K. S. Ashwath
- Known for
- Acting
- Birthplace
- Hassan, Karnataka, India
Biography
**K. S. Ashwath** (March 25, 1925 – January 18, 2010), born Karaganahalli Subbaraya Ashwathanarayana, was a revered titan of Kannada cinema whose career spanned over five decades and 370 films. Celebrated for his dignified screen presence, emotive depth, and distinct resonant voice, he remains one of Sandalwood's most iconic character actors. Hailing from Holenarasipura in Hassan district, Ashwath actively took part in the Indian Independence movement during his student days at Maharaja's College, Mysore. After a brief stint in government service as a Food Inspector, he gravitated toward amateur theatre with Mysore Kalakunja, eventually making his silver-screen debut in K. R. Seetharama Sastry’s *Streerathna* (1955). He soon became an indispensable pillar of Kannada cinema, sharing an iconic collaboration with Dr. Rajkumar across nearly 100 films. Equally adept at playing principled patriarchs, scheming villains, and royal advisors, Ashwath delivered his career-defining performance as Chamayya Meshtru, the strict yet deeply loving teacher in Puttanna Kanagal’s cult classic *Naagarahaavu* (1972). His extensive filmography includes historic landmarks such as *Kasturi Nivasa* (1971), *Jedara Bale* (1968), *Naguva Hoovu* (1971), *Bhakta Kumbara* (1974), *Eradu Kanasu* (1974), and *Jenina Hole* (1972). Beyond Kannada, he appeared in the Hollywood production *Seven Wonders of the World* (1956) and the Hindi film *Ganga Gowri* (1973). A three-time recipient of the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor, Ashwath was honored with the prestigious Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994 and an honorary doctorate from Tumkur University in 2008. His final appearance on screen was in the romantic drama *Sihigali* (2010).
Known For
Filmography
Bhoopathi
Movie
Sirivantha
Movie
Preethisle Beku
Movie
Anjali Geethanjali
Movie
Shabdavedhi
Movie
Preethsu Thappenilla
Movie
Gandhada Gudi Part 2
Movie
Odahuttidavaru
Movie
Musuku
Movie
Kaaveri Theeradalli
Movie
Gejje Naada
Movie
Mane Devru
Movie
Kumkuma Bhagya
Movie
Bhagavan Sri Saibaba
Movie
Urvashi Kalyana
Movie
Anuragada Alegalu
Movie
Navibbaru Namagibbaru
Movie
Jeevana Chaithra
Movie · as Rama Rao
Belliyappa Bangarappa
Movie · as Police Commissioner
Hrudaya Hadithu
Movie · as Mahadevayya
Jagadeka Veera
Movie
Mathru Bhagya
Movie
Garuda Dhwaja
Movie
Modada Mareyalli
Movie
Aralida Hoovugalu
Movie
Muthina Haara
Movie
Baare Nanna Muddina Rani
Movie
Aasegobba Meesegobba
Movie
Mruthyunjaya
Movie · as Lawyer Ramakrishnaiah
Inspector Vikram
Movie · as Police Commissioner Chandrashekar
Yaru Hone
Movie
Sharavegada Saradara
Movie
Hongkongnalli Agent Amar
Movie
Gajapathi Garvabhanga
Movie · as Ranganna Meshtru
Samyuktha
Movie · as Veerabhadraiah
Daada
Movie
Brahma Vishnu Maheshwara
Movie
Jana Nayaka
Movie
Shruthi Seridaga
Movie · as Murthy's Father
Nava Bharatha
Movie
Bazar Bheema
Movie
Shubha Milana
Movie
Sundara Swapnagalu
Movie
Bhagyada Lakshmi Baaramma
Movie
Anuraaga Aralithu
Movie
Karna
Movie
Devathe
Movie
Giri Baale
Movie
Bidugadeya Bedi
Movie · as Sanjeeva Rao
Jwalamukhi
Movie · as Rudraiah
Guru Jagadguru
Movie
Amara Jyothi
Movie
Sneha Sambandha
Movie
Shwetha Gulabi
Movie
Eradu Rekhegalu
Movie
Runa Mukthalu
Movie
Male Banthu Male
Movie
Aaradhane
Movie
Benkiya Bale
Movie
Mududida Tavare Aralithu
Movie · as Govinda Rao
Kamana Billu
Movie · as Jois
Ibbani Karagithu
Movie · as Varun's Father
Parajitha
Movie
