Noted Kannada actor, author, theatre personality and writer, HG Somashekara Rao died after prolonged illness. Somanna is survived by his wife and two children. The son of freedom fighter Harihar Gundu Rao, Somanna hailed from Chitradurga district. His younger brother and veteran film actor, Dattanna, had passed away just a week ago and his younger sister had also died about a month ago. It was reported that while he was on his way to a private hospital for regular treatment, he suffered a massive heart attack.
Somanna is best known for his acting prowess in cult Kannada films like Accident, Mithileya Seeteyaru, Minchina Ota, Savithri, Harakeya Kuri and more. He won a state award for the supporting role in the movie Harakeya Kuri in 1992-93.He made his debut in the Kannada movie Savithri against famous actor Anil Thakkar in 1981. He left an indelible mark for his serious role in this movie. Somanna, who was also popularly known as HGS to his contemporaries, had authored around 25 books, including books like Somannana Stockninda and Innobarannu Ariyuva Bage.