Umashree

Umashree (born 10 May 1957) is an Indian actress and politician. She appears in Kannada cinema, particularly in character roles and supporting roles. She received the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role as Gulabi in the 2008 Kannada film Gulabi Talkies.

In 2013, Umashree became a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Karnataka in the government of Siddaramaiah where she was the minister for women and child development, empowerment of the differently abled and senior citizens, Kannada language and culture.

Personal life
Umashree was born into the Devanga family. She has two children, a daughter named Gayathri, who is a dentist, and a son named Vijayakumar, an advocate, she raised them as a single mother.

Public office
Umashree participates in positive social activities such as supporting rural and disadvantaged women. She performs on stage in rural villages to highlight their needs. Her election in 2013 as the member for Terdal constituency (Congress Party) allowed Umashree to continue her work. Umashree is Minister for Women and Child Development, Kannada and Culture.

Stage work
Umashree has experience in village, amateur, mythological and professional drama. Her directors have included Fritz Bennewitz, B.V. Karanth, Girish Karnad, C. G. Krishnaswamy, R. Nagesh, and T.S. Nagabharana. She is a member of Rangasampada amateur theatre group of Bangalore.

Film work
Umashree began her movie career in 1984 in a supporting role in Anubhava with Kashinath. But before that she was seen in a 1980 Kannada film Bangarada Jinke directed by T S Nagabharana.

However, it typecast her in comedy roles with a degree of innuendo. She worked with the actor N. S. Rao and later with Dinesh, Dwarakish, Mysore lokesh, Sihikahi chandru, Ramesh bhat, Mukhyamantri Chandru, Doddanna and Karibasavaiah. Her directors included S. V. Rajendra Singh Babu, Bhargava, Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, Perala, K V Raju, Vijay, Dorai Bhagavan, Dwairakish, D Rajendra babu, Dinesh Babu, V Ravichandran, Puri Jagannath and Yograj Bhat.

Television work

 * Nondavara Haadu, a documentary about leprosy directed by T. S. Ranga for Doordarshan.
 * Hattye, a telefilm directed by H. Girijamma for Doordarshan.
 * Musanje, a serial directed by T. S. Nagabarana for Udaya TV.
 * Musanje Katha Prasanga, a serial directed by Prakash Belawadi for ETv.
 * Kicchu, a serial directed by Chaitanya for ETv.
 * Amma Ninagagi for ETv.
 * Arathigobba Kirthigobba for Star Suvarna.
 * Chinnara Chilipili for Udaya TV.
 * Puttakkana Makkalu for Zee Kannada

