hailed from Shivamogga and he leaves a brother as relative. May his soul rest in peace!