Loknath

**Loknath** (born B. K. Lokanatha Rao, August 14, 1927 – December 31, 2018) was a veteran Indian actor who worked predominantly in Kannada cinema and theatre. With a career spanning nearly six decades and appearances in over 650 films, he was one of Sandalwood's most respected and versatile character actors, universally recognized for his authentic dialogue delivery, subtle expressions, and effortless portrayals of maternal uncles, fathers, and quirky village figures.

Born in Bengaluru, Loknath was deeply rooted in amateur theatre before stepping into cinema. He was an integral part of several prestigious Kannada stage troupes, including Master Hirannaiah's troupe, Samudaya, and Prabhat Kalavidaru. His compelling stage performances in classic plays such as *Bendre*, *Samsaradalli Sanidapa*, and *Kakanakote* earned him a reputation as an actor of remarkable range.

He made his silver-screen debut with the National Award-winning classic *Samskara* (1970), directed by Pattabhirama Reddy. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Loknath became a constant fixture across both Kannada parallel cinema and commercial mainstream blockbusters. He featured prominently in milestone realistic films including Girish Karnad's *Kaadu* (1973), B. V. Karanth's *Chomana Dudi* (1975), and M. S. Sathyu's *Bara* (1982).

In mainstream commercial cinema, he shared screen space with stalwarts such as Dr. Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Ambareesh, and Shankar Nag. His memorable roles came in landmark films like *Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu* (1974), *Naa Ninna Mareyalare* (1976), *Babruvahana* (1977), *Katha Sangama* (1976), *Minchina Ota* (1980), and *Geetha* (1981). Audiences affectionately dubbed him "Uncle Loknath" after his unforgettable turn in Puttanna Kanagal's romantic musical *Nagarahavu* (1972). Another of his most celebrated comedic moments was in the Vishnuvardhan-starrer *Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu*, where his character's desperate craving for pickle spawned the enduring Kannada pop-culture catchphrase, *"Uppinakayi... Uppinakayi!"*

Beyond films, Loknath was also a familiar face on Kannada television, notably appearing in Shankar Nag's classic television adaptation *Malgudi Days*. In 1992, he was honored with the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his poignant performance in *Hosa Love Story*.