St Aloysius PU College Student Athish Shetty Wins National Award for Best Child Artist
Mangaluru, July 25: St Aloysius Pre-University College, Mangaluru, has earned national recognition with its student Athish S. Shetty winning the Best Child Artist award at the 72nd National Film Awards for his outstanding performance in the critically acclaimed Kannada film Mithya.
The awards, announced by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, also saw Mithya, directed by Sumanth Bhat and produced by Rakshit Shetty’s Paramvah Studios, bag the Best Kannada Feature Film award. Actress Roopashree Varkady received the Best Supporting Actress award, making the film one of the biggest winners at this year’s National Film Awards.
Reflecting on his journey, Athish said acting was never his initial ambition. His interest in cinema grew after watching local productions, and he drew inspiration from Tulu actor Arjun Kapikad and South Indian star Thalapathy Vijay. What began as a casual interest soon blossomed into a promising acting career.
At just 15 years of age, Athish has already acted in 21 Kannada and Tulu films. He had earlier received the Karnataka State Award for Best Child Actor for his performance in Cake.
His role in Mithya required months of preparation. After appearing in the web series Ekam, he was recommended for auditions for the film. Following three rounds of auditions, director Sumanth Bhat selected him for the lead role. A month-long intensive workshop helped him prepare for the emotionally demanding character, enabling him to deliver a mature and convincing performance.
Athish expressed gratitude to director Sumanth Bhat for his guidance and acknowledged the encouragement he received from senior actors Prakash Thuminadu and Roopashree Varkady. He also fondly recalled sharing screen space with his younger brother, Avish S. Shetty, who portrayed his on-screen sibling. Recalling the shooting days, he smiled as he remembered cycling away from the set after filming, often leaving the crew searching for him along the coastal locations.
The son of Satish Shetty, an employee of MRPL, and Bharathi Shetty, a lecturer, Athish has also excelled in sports. A five-time national-level kickboxing medallist, he is actively training in boxing while balancing his artistic pursuits with academics.
Looking ahead, Athish hopes to build a successful career in cinema while pursuing his academic ambitions. He is currently preparing for the medical entrance examination, demonstrating his determination to excel in both the arts and academics. He attributed his success to the unwavering support of his parents, teachers and classmates, with special gratitude to his mother for her constant encouragement and sacrifices.
Congratulating Athish on his remarkable achievement, the management, Principal, faculty and students of St Aloysius Pre-University College described the honour as a proud moment for the institution and wished him continued success in both his academic and artistic pursuits.
