Kannada director Guruprasad found dead in Bengaluru flat; suicide suspected
Police suspect the 52-year old director died by suicide two or three days ago; he was under severe financial stress and allegedly owed money to a lot of people
Award-winning Kannada filmmaker Guruprasad’s decomposed body was discovered at his flat in Madanayakanahalli, north Bengaluru, on Sunday (November 3) morning, prompting the police to suspect that the 52-year old director died by suicide two or three days ago.
The death came to light after a security staff in the apartment complex, in which the filmmaker was residing for the past eight months, alerted the residents in the WhatsApp group that a foul smell was emanating from his flat which was locked from inside. Police broke open the door to find him dead, his body hanging from a fan.
The body was found in a highly decomposed state, leading the police to suspect that he probably ended his life two to three days ago.
Also read: Sexual harassment in film industry: Karnataka body to convene meet with women artistes
Financial stress
According to reports, Guruprasad, who is famous for his movies such as Mata, Eddelu Manjunatha, and Director’s Special, allegedly took his life due to financial difficulties and on facing constant pressure from creditors. His recent movie Ranganayaka turned out to be a flop, pushing him to depression, said sources.
Further, newspaper reports said the Madanayakanahalli police, along with Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO), are currently examining the flat for evidence that may give a clue as to why he allegedly took his own life. No suicide note was found at the spot.
Guruprasad divorced his first wife and married again. His second wife, who is pregnant, was reportedly at her family home at the time of the incident.
The Kannada film director had allegedly borrowed money from multiple individuals and was under a lot of pressure to settle his debts. Recently, a bookstore owner Lakshmikant filed a complaint against Guruprasad for ordering a bulk order of books for his students amounting Rs 65,000. However, he reportedly did not pay him for the books and became unreachable.
Also read: Darshan's arrest: Future of 14 films at stake; producers in a fix
Film career
Guruprasad began his career in 2006 with Mata, starring Jaggesh, which received a lot of critical acclaim and a Karnataka State Filmfare Award. He gained popularity not only for his directorial ventures but also for his acting and for writing dialogues in the Kannada film industry.
His films like Eddelu Manjunatha and Director’s Special firmed up his reputation as an accomplished director. He was reportedly working on his latest project, Adema, which is under production.
The Kannada film industry, which is grappling with the arrest of Darshan in the brutal killing of a fan, is reeling under the shock of the sudden demise of a celebrated filmmaker who had left a significant mark in Kannada cinema.
(Suicides can be prevented. For help please call Suicide Prevention Helplines: Neha Suicide Prevention Centre – 044-24640050; Aasara helpline for suicide prevention, emotional support & trauma help — +91-9820466726; Kiran, Mental health rehabilitation — 1800-599-0019, Disha 0471- 2552056, Maithri 0484 2540530, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.)