Singanalluru Puttaswamaiah Muthuraj, better known by his stage name Dr. Rajkumar, was an Indian actor and singer who worked in Kannada cinema. Regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian cinema and a versatile actor, he is considered a cultural icon and holds a matinée idol status in the Kannada diaspora, among whom he is popularly called as Nata Saarvabhouma, Bangarada Manushya, Vara Nata, Gaana Gandharva, Rasikara Raja, Kannada Kanteerava and Rajanna/Annavru. He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1983 and Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1995. He is the only lead actor to win National Award for singing. His 35 movies have been remade 58 times in 9 languages by 34 actors making him the first actor whose movies were remade more than fifty times and the first actor whose movies were remade in nine languages. He was the first actor in India to enact a role which was based on James Bond in a full-fledged manner. The success of his movie Jedara Bale is credited to have widely inspired a Desi bond genre in other Indian film industries. On the occasion of the "Centenary of Indian Cinema" in April 2013, Forbes included his performance in Bangaarada Manushya on its list of "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema". Upon his death, The New York Times had described him as one of India's most popular movie stars.
Bangaarada Manushya is a 1972 Indian Kannada language film based on T. K. Rama Rao's novel of same name. Ramarao was known for his crime and detective novels, but this film was a social drama. It was directed by S. Siddalingaiah under the banner Srinidhi Productions. Prior to this, Siddalingaiah had worked with Rajkumar in Mayor Muthanna. It stars Rajkumar and Bharathi. The film was screened for over two years at the States Theatre in Bangalore and was screened for sixty weeks in Chamundeshwari theatre in Mysore, the film Completed one year in many centres and twenty five weeks in every major and minor centre. The movie saw a 25 weeks run when it was re-released in 1988.
Bhookailas is a 1958 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film directed by K. Shankar. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jamuna with music composed by R. Sudarsanam and R. Govardhanam. It was produced by A. V. Meiyappan under the AVM Productions banner.
Gurusala Krishnadas Venkatesh was an Indian film score composer who primarily worked in Kannada cinema during the 1960s, 1970s and until the late-1980s. He also composed music for Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil films. He produced numerous master pieces of Kannada film music and also brought in Western background score into Kannada films and scored music for all Bond movies of Rajkumar in the 1960s to 1970s.
Bhakta Kannappa is a 1976 Indian Telugu-language film directed by Bapu. The film is a remake of 1954 Kannada movie Bedara Kannappa starring Rajkumar which was based on the life of Shaiva devotee, Kannappa Nayanar.
Bhakta Tukaram is a 1973 Indian Telugu-language biographical film based on the life of the saint-poet Tukaram, produced by P. Adinarayana Rao under the Anjali Pictures banner and directed by V. Madhusudhana Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Anjali Devi and Sivaji Ganesan, with music also composed by Adinarayana Rao.
Sant Gora Kumbhar was a Hindu sant associated with the Bhakti movement and the Varkari sect of Maharashtra, India. He was a potter by trade and devotee of Vithal. Gora Kumbhar, along with other saints, wrote and sung hundreds of Abhangs.
Kalahasti Mahatyam is a 1954 Indian Telugu-language film directed by H. L. N. Simha starring Dr. Rajkumar. This is the only non-Kannada film starring Dr. Rajkumar.
Bhaktha Vijaya is a 1956 Indian Kannada language film directed by Aruru Pattabhi. The film stars Rajkumar and Pandari Bai.
Hari Bhakta is a 1956 Kannada-language film directed by T. V. Singh Thakur. The film stars Rajkumar and Pandari Bai. It had Mynavathi, Narasimharaju, G. V. Iyer, H. R. Shastry playing supporting roles. The movie is based on the life of Pundarika which had earlier been adapted in Tamil in 1944 as Haridas and later in Telugu in 1957 as Panduranga Mahatyam.
