Prakash Belawadi

Biography

**Prakash Belawadi** (born 28 October 1961) is an Indian theatre practitioner, film and television director, actor, journalist, and activist based in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Renowned for his sharp intellect, articulate screen presence, and contributions to parallel and mainstream performance arts, he is one of the most respected cultural voices in contemporary India.

Belawadi comes from a distinguished theatre family, being the son of celebrated Kannada theatre stalwarts Make-up Nani and Bhargavi Narayan. Graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) in Bengaluru, he initially pursued careers in journalism and activism, working as a political and cultural commentator for prominent national newspapers and publications. Driven by a lifelong commitment to the performing arts, he became a central figure in Bengaluru's theatre revival, directing numerous acclaimed Kannada and English plays. He also co-founded the Centre for Film and Drama and launched the Suchitra School of Cinema and Dramatic Arts in Bengaluru in 2012, fostering education and training for upcoming cinematic and theatrical talents.

He made an explosive feature film directorial debut with the 2003 English-language drama *Stumble*, which captured the volatility of Bengaluru's IT boom and corporate greed. The film received widespread critical acclaim and won the prestigious **National Film Award for Best Feature Film in English**. On television, he directed popular and critically acclaimed daily serials, notably *Garva* and *Illiruvudu Summane*, which set new benchmarks for narrative depth on Kannada television.

In the 2010s, Belawadi transitioned into a prolific screen acting career across Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam cinema. He gained massive national visibility with his commanding supporting performance as the shrewd diplomat George Verghese in Shoojit Sircar's acclaimed political thriller *Madras Cafe* (2013). This opened doors to prominent character roles in major Hindi and pan-Indian productions, including *Airlift* (2016), *Meri Pyaari Bindu* (2017), *Sanju* (2018), *The Tashkent Files* (2019), *The Kashmir Files* (2022), and *Pathaan* (2023).

In Kannada cinema, he has consistently portrayed sophisticated, morally complex, or authoritative figures, delivering standout performances in films such as *Aatagara* (2015), *Ishtakamya* (2016), *Katha Sangama* (2019), *Sakutumba Sametha* (2022), *Head Bush* (2022), and *Blink* (2024). Balancing social activism, institutional theatre mentorship, and a prolific acting repertoire across national industries, he remains an indispensable intellectual pillar of Karnataka's creative community.