Prakash Kariappa

  1. Home
  2. Wiki

Prakash Kariappa
Prakash Kariappa receiving National Film Award from the President of India
Born
Prakash Kariappa Kottukathira

(1965-09-20) 20 September 1965 (age 60)
Madikeri, Karnataka,
Occupations
  • Film Producer
  • Actor
  • Director
  • Writer
  • Entrepreneur
Years active2016–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2004)​
Children2
AwardsNational Film Awards (1)
Karnataka State Film Award (1)

Prakash Kariappa Kottukathira, (born 20 September 1965) is an Indian film producer, actor, director, writer, entrepreneur and veteran of the Indian Army. He has worked primarily in Kodava and Kannada cinema and is noted for his contributions to the Kodava film industry. Along with his wife, filmmaker Yeshoda Prakash, he co-founded the production banners Swasthik Entertainment and Coorg Coffeewood Movies. Their Kannada film Kandeelu (2022) received the National Film Award for Best Kannada Feature Film.[1]. Prakash Kariappa received the National Award from the President of India at the 71st National Awards Ceremony[2] held in New Delhi on 23rd September 2025.

Early life and military career

[edit]

Prakash Kariappa was born in Kodagu district, Karnataka, to Kottukathira Elakki Kariappa and Ragini Kariappa. He completed his primary education in Gadinad Surlabbi[3], Kalur[4], and Galibeedu[5]. During his primitive years, Prakash spent his time at his maternal home along with his maternal uncles, maternal aunts and his cousins with whom he carries strong bond.

He joined the Indian Army in June 1983[6] and served for 17 years in the Indian Army Service Corps (ASC) regiment]. During his service, he was posted in Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, and Rajasthan. He was part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) deployed in Sri Lanka against the LTTE and later served in the Kargil detachment during the 1999 conflict. Kariappa retired from the Army in June 2000 with an Exemplary Certificate for his long service. After retirement, he launched multiple businesses ranging from ventures in pre-casting and concrete products along with construction business.

Career in arts and cinema

[edit]

While serving in the Army, Kariappa actively participated in theatre and cultural activities. He met filmmaker Apadanda T. Raghu in 2016, who introduced Prakash to the world of acting and cast him in the Kodava-language television serials Gejje Thand, Jamma Bhumi, and Nanga Kodava[7].

In 2017, he founded Coorg Coffeewood Movies[8] and produced his first Kodava film Baake Mane[9], which was screened at the Kolkata International Film Festival. Since then, he has acted in 19 films in Kodava and Kannada languages and produced or directed several films, many of which have been showcased at Indian and international film festivals.

Literary work

[edit]

Kariappa has authored 11 novels in Kodava and Kannada languages. Four of his works have been adapted into films, including Sattha Soothakada Suttha[10] and the Kodava films Pommaale Kodag,[11] Ber,[12] and Kaangatha Mood.[13] His novel Naada Kodag received the Kodava Sahithya Academy Award for Best Novel in 2024.

Collaborations with Yeshoda Prakash

[edit]

Kariappa's wife, Yeshoda Prakash (Thaamane: Mandeyanda), is also a filmmaker[14]. Together, the couple has made 18 films in Kodava and Kannada, along with one Kodava documentary. They are the first Kodava couple to receive a National Film Award. Their films have been screened at international festivals including those in Kolkata, Bangalore, Goa, and Dhaka.

Awards and recognition

[edit]
  • National Film Award for Best Kannada Feature Film[15] (Kandeelu)
  • Karnataka State Award for Best Regional Film (Film: Nada Peda Asha)[16]
  • Karnataka State Award for Best Director (Film: Nada Peda Asha)[17]
  • Karnataka State Film Award for Lyrics (Parjanya)[18]
  • Best Children's Film Awards for Ashraya Dama (2017) and Makkala Theerpu (2019)
  • Multiple selections at film festivals including Kolkata International Film Festival, Bangalore International Film Festival, Dhaka International Film Festival, and Jagaran International Film Festival

Personal life

[edit]

Prakash Kariappa is married to filmmaker Yeshoda Prakash Kottukathira[19], with whom he frequently collaborates. Together, they are recognized as major contributors to both Kodava and Kannada cinema. The couple has 2 daughters - Thejal Kariappa and Thanam Kariappa.

