Kashinatha Hathwara (8 May 1951 – 18 January 2018)[citation needed] was an Indian actor and filmmaker who primarily worked in Kannada films.

He is credited for introducing new talents such as actor Upendra,[1] musician V. Manohar,[2] and director Sunil Kumar Desai, alongside many other technicians who went on to become successful in the Kannada film industry.

[3][4] Making his debut as a director through the comedy-drama film Aparoopada Athithigalu (1976), Kashinath came into the limelight with the suspense thriller Aparichita (1978).

Some of his other successful films include Anantana Avantara (1989), Avale Nanna Hendthi (1988), Ajagajantara (1991) and Hendathi Endare Heegarabeku (1995).

[citation needed] His second directorial film Aparichita in 1978 was a suspense thriller starring Suresh Heblikar, M. V. Vasudeva Rao, Sundar Krishna Urs and Shoba brought him wide appreciation and recognition.

[citation needed] The success of the project made him direct its Hindi version titled as Be-Shaque in 1981, starring Mithun Chakraborty.

[7] The film had its music composed by L. Vaidyanathan with whom he shared a long-lasting rapport and also introduced lyricist-music director V. Manohar through the song "Hodeya Doora O Jothegara".

The huge success of the film got him the offer to direct its Hindi remake titled as Anubhav (1986) starring Shekhar Suman and Padmini Kolhapure.

[citation needed] In 1995, he acted and directed the film Hendthi Endare Heegirabeku alongside Akshata which was moderately successful.

His next directorial Meese Hottha Gandasige Demandappo Demandu (1999) based on the popular song line of his previous hit Avale Nanna Hendthi was a failure as well.