Udaykumar
Born
Bommasandra Srinivasaiah Suryanarayana Murthy

(1933-03-16)16 March 1933
Died26 December 1985(1985-12-26) (aged 52)
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Actor, film producer, director, writer, novelist, lyricist
Years active1954–1985
Spouse
Kamalamma
(m. 1953)
Children5

Bommasandra Srinivasaiah Suryanarayana Murthy (16 March 1933 – 26 December 1985), 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 (meaning the three Kumars) of Kannada cinema[1] He has authored many dramas and books.[2] He has performed a broad range of roles and worked with all of the prominent actors of his day.[3] He portrayed heroic characters early in his career later it became more nuanced villainous characters, often counterpointing Rajkumar's heroic persona in historicals and mythologicals.[4]

Vikram Udaykumar and Vishwa Vijetha, his sons, were also performers who starred in several Kannada films and serials. Renukabaali, his daughter, has appeared in various Kannada serials.

Early life

Udaykumar was born into a family of Mulukanadu Brahmins on 5 March 1933 (some sources say, 16 March 1933). His father's name was B. S. Srinivasaiah, and his mother's name was Sharadamma. Udaykumar was the second of four children born to the couple; he has three sisters. The family had their roots in Andhra Pradesh; their ancestors had moved to Karnataka close to 200 years before Udaykumar's birth. Udaykumar finished primary education in the villages of Heelalige and Muthanallur near the Sarjapura village in Bangalore and secondary schooling in Anekal. During that period, he was an enthusiastic participant in cultural school activities and contests. He married Kamalamma after failing his matriculation exams; he was 20 at the time. Udaykumar thereafter started working as a physical education teacher at an Anekal school. He eventually relocated to Bangalore city on the advice of a friend and joined the theatre company of Gubbi Veeranna where he began his career as an actor.[5]

Film career

In 1954, story and screenwriter Kanagal Prabhakar Shastry began working on the script of Bhagyodaya. During this time, Udaykumar played Buddha on stage in Mandya with Gubbi Veeranna's theatre troupe, when Shastry's assistant during the time, S. K. Bhagavan, offered him the lead role in the film. Udaykumar was cast in the part after a successful screen test with Shastry a few days later. Shastry also gave Udaykumar his screen name after the film's title and the banner it was being produced under – Udaya Productions.[6]

"Kalakesari", "Natasamrat", and "Pavanasutha" Udaykumar were popular South Indian film artists of yesteryear. "Gandugali" Udaykumar has acted in 193 feature films which include 171 in Kannada, 15 in Telugu, 6 in Tamil, and one in Hindi. He has won many regional and national awards for best performance, especially in Kannada films.

Udayakumar has battled for the objective of "Kannadigas unification" as a strong leader and orator. He aggressively engaged and took the front line with leaders like Ma. Ramamurthy Kannada flag, Aa. Na. Kru A. N. Krishna Rao, Thirumale Shriranga Tatacharya (of the Karnataka Navodaya movement), Ta. Su. Shama Rao, Dr. Ha. Ma. Nayak, Ta. Ra. Su and many more had fought for the well-being of the language Kannada and the people of Karnataka, through his travels, write-ups, and public speeches throughout the state.

He used his stage plays to convey social messages to the general public through "Udaya Kalanikethana," a training school for Theatrical Arts and Film Acting that he created. Despite his busy filming schedules, Kalakesari Udaykumar used to help underprivileged professional theatre organizations by appearing in plays all throughout Karnataka for at least a week every month beginning in 1960.

In 2005, on the occasion of Udaykumar’s 73rd birthday, the registered charity trust “Pavanasutha Kesari Kalaa Shalaa” was established during a cultural event called “Udaya-73 ONDU SAVINENAPU” (Udaya-73 a treasured remembrance) held in his birthplace of Anekal, Bangalore. The trust, founded by Mr. Vikram Udaykumar, aims to provide social and cultural services and has established a formal educational institution, known as “P.S.M. School” in Anekal, as well as “Kalaashaala,” a cultural school that offers opportunities to learn classical music and performing arts such as Bharathanatyam. The trust’s activities include formal education, promoting rural talent in performing arts, and organizing state-level drama competitions among other initiatives.

