Mudabidri Venkat Rao Vasudeva Rao was an Indian actor. He entered the film world as a child actor in 1928. He won the Best Actor Award at the 23rd National Film Awards for his role of Choma in the Chomana Dudi (1975), a film based on Shivarama Karanth's novel of the same name.
Vidyasagar, known by his stage name Rajesh, was an Indian actor who appeared in Kannada films. Known as 'Kala Thapaswi', Rajesh was an ardent fan of literature. He appeared in many films as the lead in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later on gravitated to strong character roles. He is the father of film actress Aasha Rani who acted in Rathasapthami with Shivrajkumar and the father-in-law of popular Kannada and Tamil actor Arjun Sarja.
Kalyan Kumar was an Indian actor, and an occasional film director and producer who worked primarily in Kannada and Tamil cinema. Making his acting debut in the mythological drama Natashekara (1954), Kalyan Kumar went on to star in over 200 films in a span of over five decades. He was among the much sought after actors in the 1950s through 1970s for lead roles.
Gaali Gopura is a 1962 Kannada-language film directed and produced by B. R. Panthulu. The film starred Rajkumar, Kalyan Kumar, Leelavathi and R. Nagendra Rao. Actor Udaya Kumar made a brief guest appearance. Acclaimed director Puttanna Kanagal had assisted Panthulu for this film.
Jwaalamukhi (transl. Volcano) is a 1985 Indian Kannada-language film directed by Singeetham Srinivasa Rao. The film featured Rajkumar, Gayathri, Thoogudeepa Srinivas, K. S. Ashwath and Mukhyamantri Chandru. The movie is based on a novel of same name by Vijay Sasanur.
Immadi Pulikeshi is a 1967 Kannada-language biographical film written by G. V. Iyer and directed by N. C. Rajan. The cast includes Rajkumar, Udayakumar, Jayanthi, Kalpana and Balakrishna. The film had a soundtrack and original score by G. K. Venkatesh and cinematography by B. Dorairaj and Rajaram.
Bhookailasa is a 1958 Indian Kannada language film directed by K. Shankar and produced by A. V. Meiyappan under the banner of AVM Productions. It stars Rajkumar, Kalyan Kumar and K. S. Ashwath in pivotal roles. The movie is a depiction of the legend prevalent in Gokarna, Karnataka and is also referred to as Gokarna Mahakshetra. It is based on the famous Kannada stage play Bhookailasa by Sri Sahitya Samrajya Nataka Mandali of Mysore which A. V. Meiyappan had earlier adapted into the Telugu movie titled Bhookailas in 1940. A. V. Meiyappan also shot the movie simultaneously in Telugu as Bhookailas starring N. T. Rama Rao.
Sipayi Ramu is 1972 Indian Kannada language film directed by Y. R. Swamy, based on the novel Barale Innu Yamune? by Nuggehalli Pankaja. It stars Rajkumar, Leelavathi and Aarathi. The supporting cast includes K. S. Ashwath, Shivaram, Vajramuni and Thoogudeepa Srinivas. At the 1971-72 Karnataka State Film Awards, the film was awarded the Third Best Film and Best Actress (Leelavathi).
Nanda Deepa is a 1963 Indian Kannada-language romantic drama film, directed by M. R. Vittal, making his first venture in film direction. The film was produced and written by actor Vadiraj and co-produced by Jawahar for Sri Bharathi Chitra studio house in its debut production. The film stars Rajkumar and Harini, along with Leelavathi and Udaykumar playing other pivotal roles.
Ranadheera Kanteerava is a 1960 Indian Kannada-language historical drama biographical film directed by the editor-turned-director N. C. Rajan and written by G. V. Iyer. It is one of the most popular films of acclaimed Kannada actor Rajkumar, who plays the role of an emperor Kanthirava Narasaraja I of the Wodeyar dynasty, Mysore, who was fondly named as Ranadheera Kantheerava. The film depicts the life of Kanteerava, who is known for his immense physical strength through wrestling. The film was credited to be one of the most authentic historical films made since it was entirely based on the documents found in the Mysore Palace. The film also stars Udaykumar, Leelavathi, K. S. Ashwath and Sandhya Shantaram in prominent roles.
Shravana Banthu is a 1984 Indian Kannada-language romantic drama film, written and directed by Singeetham Srinivasa Rao. The film stars Rajkumar, Urvashi and Srinath. The film, produced by P. A. Kameshwara Rao, deals with reincarnation as the subject where the lead roles get killed for their romance and then they are shown to be reborn again and fall in love yet again in the backdrop of inter-faith marriage. The dialogues and lyrics were written by Chi. Udaya Shankar. The film was received exceptionally well at the box-office and was one of the biggest hits of 1984. This was the first Kannada movie to show a computer on-screen. The director remade the movie in the same year in Telugu as Vasantha Geetam.