Bibliography

[edit]
No. Title Language Publisher Year ISBN
1 Polanda Baal Kodava Kodava Makkada Koota[20] 2019
2 Premada Haadiyalli Kannada Kodava Makkada Koota 2019
3 Nada Kodag Kodava Kodava Makkada Koota 2020
4 Bicycle Kannada Kodava Makkada Koota 2018
5 Sattha Soothakada Suttha Kannada Kodava Makkada Koota 2021
6 Vidhira Kali Kodava Kodava Makkada Koota 2021
7 Ber - The Root Kodava Kodava Makkada Koota 2022
8 Veera Chakra Kodava Kodava Makkada Koota 2023
9 Moha Pasha Kannada Kodava Makkada Koota 2022
10 Gamya Kannada Kodava Makkada Koota 2023
11 Karagida Baduku Kannada Kodava Makkada Koota 2022

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Genre Language Role Banner Award Result Notes
2016 Thamate Narasimhaiah Feature Film Kannada Actor
2017 Ashraya Dama Children Film Kannada Actor/Producer Coorg Coffeewood Movies GOK Best Children Movie Won [21]
2018 Meshtru Devaru Feature Film Kannada Actor/Producer Coorg Coffeewood Movies [22]
2019 Kodagra Sipayi Kodava Film Kodava Actor/Director/Producer Coorg Coffeewood Movies KIFF, BIFF Nominated [23]
2019 Abdulla Feature Film Kannada Producer
2019 Makkala Theerpu Feature Film Kannada Actor/Director Balaji Chitra GOK Best Children Movie Won
2020 Parjanya Feature Film Kannada Director/Producer Coorg Coffeewood Movies GOK State Award for Best Lyrics Won [24] [25]
2020 Deeksha Feature Film Kannada Actor/Producer Swashtik Entertainment
2021 Naada Peda Asha Kodava Film Kodava Actor/Director VK3 Pictures/ Swasthik Entertainment Karnataka State Award for Best Regional Movie & Best Director Won [26][27] [28]
2022 Satha Soothakada Sutha Kannada Film Kannada Actor/Story/Producer Maharushi Productions KIFF Screening Nominated [29]
2022 Pommaale Kodag Kodava Film Kodava Director/Story/Producer Swashtik Entertainment KIFF Nominated [30]
2022 Antharmukha Kannada Film Kannada Producer Coorg Coffeewood Movies [31]
2022 Rangapravesha Kannada Film Kannada Co-Producer Emerald Creations [32][33][34][35]
2023 Ber - The Root Kodava Film Kodava Actor/Director/Story/Producer Coorg Coffeewood Movies BIFF, KIFF, Dasara Festival Nominated [36]
2023 Kandeelu - The Ray of Hope Feature Film Kannada Producer Swashtik Entertainment National Film Award, BIFF, KIFF, Dasara Festival Won [37]
2024 Kangatha Mood Kodava Film Kodava Actor/Director/Story/Producer Coorg Coffeewood Movies BIFF Nominated [38]
2024 Koumudi Feature Film Kannada Producer Swashtik Entertainment Jagaran India Film Festival Nominated [39][40][41]
2025 Gule Feature Film Kannada Director/Co-producer Maharushi Productions
2025 Ummathat Documentary Kodava Director/Story/Producer Swashtik Entertainment

