Sampath Kumar, known by his stage name Vishnuvardhan, was an Indian actor who worked predominantly in Kannada cinema besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam language films. Vishnuvardhan has a prolific career spanning over four decades, during which he has acted in more than 220 films. A popular cultural icon of Karnataka, and holds the status of a matinée idol among the Kannada diaspora. He is popularly called as Sahasa Simha, Dada and The Angry Young Man of Kannada Cinema. Vishnuvardhan's contributions to Kannada cinema have been praised by his contemporaries in the Indian film industry. The Government of Karnataka honoured him with the Rajyothsava Prashasthi in 1990 and the Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 for his contributions to Kannada cinema. He was called The Phoenix of Indian Cinema. In 2008, a poll conducted by CNN-IBN listed Vishnuvardhan as the most popular star in the Kannada film industry.
Naagarahaavu (transl. Cobra) is a 1972 Indian Kannada-language film directed by Puttanna Kanagal, based on T. R. Subba Rao's three novels Nagarahavu, Ondu Gandu Eradu Hennu and Sarpa Mathsara, and starring Vishnuvardhan, Aarathi, K. S. Ashwath and Shubha. The supporting cast features Leelavathi, M. Jayashree, M. N. Lakshmi Devi, Ambareesh, Shivaram, Dheerendra Gopal, Lokanath and Vajramuni. The film has a musical score by Vijaya Bhaskar. Cinematography was done by Chittibabu.
Sonu Nigam is an Indian playback singer, music director, dubbing artist and actor. Nigam is a recipient of Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award. Nigam sings predominantly in Hindi and Kannada language films but has also sung in Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Odia, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Malayalam, Nepali, Tulu, Chhattisgarhi, Meitei and other Indian languages. Nigam has released a number of non-film albums and acted in some Hindi films. He is known as the "Modern Rafi", a title given to him after his musical idol Mohammad Rafi.
Maathu Tappada Maga is a 1978 Indian Kannada-language film, written and directed by Peketi Sivaram. It stars Anant Nag, Sharada, Aarathi and Rajinikanth, in his 25th film appearance. Udaykumar, K. S. Ashwath, Narasimharaju and T. N. Balakrishna feature in supporting roles.
Sajni,, is a 2007 Indian Kannada-language film directed by Murugesh. The film stars Dhyan, Sharmila Mandre and Anant Nag in lead roles. lead actress Sharmila Mandre makes her Kannada debut through this film. The film is produced by Sonali Nikhil and Sunanda Murali Manohar. The film is the Kannada remake of Tamil film Jodi which was released in 1999. For the first time in Kannada cinema, the film featured a soundtrack composed by A. R. Rahman with all compositions re-used from Rahman's Tamil film Jodi which in turn had re-used some of the tracks from Rahman's Hindi movie Doli Saja Ke Rakhna. The film was released statewide on 23 February 2007.
Bandhana is a 1984 Indian Kannada-language romantic drama film directed by Rajendra Singh Babu from a screenplay by H. V. Subba Rao and Rajendra Singh Babu, based on a novel of the same name by Usha Navaratnanram. The film revolves around the relationship between a surgeon, Harish and his student Nandini. The film stars Vishuvardhan as Dr. Harish and Suhasini as his protégé Nandini, along with Jai Jagadish, Roopadevi and G. K. Govinda Rao in supporting roles.
Pancharangi is a 2010 Indian Kannada language romantic comedy film with philosophical overtones directed and produced by Yogaraj Bhat starring Diganth and Nidhi Subbaiah in the lead roles. The music has been composed by Mano Murthy, story and screenplay is written by Pawan Kumar. The film was predominantly shot in the coastal locales of Karnataka state.
Malaya Marutha is a 1986 Kannada-language musical film starring Vishnuvardhan, Saritha and Madhavi. The film was directed and written by K. S. L. Swamy and produced by C. V. L Shastry under "Shastry Movies" production house. Vijaya Bhaskar has composed the soundtrack and the background score.