Filmography

  • All films are in Kannada unless otherwise noted.
Year Film Role(s) Notes
1956 Bhagyodaya
1956 Daiva Sankalpa
1956 Panchratna Ishwara
1957 Varadakshine Raghu
1957 Bettada Kalla Bhairava
1957 Rathnagiri Rahasya Rajkumar Chakravarthy
1957 Premada Putri
1958 Bhakta Prahlada
1958 Mane Thumbida Hennu
1958 School Master Ravikumar
1958 Sengottai Singam Singam Tamil film
1959 Mahishasura Mardini Rambhesha
1959 Veer Bhaskaradu Telugu film
1960 Yanai Paagan Tamil film
1960 Dashavathara Kamsa
1960 Ivan Avanethan Tamil film
1960 Ranadheera Kanteerava Vishwanatha Shastry
1960 Bhakta Kanakadasa
1960 Shivalinga Sakshi
1961 Mahavat
1961 Vijayanagarada Veeraputhra
1961 Raja Satya Vrata
1961 Sita Rama Kalyanam Kumbhakarna Telugu film
1962 Rathna Manjari
1962 Gaali Gopura Cameo
1962 Vidhivilasa
1962 Thayi Karulu
1962 Bhoodana Rama
1962 Nanda Deepa Ravi
1962 Karuneye Kutumbada Kannu Ranganna
1963 Santha Thukaram
1963 Jenu Goodu Rajanna
1963 Chandra Kumara
1963 Veera Kesari
1963 Sri Ramanjaneya Yuddha
1963 Bevu Bella
1963 Mana Mecchida Madadi Devarajayya
1963 Malli Maduve
1964 Amarashilpi Jakanachari
1964 Chandavalliya Thota Sivananjaya Gowda
1964 Kalaavati Suresh
1964 Naandi Cameo
1965 Miss Leelavathi Kapanipathi Rao Cameo
1965 Veera Vikrama
1965 Chandrahasa Shekhara
1965 Kavaleradu Kulavondu
1965 Ide Mahasudina Raja
1965 Maduve Madi Nodu Bheemanna
1965 Bettada Huli Bhairava
1965 Sathi Savithri
1965 Satya Harishchandra Vishvamitra
1965 Pathivratha
1965 Vathsalya Anand
1966 Deva Maanava
1966 Madhu Malathi
1966 Sandhya Raga Rama
1966 Katari Veera
1966 Mohini Bhasmasura Shiva
1966 Badukuva Daari
1966 Mane Katti Nodu
1966 Mantralaya Mahatme Thimmanna Bhat
1966 Sri Krishna Pandaveeyam Bhima
1967 Rajadurgada Rahasya
1967 Padavidhara
1967 Immadi Pulakeshi Kubja Vishnuvardhana
1967 Parvathi Kalyana Narada
1967 Bangarada Hoovu Ravi
1967 Sathi Sukanya
1967 Rajashekara Jagamalla
1967 Chakra Theertha Kashipathaiah
1967 Sri Purandara Dasaru Vyasatirtha
1968 Hoovu Mullu Bhima
1968 Arunodaya
1968 Simha Swapna
1968 Anna Thamma
1968 Dhoomakethu
1968 Mysore Tanga
1968 Maneye Maha Mandira
1968 Namma Ooru
1968 Jedara Bale Gopinath Kumar
1968 Mahasathi Arundathi
1968 Naane Bhagyavati
1969 Chaduranga
1969 Bhale Basava Basava
1969 Maduve Maduve Maduve
1969 Ade Hridaya Ade Mamathe
1969 Mathrubhoomi
1969 Madhura Milana Ramesh
1969 Kalpa Vruksha
1969 Mukunda Chandra
1969 Odahuttidavaru Sundar
1969 Shiva Bhakta
1969 Makkale Manege Manikya
1969 Bhagirathi
1970 Takka Bitre Sikka
1970 Kallara Kalla Shankar
1970 Hasiru Thorana Suri
1970 Aaru Mooru Ombhatthu
1970 Mrityu Panjaradalli Goodarachari 555 Bhaskar
1970 Sedige Sedu
1970 Mukti
1970 Rangamahal Rahasya Kumar
1970 Prateekaara
1970 Modala Rathri
1971 Sidila Mari
1971 Bhale Rani
1971 Jatakarathna Gunda Joisa
1971 Bhale Bhaskar
1971 Samshaya Phala
1971 Kasidre Kailasa Ramu
1971 Purnima
1971 Signalman Siddappa
1971 Mahadimane
1972 Kulla Agent 000
1972 Kaanch Aur Heera
1972 Nari Munidare Mari
1973 Bettada Bhairava
1973 Mannina Magalu
1973 Cowboy Kulla
1973 Bharathada Rathna
1973 Triveni
1973 Prema Paasha
1974 Chamundeshwari Mahime
1974 Nanu Baalabeku Ramanath
1975 Sarpa Kavalu
1975 Ashirwada
1975 Bili Hendthi
1975 Jagruthi
1975 Mantra Shakti
1976 Sutrada Bombe
1976 Rajanarthakiya Rahasya
1977 Banashankari
1977 Shani Prabhava
1977 Hemavathi
1977 Shri Renukadavi Mahatme
1977 Srimanthana Magalu
1978 Maathu Tappada Maga Diamonds smuggler
1978 Madhura Sangama
1978 Parashuraman
1978 Bhale Huduga
1978 Devadasi
1979 Putani Agent 123
1979 Seetharamu
1980 Vajrada Jalapatha
1980 Maria My Darling Mahadeva / "Ramdas"
1980 Moogana Sedu Papanna
1980 Chitrakoota
1980 Kaalinga Vinayak Patil
1981 Kula Puthra
1981 Garjane
1981 Thayiya Madilalli
1982 Sahasa Simha Chaudhary Cameo
1982 Mava Sose Saval
1982 Kempu Hori
1983 Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige Aparna's father
1983 Maga Maharaju Telugu film
1983 Bhayankara Bhasmasura
1983 Devara Theerpu
1983 Kalluveene Nudiyithu
1984 Gandu Bherunda
1984 Agni Gundam
1984 Bharyamani Telugu film
1984 Maryade Mahalu
1984 Police Papanna
1984 Ee Charitra Inkennallu
1985 Vishakanya[7] Kapala Bhairava
1985 Pithamaha
1985 Havu Eni Aata
1985 Lakshmi Kataksha Narayanadasa
1988 Varna Chakra