Bhakta Prahlada is a 1983 Indian Kannada-language Hindu mythological film directed by Vijay, and based on the tale of Prahalada. The film stars Rajkumar, Saritha, Puneeth Rajkumar and Ananth Nag. The soundtrack was composed by T. G. Lingappa. The film won State Film Awards in Sound recording and cinematography categories.
Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma is a 1986 Indian Kannada-language comedy film. The title of the film was borrowed from a devaranama written by 12th century Haridasa Purandara Dasa. This film was written and directed Singeetham Srinivasa Rao who also composed and scored the film's soundtrack. The film stars Rajkumar, Madhavi and K. S. Ashwath in the pivotal roles.
Thayi Devaru is a 1971 Indian Kannada-language drama film written by Shivam and directed by Siddalingaiah. It stars Rajkumar, M. V. Rajamma and Bharathi. The film was released under Jain Movies banner and produced by Chandulal Jain. H. R. Bhargava worked as associate director, M. S. Rajashekar as assistant director and G. K. Venkatesh was the soundtrack and score composer. The dialogues and lyrics were written by Chi. Udaya Shankar. The movie was remade in Telugu in 1973 as Kanna Koduku starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao.
Shree Krishna Gaarudi is 1958 Indian Kannada language film written and directed by Hunsur Krishnamurthy based on the story by Bellave Narahari Shastri. It narrates the tale of Bheema and Arjuna's pride being crushed by Krishna, after the Kurukshetra War. The bickering and squabbling among the Pandavas for portfolios allegorizes the politics in the then newly formed Mysore state. The movie was remade in Telugu in the same year by well-known director Y. V. Rao starring Jaggayya also titled Shri Krishna Garudi.
Hunsur Krishnamurthy was an Indian playwright, film director, producer, actor, screenwriter and lyricist in Kannada cinema.
Devara Gedda Manava is a 1967 Indian Kannada-language film, directed by Hunsur Krishnamurthy and produced by Y. V. Rao. The film stars Rajkumar, M. P. Shankar, Narasimharaju and Mikkilineni. The film has musical score by Rajan–Nagendra. Rao and Krishnamurthy shot the movie simultaneously in Telugu as Devuni Gelichina Manavudu starring Kanta Rao.
Sri Kanyaka Parameshwari Kathe is a 1966 Indian Kannada-language film, directed and produced by Hunsur Krishnamurthy. The film stars Rajkumar, B. M. Venkatesh, Nagendra Rao and H. R. Shastry. The film has musical score by Rajan–Nagendra. H. R. Bhargava was the associate director of this movie.
Rajadurgada Rahasya is a 1967 Indian Kannada-language film, jointly directed by A. C. Narasimha Murthy and S.K.Bhagwan and produced by A. Vasudeva Rao and T. Dwarakanath. The film stars Rajkumar, Bharathi, Udaykumar, Narasimharaju and Dinesh. The film has musical score by G. K. Venkatesh. Rajkumar plays dual roles in the movie. S.K.Bhagwan had revealed that though he was the actual director of the movie, the credits were jointly given to him and Narasimha Murthy who was the chief financier of the movie. The movie was dubbed in Tamil as Malaikotai Marmam.
Mahishasura Mardini is a 1959 Indian Kannada-language film, directed and produced by B. S. Ranga. The film stars Rajkumar, V. Nagayya, Udaykumar and Narasimharaju. It was dubbed in seven other languages and is retrospectively identified as amongst the first major Pan-India films.
Chakradhari is a 1977 Telugu-language biographical film, based on the life of the potter-turned-saint Gora Kumbhar. produced by N. R. Anuradha Devi under the Lakshmi Films Combines banner and directed by V. Madhusudhana Rao. The film stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Vanisri, with music composed by G. K. Venkatesh. It is a remake of the 1974 Kannada film Bhakta Kumbara. G.K.Venkatesh, who had composed music for the Kannada version, was chosen as the music director of this movie. 4 songs were retained from the original version.