Mahakshatriya is a 1994 Indian Kannada-language action-drama film directed by Rajendra Singh Babu, starring Vishnuvardhan, Sonu Walia, Ramkumar, Sudha Rani and B. C. Patil. Rajendra Singh Babu won Best Director Filmfare award.
Preethi Prema Pranaya is a 2003 Indian Kannada-language drama film written and directed by Kavitha Lankesh. The film features an ensemble cast of Anant Nag, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, Sudharani, Prakash Raj, Bhavana, Anu Prabhakar and Sunil Raoh. It was produced by "Indo - Hollywood" films, consisting of five producers, namely Mano Murthy, Ram Prasad, Dr. Renuka and Somashekar. The music was composed by Mano Murthy.
Bangarada Jinke is a 1980 Indian Kannada-language film, directed by T. S. Nagabharana and produced by B. S. Somasundar and T. S. Narasimhan under the banner of Kavitha Komal Productions. It stars Vishnuvardhan, Bharathi, Aarathi, Leelavathi, Pramila Joshai and Sundar Raj.
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.
Aunty Preethse is a 2001 Indian Kannada-language romantic comedy film. It is a remake of the 1995 Telugu film Aunty and stars Anant Nag, Khushbu, Ramkumar and Anu Prabhakar. The film was a box office success and was dubbed into Tamil as Super Aunty with the comedy track of Tennis Krishna and Bank Janardhan filmed with Vadivelu and Vennira Aadai Moorthy.
Neenello Nanalle is 2006 Indian Kannada-language romance film directed by Dinesh Babu, and is a remake of the Telugu film Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana (2005). It stars Vishnuvardhan, Aniruddh and Rakshita in pivotal roles. Anant Nag, Srinivasa Murthy, Ramakrishna and Chitra Shenoy feature in supporting roles. The title of the film comes from a track of the same name of the 1982 Kannada film Chalisuva Modagalu starring Rajkumar. This movie was the 2500th Kannada movie to be released.
Namma Samsara is a 1971 Indian Kannada language drama film written and directed by Siddalingaiah. It stars Rajkumar and Bharathi. The film was released under Srikanth & Srikanth Enterprises banner and produced by Srikanth Nahata and Srikanth Patel.
Nagarahole is a 1977 Indian Kannada-language children's adventure film written by H. V. Subba Rao, with screenplay and direction by Rajendra Singh Babu, starring Vishnuvardhan, Bharathi and Ambareesh. The film was dubbed in Malayalam as Kaadu Njangalude Veedu, in Tamil as Yaanai Engal Thozhan and in Hindi as Bahadur Bachhe. Director Babu revealed that the base plotline was inspired by the books of Enid Blyton.
Madhura Sangama is a 1978 Indian Kannada-language film, directed by T. P. Venugopal, starring Anant Nag, Radha Saluja and Ashok. The film has musical score by Rajan–Nagendra. One of the early multi-starrers of Kannada cinema. The movie had extended cameo appearances by a galaxy of stars in the Kumara Rama ballet.
Jeevakke Jeeva is a 1981 Indian Kannada-language film, directed by K. S. R. Das and produced by S. V. Srikanth. The film stars Anant Nag, Shankar Nag, Saritha and Dwarakish. The film has musical score by Rajan–Nagendra.
Hosa Neeru is a 1986 Kannada-language film, directed by K. V. Jayaram and written by K. V. Raju. The film stars Anant Nag and Suhasini. It is considered one of the best movies by the Anant Nag and K. V. Jayaram duo. It is also the first movie for Suhasini with Anant Nag.
...Re is a 2016 Indian Kannada comedy film written and directed by Sunil Kumar Desai. The film has an ensemble cast consisting of veteran actors: Ramesh Aravind, Anant Nag, Master Hirannaiah, Loknath, Shivaram, Tennis Krishna, Ramesh Bhat, Vaijanath Biradar, Sharath Lohithaswa, Suman, G. K. Govinda Rao among others. Harshika Poonacha and debutant actress Suman play female leads in the film. Ananth Nag had revealed that the movie is thematically similar to Badal Sircar's play Ballabpurer Roopkatha.