Awards

He won several National Awards and State awards for best performance.

Karnataka State Film Awards

  • 1967–68 – Best Supporting Actor
  • 1977–78 – Best Supporting Actor[8]

References

  1. "TOTAL KANNADA Save Our Movieland "Kannada Cinema FAQs"". totalkannada.com. 15 September 2006. Archived from the original on 15 September 2006. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  2. "Archived copy". popcorn.oneindia.in. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archive News". The Hindu. 9 March 2006. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  4. Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press. p. 486. ISBN 0-19-563579-5.
  5. ಕಲಾಕೇಸರಿ, ನಟಸಾಮ್ರಾಟ್ ಉದಯಕುಮಾರ್ ಆರಂಭದಲ್ಲಿ ನಟನೆ ಮಾಡಲ್ಲ ಅಂದಿದ್ರು.. | Cinema Swarasyagalu Part 34. Total Kannada. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  6. Director Bhagawan Interview / Naak Maatu / ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಭಗವಾನ್ ಸಂದರ್ಶನ / Kalamadhyam / about Rajkumar (in Kannada). Kalamadhyama. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  7. Visha Kanya Telugu Full Movie | Sarath Babu | Jayamalini | Jyothi Lakshmi | South Cinema Hall, retrieved 20 October 2023
  8. "Awards". Kalakesari Udaykumar. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.