Vishnuvardhan - Phoenix of Kannada Film Industry.
The sad & untimely death of Kannada film industry’s superstar Dr. Vishnuvardhan is so shocking. It is indeed a big vacuum for the Kannada film industry, which can never ever be filled. It is the passing of an era.
Dr. Raj Kumar & Dr Vishnuvardhan were like the two eyes of the Kannada Film Industry. Vishnuvardhan the voice of millions of kannadigas, His personality, and his professionalism made him the superstar of Sandalwood.
Vishnuvardhan had a tremendous reach in the box office and proved to be the most popular actor in the Kannada film industry after movie icon Dr Raj Kumar.
He is one of the Legends of Kannada film industry and most of his movies have either popular benchmarks or classics of Kannada film Industry.He is often regarded as the Phoenix of Kannada Film Industry.
Dr. Vishnuvardhan was born on September 18, 1950. Vishnuvardhan was born to Late Sri. H.L. Narayana Rao and Late Smt. Kamakshamma. His original name was Sampath Kumar. Later he adopted the name Vishnuvardhan. The name was being suggested by Puttanna Kanagal.
Vishnuvardhan, a versatile & talented actor, made his debut in ’Sandalwood’ through ’Vamshavrukha’, an art film directed by Jnanapeeth awardee Girish Karnad. He was catapulted to fame for his role of a wayward and rebellious student ’Ramachari’, in ’Nagarahaavu’, a film directed by legendary director Puttanna Kanagal.
In the early eighties kannadigas saw some highly entertaining films made. And Vishnu invariably featured in most of them. Nagarahaavu one of the biggest hits in the Kannada film industry. Comedy film Singapore Nalli Raja Kulla, the first-ever Kannada film to be shot in a Singapore. Nagarahole, S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu’s first film as director. Sose Thanda Sowbhagya, film with a social theme and message in those days. One of the greatest Kannada Mytholicagal move Bhootaiyana Maga Aiyyu. & the highly successful Bandhana.
Vishnuvardhan was known for his superb performances in many films including ’Nagarahaavu’, ’Aaptha Mithra", ’Bandhana’, ’Suprabhatha’, ’Laali’, ’Muththina Haara’ and ’Maathaad Maathaad Mallige’. He has acted in nearly two hundred movies. Two of his movies "Aaptha Rakshaka" and "School Master" will be released shortly. His previous release was ’Bellary Naga’.
He has also acted in Hindi, Malayalam and Telugu movies. Vishnuvardhan won many prestigious awards including seven best state actor awards and five Filmfare awards.
The best thing I sincerely appreciate about Dr Vishnuvardhan is, like his legendary contemporary Dr Raj Kumar, He kept himself away from the dirty world of politics.There was a time in the early 1980s when R. Gundu Rao as chief minister and Jeevaraj Alva as the minister of Kannada and Culture were after Vishnuvardhan, but he politely refused.
Three decades of career and a variety of popular roles in more than 200 movies speak high about his caliber as an actor. Bangalore University honoured him with honorary doctorate in the year 2005.
I had the privilege to meet the legendary actor Dr Vishnuvardhan several times. Today we lost a legendary actor who entertained us from so many decades. I pray God to rest his soul in peace and give us courage to bear this great and unexpected loss.