Ace Kannada actor Chandrashekhar passes away in Canada

News Network

January 27, 2018

Bengaluru, Jan 27: Noted Kannada actor Chandrashekhar passed away in the wee hours of Saturday in Canada. 63-year-old artist is survived by his mother, wife and a daughter. Sources said, he had suffered a massive cardiac arrest.

Chandrashekhar had made his on-screen debut as a child artist, and got into fame as a lead actor in Edakallu Guddadamele, directed by Putanna Kanagal. The success of the film was such that 'Edakallu Guddadamele' became his first name, and he became famous as Edakallu Guddadamele Chandrashekhar.

After his marriage, Chandrashekhar moved to Canada and started working with the Indian High Commission as a visa officer.

Chandrashekhar made his debut as a director with Poorvapara, which became the first Kannada movie to be screened in Toronto Film Festival. He was last seen in the Kannada movie 'Chakravarthy' starring Challenging Star Darshan.

Chandrashekhar after an initial prolific career shifted to Canada after his marriage to dancer Sheela in 1984 and had remained away from Kannada film industry before his return in 2004 when he directed and acted in ‘Poorvapara’ with leading actress Geeta. He later shuttled between Bengaluru and Canada, doing a few supporting roles.

His daughter Tanya said he was in Bengaluru and had gone back to Canada just 10 days ago. “Yesterday night I spoke to him when he was shifted to a hospital. He only said he had a slight pain, but I got a call at around 3:30 am saying he passed away,” she told media persons. The family is yet to decide whether the body will be brought to Bengaluru or the last rites conducted in Canada.

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Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un

Rest in peace. He was a good actor

Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un

Rest in peace

RIP. Such a talented actor

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Elusive bamboo shrimp resurfaces in Mangaluru estuary after 70 years

News Network

December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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