Vidhivilasa is a 1962 Kannada language swashbuckler film directed by S. V. Mahesh. The film stars Rajkumar, Leelavathi and K. S. Ashwath. The film is based on the story of a King who confronts destiny (fate), which appears to him in the form of a young lady, by challenging it on how he would die. The King tries in vain all means at his disposal to prevent events that destiny foretold would happen. Finally, destiny wins, employing a twisted turn of events. The film has musical score by T. Padman. The story, screenplay, dialogues and lyrics were written by H. L. Narayana Rao who happens to be the father of actor Vishnuvardhan.
Malli Maduve is a 1963 Indian Kannada-language film, directed by G. R. Nathan. The film stars Rajkumar, Udaykumar, Rajashankar and K. S. Ashwath. The film has musical score by G. K. Venkatesh. The film was a remake of Tamil film Velaikaari (1949). Rajkumar played dual role in a small portion of the movie where the second character appears only for three seconds on-screen in an important plot twist.
Veera Kesari is a 1963 Indian Kannada-language swashbuckler film directed by B. Vittalacharya and produced by Sundarlal Nahatha and Doondi. The film stars Rajkumar, T. N. Balakrishna, Udaykumar and R. Nagendra Rao. The film has musical score by Ghantasala. S. Siddalingaiah was the assistant director of this movie. B. Vittalacharya shot the movie simultaneously in Telugu as Bandipotu, with N. T. Rama Rao.
Madhu Malathi is a 1966 Indian Kannada-language romantic drama film, directed by S. K. A. Chari and produced by M. Sampath. The film stars Rajkumar, Udaykumar, Arun Kumar and Bharathi Vishnuvardhan. The film has musical score by G. K. Venkatesh. The title card credited the story to the director with a note that it was based on a book by Bhavabhuti. The story traces its origin to the ancient Indian drama Mālatīmādhava by Bhavabhuti and later went on to be one of the popular Vikram - Vetal stories from Vetala Panchavimshati, a Sanskrit work whose earliest recensions are found in Kathasaritsagara written by Somadeva.
Banashankari is a 1977 Indian Kannada film, directed by K. S. L. Swamy (Ravi) and produced by M. Peethambaram. The film stars K. R. Vijaya, Kalyan Kumar, K. S. Ashwath and S. Shivaram in the lead roles. The film has musical score by Vijaya Bhaskar.
Karuneye Kutumbada Kannu is a 1962 Indian Kannada-language film, directed by T. V. Singh Takur and produced by A. C. Narasimha Murthy and Friends. The film stars Rajkumar, Udaykumar, Balakrishna and Narasimharaju. The film has musical score by G. K. Venkatesh. The film is based on the Kannada novel Dharma Devathe by Krishnamoorthy Puranik; it was the first Kannada film adaptation from a novel.
Santha Thukaram is a 1963 Indian Kannada-language film directed by Sundar Rao Nadkarni and produced by B. Radhakrishna. The film stars Rajkumar and Leelavathi with Udaykumar, K. S. Ashwath and T. N. Balakrishna. The film has musical score by Vijaya Bhaskar. It was named the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada at the 11th National Film Awards. The movie is based on the life of poet-saint Tukaram.
Premamayi is a 1966 Indian Kannada-language film, directed by M. R. Vittal and produced by Srikanth Nahatha and Srikanth Patel. The film stars Rajkumar, K. S. Ashwath, Leelavathi and Jayanthi. The film has musical score by R. Sudarshanam. This is the only movie where Leelavathi played the role of Rajkumar's sister-in-law. The movie is an official adaptation of the National Award winning 1964 Malayalam movie Kudumbini.
Kulavadhu is a 1963 Indian Kannada-language film, directed by T. V. Singh Takur and produced by A. C. Narasimha Murthy & Friends. The film stars Rajkumar, Leelavathi, Balakrishna, Narasimharaju and K. S. Ashwath. The film has musical score by G. K. Venkatesh. The famous Ugadi song Yuga Yugadi Kaledaru from this movie is a still hit song. The movie is based on the novel of same name by Krishnamoorthy Puranik. This was Rajkumar's second movie to be based on a novel - the first being Karuneye Kutumbada Kannu (1962). Both the movies were based on novels by Krishnamoorthy Puranik.