Hosa Belaku
Movie · as Gopalayya
Chalisuva Modagalu
Movie · as Vishwanath Rao
Nanna Devaru
Movie
Jimmy Gallu
Movie
Baadada Hoo
Movie · as Murthy
Hasyarathna Ramakrishna
Movie
Gaali Maathu
Movie
Nee Nanna Gellalare
Movie
Bhoomige Banda Bhagavantha
Movie · as Cameo
Geetha
Movie · as Srinivas
Leader Vishwanath
Movie
Snehithara Saval
Movie
Nammammana Sose
Movie
Vasantha Geetha
Movie · as Seshadri
Nyaya Neethi Dharma
Movie
Ondu Hennu Aaru Kannu
Movie
Dhairya Lakshmi
Movie
Driver Hanumanthu
Movie
Auto Raja
Movie
Janma Janmada Anubandha
Movie · as Panduranga
Haddina Kannu
Movie · as Dharmappa
Naa Ninna Bidalaare
Movie · as Krishna's father
Chandanada Gombe
Movie · as Lakshman Rao
Putaani Agents 123
Movie
Vijay Vikram
Movie
Pakka Kalla
Movie
Maathu Tappada Maga
Movie
Muyyige Muyyi
Movie · as Nataraj
Vasantha Lakshmi
Movie · as Narayanappa
Amarnath
Movie
Kiladi Jodi
Movie · as Sadananda
Sirithanakke Saval
Movie
Halli Haida
Movie
Havina Hejje
Movie
Vamsha Jyothi
Movie · as Sharada's father
Banashankari
Movie
Galaate Samsaara
Movie · as Gubbi Ganesh Rao
Raja Nanna Raja
Movie · as Thirumal Rao
Bayaludaari
Movie · as Madhava Rao
Badavara Bandhu
Movie · as Badrinath
Bangarada Gudi
Movie · as Ramanappa
Kanasu Nanasu
Movie
Shubhamangala
Movie · as Doctor
Mayura
Movie · as Shadananasharma
Daari Thappida Maga
Movie · as CID Raju
Bhagya Jyothi
Movie
Hennu Samsarada Kannu
Movie
Upasane
Movie · as Subba Rao
Bangarada Panjara
Movie · as Junjappa, Beera's foster father
Eradu Kanasu
Movie · as Ramu's father
Maga Mommaga
Movie · as Aanand Rao's Father
Chamundeshwari Mahime
Movie
Mooruvare Vajragalu
Movie · as Dharmaja
Bidugade
Movie · as Bhairappa , Shekhar's father
Doorada Betta
Movie
Hrudaya Sangama
Movie
Naagarahaavu
Movie · as Chamayya Meshtru
Sipayi Ramu
Movie · as Hari Singh
Jaga Mecchida Maga
Movie · as Aditya's father
Nanda Gokula
Movie
Janma Rahasya
Movie
Naa Mecchida Huduga
Movie
Kasturi Nivasa
Movie · as Ramaiah
Sharapanjara
Movie · as Narayanappa, Kaveri's father
Nyayave Devaru
Movie · as Chandrashekharaiah
Sri Krishna Rukmini Sathyabhama
Movie · as Satrajit
Thayi Devaru
Movie
C.I.D. Rajanna
Movie
Aaru Mooru Ombhatthu
Movie · as Lawyer
Uyyaale
Movie · as Seshu
Namma Makkalu
Movie
Choori Chikkanna
Movie · as Krishnaraja
Bengaluru Mail
Movie · as Guest Appearance
Bhaagyada Baagilu
Movie · as Shyam Rao
Dhoomakethu
Movie
Jedara Bale
Movie · as Rao Bahaddur Narasimha Rao
Gandhinagara
Movie
Amma
Movie · as Vasu
Immadi Pulikeshi
Movie · as Harshavardhana
Gange Gowri
Movie · as Narada
Dhana Pishachi
Movie · as Inspector
Shri Purandaradasaru
Movie · as Purandara Dasa
Manasiddare Marga
Movie
Sandhya Raaga
Movie
Belli Moda
Movie · as Sadashivaih
Premamayi
Movie
Sathya Harishchandra
Movie · as Vasishta
Bettada Huli
Movie
Maduve Madi Nodu
Movie · as Parameshwaraiah
Sarvagna Murthy
Movie
Shivarathri Mahathme
Movie · as Veera Simha, Vijaya's father
Prathigne
Movie · as Mahadevayya
Mane Aliya
Movie · as Shivappa
Annapoorna
Movie
Nanda Deepa
Movie
Veerakesari
Movie · as Musuku-veera
Mana Mecchida Madadi
Movie · as Umakanth, Srinath's father
Kulavadhu
Movie
Sathi Shakthi
Movie
Santha Thukaram
Movie
Sri Rama Anjaneya Yuddha
Movie
Jeevana Tharanga
Movie
Vidhi Vilasa
Movie
Bhoodana
Movie
Kittur Chennamma
Movie
Kaivara Mahathme
Movie
Nagarjuna
Movie
Ranadheera Kanteerava
Movie · as Nirisha
Bhaktha Kanakadasa
Movie · as Rudranayaka
Dashavathara
Movie
Jagajyothi Basveshwara
Movie
Mahishasura Mardini
Movie · as Narada
Bhookailasa
Movie · as Shiva
Anna Thangi
Movie
Bhakta Prahlada
Movie