Kannada film producer Chandulal Jain dead

Bangalore, Dec 17 (IANS) Veteran Kannada film producer Chandulal Jain, who produced hits like "Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu", "Bhaktha Siriyaala" and award winning Hindi film "Godhuli", died Thursday, after a prolonged illness, at his residence. He was 75.

He was not keeping well for the past few years and had undergone several surgeries. He is survived by his wife Leela and two daughters and two sons.

Mourning his death, veteran film producer K.C.N. Chandrashekhar, who is now heading the Kannada Film Producers Association (KFPA), said that Jain's death has created a big void in the industry.

"When the association had just moved to a new spacious building recently, I had spoken to him. The producers need guidance from such experienced persons who have contributed to the growth of the industry," said Chandrashekhar.

"Chandulal's death is an unbearable loss to the industry. He has succumbed to death when we were feeling that he is slowly recovering from his sickness," he added.

Producer Sa.Ra. Govindu remembered Jain was a golden-hearted person.

"He made films with lot of conviction and encouraged some unrecognised talents. You need guts to produce films like 'Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane' and 'Gangavva Gangamaayi'. But Jain took that risk as he was committed to making good films. He did lose money in these projects, but he was always telling that he remained proud to have taken such projects," said Govindu.

Jain started his career as a cloth merchant in Davanagere district in Karnataka . He became close to a few Kannada actors and producers and later decided to produce films.

Kannada movie icon Raj Kumar's brother Varadappa became a close friend of Jain and arranged for a call sheet of the actors. Jain produced Raj Kumar-starrer hit movie "Thaayi Devaru".

He made 34 films of which several films won awards too. Jain's biggest successes have been films like "Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu", "Bhaktha Siriyaala", "Veerappan" and a few other films.

He also produced Naseeruddin Shah-starrer Hindi film "Godhuli". It was made simultaneously with Kannada film "Thabbaliyu Neenaade Magane", which was based on a popular novel by S.L. Byrappa.

Jain's three films -- "Bhootayaana Maga Ayyu", "Veerappan" and "Gangamma Gangamaayi" -- got the best film awards from the Karnataka government.

He was also the executive producer of Govinda-starrer "Pyaar Karke Dekho".