Purandara Dasa was a composer, singer and a Haridasa philosopher from present-day Karnataka, India. He was a follower of Madhvacharya's Dvaita philosophy. He was one of the chief founding proponents of Carnatic music. In honor of his significant contributions to Carnatic music, he is widely referred to as the Pitamaha of Carnatic music. According to a legend, he is considered as an incarnation of Narada.
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 39 movies have been remade 62 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.
Kanaka Dasa (1509–1609) was a Haridasa saint and philosopher of Dvaita Vedanta, popularly called Daasashreshta Kanakadasa from present-day Karnataka, India. He was a follower of Madhvacharya's Dvaita philosophy and a disciple of Vyasatirtha. He was a renowned composer of Carnatic music, poet, reformer and musician. He is known for his keertanas and ugabhoga, and his compositions in the Kannada language for Carnatic music. Like other Haridasas, he used simple Kannada and native metrical forms for his compositions.
Sri Purandara Dasaru is a 1967 Indian Kannada-language film, directed by C. V. Raju and produced by Smt Jayalakshmi. The film stars K. S. Ashwath, R. Nagendra Rao, Udaykumar and Rajashankar. The film has musical score by C. N. Pandurangan. This was the third Kannada movie on the life of Purandara Dasa after the 1937 movie Purandaradasa and the 1964 movie Navakoti Narayana.
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.
Sankaramanchi Janaki, popularly known as Sowcar Janaki, is an Indian actress who has appeared in close to over 390, films, predominantly in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada languages. She also performed on stage in over 300 shows and was a radio artist during her earlier years. She is the recipient of two Nandi Awards, Kalaimamani and India's fourth-highest civilian award Padma Shri. Her younger sister Krishna Kumari, is also a noted actress.
Charukesi is a rāga in Carnatic music. It is the 26th Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Tarangini in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.
Kharaharapriya is a rāga in Carnatic music. It is the 22nd melakarta rāga in the 72 melakarta rāga system. It is possible that the name of the ragam was originally Harapriya but it was changed to conform to the Katapayadi formula. Kharaharapriya has a distinct melody and brings out the Karuna rasam, invoking pathos in the listeners. The Kafi thaat of Hindustani music is the equivalent of Kharaharapriya. Its Western equivalent is the Dorian mode.
T. Krishna Kumari was an Indian actress. She worked predominantly in Telugu films, in addition to Tamil and Kannada films in the 1950s and 1960s. She was the sister of noted actress Sowkar Janaki.
Shabdavedhi is a 2000 Kannada-language action drama film directed by S. Narayan and produced by Sri Bhargavi Arts Combines. It stars Rajkumar, Jayapradha, K. S. Ashwath, Sowcar Janaki, Umashree. The music was composed by Hamsalekha. It film marked the last acting venture of Rajkumar. The film is based on a novel of same name by Vijay Sasanur.
Bayalu Daari is a 1976 Indian Kannada-language film directed and produced by the Dorai–Bhagavan duo. It is based on the novel of the same name by Bharathi Sutha. The film starred Anant Nag, Kalpana and K. S. Ashwath. The film was a musical blockbuster with all songs composed by Rajan–Nagendra considered evergreen hits. Bayalu Daari was the first commercial success for Anant Nag, who had earlier done art films and established him as a leading star in the Kannada cinema with a chocolate hero image. This film was one of the last big hits of Kalpana. Ilayaraja was the guitar player for this movie. This was the first movie of the director duo without Dr. Rajkumar in the lead.
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.
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.
Haalu Jenu (transl. Milk and Honey) is a 1982 Indian Kannada-language tragicomedy film directed by Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, starring Rajkumar, Madhavi and Roopa Devi. The movie is famous for its evergreen songs, which were composed by G. K. Venkatesh. The movie was remade in Telugu in 1985 as Illale Devata.
Saaku Magalu is a 1963 Kannada language romantic drama film directed and produced by B. R. Panthulu and starring Rajkumar and Sowcar Janaki. The film marked the entry of acclaimed actress Kalpana, who went on to become one of the most sought-after actresses in Kannada cinema.
Thayige Thakka Maga is a 1978 Indian Kannada-language sports action film directed by V. Somashekhar and produced by Parvathamma Rajkumar. It is based on the story written by Anjaneya Pushpanand.
Kanyarathna is a 1963 Indian Kannada language film directed by J. D. Thotan in his directorial debut. It stars Dr. Rajkumar and Leelavathi. The supporting cast features Rajashankar, Balakrishna, Dikki Madhava Rao, Rathnakar and Sowcar Janaki.
Manassakshi is a 1968 Indian Kannada-language film, directed by S. K. A. Chari and produced by A. L. Srinivasan. The film stars Rajkumar, Bharathi, Narasimharaju and M. P. Shankar. The film has musical score by G. K. Venkatesh. The movie was a remake of the 1961 Tamil movie Thirudadhe which itself was a remake of 1956 Hindi movie Pocket Maar.
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.
Anuradha is a 1967 Indian Kannada film, directed by Aruru Pattabhi and produced by Pandari Bai. The film stars Raja Shankar, Jayanthi, K. S. Ashwath and Pandari Bai in the lead roles. The film has musical score by Rajan Nagendra. Dr. Rajkumar appeared as himself in a cameo role in this movie. This was his first guest appearance role in a movie.
