We are just a couple of episodes away from the finale of the blockbuster chat show Weekend With Ramesh Season 4. Have you also been noticing a pattern since the comedy special weekend? What I mean to say is since the Chikkanna and Vaijanath Biradar week, there has been a theme, like last week it was the ‘civil-heroes’ special weekend which saw retired ACP of Karnataka BB Ashok Kumar and the retired DG and IGP of Karnataka, Shankar Bidari taking their place on the red seat.

This week is seeing the same trend too. We will be learning about two veterans who have contributed immensely to the state. The first one is the prominent Sandalwood filmmaker and producer, Rajendra Singh Babu and the second is poet, playwright and director Dr Chandrashekhara Kambara. Today, we will take a look at a few facts about the second guest, along with some EXCLUSIVE images from the episode that is set to air this Sunday.

Kambara was born on January 2, 1937 in a small village in the Belgaum district of Karnataka (then Bombay Presidency). Out of three siblings, he is the youngest. To this day, many of his family members still stay in his childhood home in the village.

The esteemed guest, Chandrashekhara Kambara, is not only a film director, but he is also a poet, a playwright, a professor and a folklorist. Apart from this, he is the vice-chancellor and founder of the famous Kannada University located in the Hampi district. Additionally, he is the president of the Sahithya Academy since February 12, 2018.

Chandrashekhara Kambara’s family was dealing with poverty when he was a child. However, a guardian angel by the name of Jahangiri Siddaram Swamiji from the Savalagi Matha decided that Kambara’s life was not to go waste. So, for the major part he helped Chandrashekhara for most of his financial expenses all throughout primary and high school. From then on, there was no looking back for the veteran and he went on to do a post-graduation, followed by a PhD on ‘the folk theatre of North Karnataka’ from the Karnataka University in Dharwad.

In his entire career span, Chandrashekhara Kambara has done approximately 25 plays, five novels, 16 pieces of research and 11 anthologies of poems. This apart, he has also done many literary articles that focus on topics like folk theatre, literature and education.

With approximately 18 state and national accolades, Chandrashekhara Kambara is truly an asset for the state, and you have to agree. Some of the major awards that were bestowed on him were Jnanpith Award (2011), Padma Shri (2001), Janapada and Yakshagana Academy Award (1993), Sant Kabir Award (2002), Sahithya Academy Award (1991) and Rajyotsava Award (Karnataka: 1998)

Padma Shri Chandrashekhar Kambara’s family consists of his wife Satyabhama and four children, namely — Jayashree, Rajashekhara and Chanamma Kambara and Geetha Sateesh. We sincerely hope to meet his family this weekend, what about you?

In an interview with a leading daily, nothing but praises were given for Chandrashekhara Kambara. The critic and writer HS Raghavendra Rao said: “Chandrashekhara Kambara is the most deserving contemporary Kannada writer to win the Jnanpith Award.” Whereas another Jnanpith Award winner U.R. Ananthamurthy said: “Kambara is a rare literary mind who realises the universal in the indigenous.” #Proud

Do you have questions for the guest? Send them right away in the space given below.

Watch the Sumalatha Ambareesh Special on Weekend With Ramesh Season 4, here on the ZEE5 Platform.