Film producer, actor M Bhaktavatsala dies at 84

News Network

August 5, 2018

Bengaluru, Aug 5: Prominent film personality M Bhaktavatsala passed away in the city on Sunday morning, owing to age-related ailments. He was 84.

Bhaktavatsala entered the film industry in the 1960s quitting a job in HMT. He became a film producer, distributor, actor, critic and activist.

Popularly referred to as ‘Bhakta’ by his peers, Moola Bhaktavatsala, son of Moola Rangappa, was a quintessential Renaissance man and he was heavily responsible for putting motion picture in India on an industrial pedestal.

He produced critically acclaimed Kannada film Kanneshwara Rama that was directed by M.S. Sathyu.

A multi-faceted personality, he was also a writer, film producer, film distributor, and even exhibitor.

He also tried his hand in acting in Pattabhirama Reddy’s film Chanda Maruta. He authored several books on the history of the film industry.

He not only had a long stint as president of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, but also headed the South India Film Chamber of Commerce for two terms and is the only Kannadiga till date who headed the Film Federation of India.

The State government felicitated him with the Dr. Rajkumar Award in 2012. He had diverse interests such as literature, mountaineering apart from films.

“With his death, the Karnataka film industry has lost a great leader,” said Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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