Geetha is a 1981 Indian Kannada-language romantic drama film directed by and starring Shankar Nag in lead, alongside Akshatha Rao in title role. The supporting cast features K. S. Ashwath, Ramesh Bhat and Gayathri. Ilaiyaraaja composed the soundtrack and the background score for the film that and was declared a blockbuster musical hit. He went on to re-use four songs from the movie in five different films later. The track "Santhoshakke" from the film became widely popular in Karnataka and is still performed for in concerts and other events.The characterization of the lead actress from Mani Ratnam 's 1989 Telugu movie Geethanjali was reported to have been partially borrowed from this movie - the chirpy attitude with which the eponymous lead speaks and behaves - and also bore a great resemblance in terms of closure of the movie - where she breathes her last due to cancer in the climax.