Karnataka: From theatre gatekeeper to popular journalist to crime accused

Bengaluru: Apparently, there is nothing under the sun which Ravi Belagere had not done, literally. Right from gatekeeping to issuing tickets at a theatre, the Ballari boy who failed in SSLC, went on to become a lecturer after completing the Master of Arts in History and Archaeology from Karnatak University. However, teaching was not his cup of tea and he quit his lecturer’s post to work as a reporter as he was passionate about writing. His unique and engaging style of writing made him popular and gave thousands of fans and also fetched him the State Sahitya Academy, Shivarama Karanth, Karnataka Media Academy and Rajyotsava awards.

Belagere’s love for writing brought him to Bengaluru and it was here that he gave full flight to his passion. After starting his journalism career with a Kannada daily, Belagere launched his own newspaper ‘Hai Bangalore’ in 1995 which he published from his office at Padmanabhanagar. His aggressive writing style about the underworld in his column ‘Paapigala Lokadalli’ was something new for the readers and it shot up the sales of ‘Hai Bangalore’. The paper remained the highest circulated newspaper for over five years as Belagere served his readers with unique fare. The columns, ‘Love Lavike’, ‘Bottom Item’ and ‘Khaas Baat’ apart from ‘Papigala Lokadalli’, got him laksh of admirers. His popularity increased manifold after he made his entry into a news channel and produced ‘Crime Diary’ – a programme on crime files. He also acted in a few movies.

Belagere penned two books on the underworld, including D-Company on Dawood Ibrahim in which he described his attempts to meet fugitive don and his conversations with former underworld don Muthappa Rai. His writings about crime were so effective that a number of movies were made based on the stories written by him. An ardent fan of Khushwant Singh, Belagere has penned over 50 books with “Raj Leela Vinoda” being the latest. Belagere is also an educationist who runs a school under Prarthana Education Society. The society, it is said, does not accept donations from the parents. Belagere has kept himself away from politics and apparently has no political leanings. However, he says he is attracted by Leftist ideology.

Movie on HDK and Radhika
Belagere who tried his hands at film direction, shot a movie based on the love story of former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and actress Radhika. The movie ‘Mukhyamantri I Love You’ did not hit the theatres as HD Deve Gowda brought a stay on its release.