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.
Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, also known mononymously as Bharathi, is an Indian actress known primarily for her work in Kannada cinema and television serials. She began her career in 1966, as a lead actress, with the Kannada movie Love in Bangalore though Dudde Doddappa was her first release. In a career spanning over 50 years, Bharathi has appeared in 150 films. Apart from 100 films in Kannada, she has also acted in a handful of Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films. Through the course of her career, she became known for her portrayal of roles of mythological and historical characters, and also that of a student, a romantic and a rural belle. Her role in Sri Krishnadevaraya (1970) as Chennambike won her the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress. In 2017, she was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India. She has the distinction of having paired with Dr.Rajkumar as a lead actress in all the 26 movies she acted with him and is also paired with him the most no. of times in those movies where he played multiple roles.
Bommasandra Srinivasaiah Suryanarayana Murthy, known by his screen name Udaykumar, was an Indian actor and producer in Kannada cinema. He, along with Kalyan Kumar and Rajkumar, were called the Kumarathrayaru of Kannada cinema. He has authored many dramas and books. He has performed a broad range of roles and worked with all of the prominent actors of his day. He portrayed heroic characters early in his career and then played more nuanced villainous characters, often countering Rajkumar's heroic persona in historicals and mythologicals.
Vishnuvardhana is a 2011 Indian Kannada language action thriller film directed by Pon Kumaran in his directorial debut and produced by Dwarakish. It stars Sudeepa, Bhavana Menon, Priyamani and Sonu Sood. The music was composed by V. Harikrishna.
Yajamana is a 2000 Indian Kannada-language film directed by R. Sheshadri and Radha Bharathi. The film is a remake of Tamil film Vaanathaippola which released at the beginning of the same year. The movie became an industry hit by creating many records. The film stars Dr.Vishnuvardhan, Prema, Shashikumar and Abhijeeth.
Mayor Muthanna is a 1969 Indian Kannada-language film directed by Siddalingaiah. The film stars Rajkumar and Bharathi. The film was Siddalingaiah's debut as a director and actor Dwarkish's first independent production venture who had earlier co- produced the 1966 movie Mamatheya Bandhana with 2 other people under Thunga Pictures. The sub-plot of the film regarding the salvaging of the sub-standard grain was inspired by the 1886 novel The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy. The movie was remade in Telugu in 1974 as Chairman Chalamayya starring Chalam.
Immadi Pulikeshi is a 1966 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.
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.
Operation Diamond Racket is a 1978 Indian Kannada-language action spy thriller film produced and directed by Dorai–Bhagavan. The film stars Rajkumar, alongside Padmapriya, Chandralekha, Vajramuni, Thoogudeepa Srinivas, Tiger Prabhakar and M. B. Shetty. The music was composed by G. K. Venkatesh, while cinematography and editing were handled by P. S. Prakash and P. Bhaktavatsalam.
Hasiru Thorana is a 1970 Indian Kannada language drama film directed by T. V. Singh Thakur and written by Sundaramma. It stars Rajkumar, Udaykumar and Bharathi Vishnuvardhan. The film was released under Sri Indira Movies banner and produced by Y. Anantharama Rao. The film, featuring the soundtrack composed by Upendra Kumar was received well upon release.
Emme Thammanna is a 1966 Indian Kannada-language film produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu. It stars Rajkumar, Dikki Madhava Rao, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan. The supporting cast features Narasimharaju, Subbanna, Krishna Shastry, B. R. Panthulu, Papamma, Jaya and M. V. Rajamma. The film was remade in Telugu as Govula Gopanna (1968), in Hindi as Jigri Dost (1969) and in Tamil as Mattukara Velan (1970). This was the first social drama movie of Rajkumar where he played dual roles in a full-fledged manner excluding Malli Maduve where his second character appears only for three seconds. The core plot was loosely based on a Marathi play.
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.
Makkala Bhagya is a 1976 Indian Kannada-language film, directed by K. S. L. Swamy (Ravi) and produced by K. Vittal Kumar and K. V. Honnappa. The film stars Vishnuvardhan, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, K. S. Ashwath and Dwarakish in the lead roles. The film has musical score by Vijaya Bhaskar. It is a remake of the Tamil movie Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum, which itself was an adaptation of the 1953 British film Twice Upon a Time and the 1961 movie The Parent Trap – both based on the Erich Kästner's 1949 German novel Lottie and Lisa.
Bhoodana is a 1962 Indian Kannada-language film jointly directed and produced by G. V. Iyer and P.S. Gopalkrishna. The film stars Rajkumar, Kalyan Kumar, Udaykumar and K. S. Ashwath. The film has musical score by G. K. Venkatesh.
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. This was the last movie where Bhagwan directed Bharathi Vishnuvardhan.
Katari Veera is a 1966 Indian Kannada-language swashbuckler film directed by Y. R. Swamy and produced by T. Vasanna and S. Heera. The film stars Dr. Rajkumar, Udaya Chandrika, Udaykumar, Narasimharaju, Balakrishna and Vanisri. This is the first Kannada film of actress Udaya Chandrika and was also the debut movie of Nagappa - who went on to become one of the popular villains of his time. The film has musical score by Upendra Kumar who also made his debut in Kannada movies through this movie.
Gandondu Hennaru is a 1969 Indian Kannada-language film, directed and produced by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Rajkumar, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, Narasimharaju and Mynavathi. The film has musical score by T. G. Lingappa. The movie was remade in Tamil in 1972 as Raman Thediya Seethai.
Amma is a 1968 Indian Kannada-language film, directed and produced by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Rajkumar, Bharathi, B. R. Panthulu and M. V. Rajamma. The film has musical score by T. G. Lingappa. In a small drama sequence, he appeared as Babruvahana. In another sequence, the tragic climax of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet was adapted on - screen in English with Rajkumar playing the role of Romeo and Bharathi as Juliet.
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.
Rajashekara is a 1967 Indian Kannada-language film, directed by G. V. Iyer and produced by B. S. Ranga. The film stars Rajkumar, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, Udaykumar, Balakrishna and Narasimharaju. The film has musical score by G. K. Venkatesh.