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "71st National Film Awards for the year 2023 announced".
  2. ^ "71st National Film Awards Ceremony".
  3. ^ "Surlabbi Village, MapsOfIndia".
  4. ^ "Kalur Village, MapsOfIndia".
  5. ^ "Galibeedu Village, MapsOfIndia".
  6. ^ "Kottukathira Prakash Kariappa, Kodava Clan".
  7. ^ "Bengaluru: 5th Kodava Telefilm 'Nanga Kodava' by A T Raghu Coming Soon". 3 February 2015.
  8. ^ "Coorg Coffeewood Movies, Star of Mysore". 26 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Culture on Film: Kodava cinema playing a major role in chronicling history, culture and life of Kodagu". 24 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Sattha Soothakada Suttha, Kolkata International Film Festival, 2022".
  11. ^ "Pommaale Kodag, Kolkata International Film Festival, 2020".
  12. ^ "BER, THE ROOT, Bengaluru International Film Festival, 2024".
  13. ^ "Kangatha Mood, Bengaluru International Film Festival, 2024".
  14. ^ "Kandeelu Director K Yashoda Prakash: 'This National Award Has Doubled My Responsibility As A Woman Filmmaker, ETV Bharat". 2 August 2025.
  15. ^ "71st National Film Awards: Kandeelu wins best Kannada film, Cinema Express". Cinema Express. August 2025.
  16. ^ "Kodava film wins Best Regional Film Award in Karnataka, Times of India, 4th Oct 2025".
  17. ^ "Karnataka State Awards Full Winners List, News18, 4th Oct 2025".
  18. ^ "Karnataka State Film Award for Lyrics (Parjanya), One India". 12 March 2025.
  19. ^ "'A win for Coorg and for women directors, says Yashodha Prakash Kottukattira, Times of India". The Times of India. 2 August 2025.
  20. ^ "Kodava Makkada Koota, Deccan Herald".
  21. ^ "Kannada Movie - Ashraya Dhama (ಆಶ್ರಯ ಧಾಮ)". YouTube. 11 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Meshtru Devaru – ಮೇಷ್ಟ್ರು ದೇವರು (2019/೨೦೧೯)". 12 January 2024.
  23. ^ "'Kodagra Sipayi' movie to hit screens on Sept 24, Deccan Herald".
  24. ^ "Parjanya – ಪರ್ಜನ್ಯ (2021/೨೦೨೧)". 7 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Best Lyricist: Gargi Karehaklu (Maunavu Matagade from Parjanya), One India". 12 March 2025.
  26. ^ "My Name Is Asha, KIFF".
  27. ^ "Karnataka State Awards Full Winners List, News18, 4-Oct-2025".
  28. ^ "Kodava Film wins Best Regional Film Award in Karnataka, Times of India, 4 Oct 2025".
  29. ^ "Sattha Soothakada Suttha, Kolkata International Film Festival, 2022".
  30. ^ "Pommaale Kodag, KIFF".
  31. ^ "Antharmuka Kannada Movie". YouTube. 25 May 2023.
  32. ^ "Ranga Pravesha – ರಂಗಪ್ರವೇಶ (2022/೨೦೨೨)". 19 January 2024.
  33. ^ "'Beladingala Bale' Suman Nagarkar to play the heroine in 'Ranga Pravesha', Vijaya Karnataka".
  34. ^ "ಕೊಟ್ಟುಕತ್ತೀರ ಯಶೋಧ ಪ್ರಕಾಶ್ ನಿರ್ದೇಶನದಲ್ಲಿ ಸುಮನ್ ನಗರ್ಕರ್ 'ರಂಗಪ್ರವೇಶ' , Vijaya Karnataka". 24 February 2022.
  35. ^ "Rangapravesha, A new direction, Bangalore Mirror".
  36. ^ "BER - THE ROOT, Bengaluru International Film Festival".
  37. ^ "71st National Film Awards for the year 2023 announced".
  38. ^ "Kangatha Mood, Bengaluru International Film Festival".
  39. ^ "Akshata Pandavapura in "Koumudi", Prajavani".
  40. ^ "Shooting of Kannada film Kaumudi has started, Vijayavani". 17 May 2024.
  41. ^ "Kaumudi by Kandeelu team - Akshata Pandavapura lead role, Public TV". 20 May 2024.
[edit]