Partial filmography

 * Bangarada Jinke (1980)...Asha's friend
 * Anubhava (1984)
 * Amrutha Ghalige (1984)
 * Bidugadeya Bedi (1985)
 * Naanu Nanna Hendthi (1985)
 * Swabhimana (1985)
 * Maneye Manthralaya (1986)
 * Bete (1986)
 * 27 Mavalli Circle (1986)
 * Asambhava (1986)
 * Ee Bandha Anubandha (1987)
 * Jayasimha (1987)
 * Olavina Udugore (1987)
 * Sowbhagya Lakshmi (1987)
 * Digvijaya (1987)...Shivi
 * Shanthi Nivasa (1987)
 * Onde Goodina Hakkigalu (1988)
 * Ramanna Shamanna (1988)
 * Krishna Rukmini (1988)
 * Balondu Bhavageethe (1988)
 * Anjada Gandu (1988)
 * Jana Nayaka (1988)
 * Ranadheera (1988)
 * Mathru Vathsalya (1988)...Shanti
 * Hrudaya Geethe (1989)
 * Hongkongnalli Agent Amar (1989)
 * Ondagi Balu (1989)
 * Onti Salaga (1989)
 * Poli Huduga (1989)
 * Doctor Krishna (1989)
 * Golmaal Radhakrishna (1990)...Janaki
 * Mruthyunjaya (1990)
 * Nigooda Rahasya (1990)
 * Rani Maharani (1990)
 * Nammoora Hammera (1990)
 * Ashoka Chakra (1990)...Alamelu
 * Bangaradantha Maga (1991)
 * Golmaal Part 2 (1991)...Janaki
 * Ranachandi (1991)
 * Gruhapravesha (1991)
 * Kollur Kala (1991)
 * Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare (1991)
 * Sriramachandra (1992)
 * Shivanaga (1992)
 * Mannina Doni (1992)...Meenakshi
 * Malashree Mamashree (1992)
 * Sangya Balya (1992)
 * Mysore Jaana (1992)...Ganga
 * Server Somanna (1993)
 * Prema Samaram (1993) Telugu film
 * Kollura Sri Mookambika (1993)
 * Bhagavan Sri Saibaba (1993)...Sakku
 * Kotreshi Kanasu (1994)
 * Jaana (1994)
 * Chinna (1994)
 * Karulina Koogu (1994)
 * Odahuttidavaru (1994)...Kamakshi
 * Putnanja (1995)
 * Himapatha (1995)
 * Thumbida Mane (1995)
 * Jeevanadhi (1996)
 * Sipayi (1996)
 * Ibbara Naduve Muddina Aata (1996)
 * Aadithya (1996)
 *  Dhani  (1996)
 * Muddina Kanmani (1997)
 * Thayavva (1997)
 * Mommaga (1997)
 * Cheluva (1997)
 * Kalavida (1997)
 * Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda (1997)
 * Preethsod Thappa (1998)
 * Viralukketha Veekkam (1999)
 * O Premave (1999)
 * Chora Chittha Chora (1999)
 * Shabdavedhi (2000)
 * Krishna Leele (2000)
 * Yaarige Saluthe Sambala (2000)
 * Nan Hendthi Chennagidale (2000)
 * Diggajaru (2001)
 * Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu (2001) as Rukmini
 * Ellara Mane Dosenu (2001)
 * Kothigalu Saar Kothigalu (2001) as Muniyamma
 * Simhadriya Simha (2002)
 * Thuntata (2002) as "Lingo leela"
 * Chandu (2002)
 * Nanjundi (2003)
 * Abhi (2003)
 * Laali Haadu (2003)
 * Namma Preethiya Ramu (2003)
 * Katthegalu Saar Katthegalu (2003) as Jayamma
 * Mani (2003)
 * Ajju (2004)
 * Ranga SSLC (2004) as Paaru
 * Malla (2004)
 * Monalisa (2004)
 * Veeru (2005)
 * Gopi (2006)
 * Chellata (2006)
 * Neelakanta (2006)
 * Suntaragaali (2006)
 * Parodi (2007)
 * Ekadantha (2007) as Sheela devi
 * Gulabi Talkies (2008)
 * Mast Maja Maadi (2008)
 * Vasanthakala (2008)
 * Venkata in Sankata (2009)
 * Gilli (2009)
 * Krishnan Love Story (2010)
 * Kanasemba Kudureyaneri (2010)
 * Vaare Vah (2010)
 * Prema Chandrama (2011)
 * Swayam Krushi (2011)
 * Ujwadu (2011)
 * Rajadhani (2011)
 * Alemari (2012)
 * Bheema Theeradalli (2012)
 * Sangolli Rayanna (2012)
 * Kalpana (2012)
 * Rambo (2012)
 * Super Shastri (2012)
 * Kalavu (2013)
 * Paraari (2013)
 * Ambareesha (2014)
 * Love You Alia (2015)
 * Rathnan Prapancha (2021) as Saroja
 * Vedha (2022) as Shankri
 * Kaasina Sara (2023)

Awards

 * 2004 - Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for the Film, Mani
 * 2008 - National Film Award for Best Actress for the Film, Gulabi Talkies ( 55th National Film Awards).
 * 2020-21 - South Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress for Rathnan Prapancha