Rajesh (Kannada Actor)
Encyclopedia
Rajesh was a popular hero of Kannada films in the yesteryears. Known as ‘Kala Thapswi’ Rajesh five feet 10 inches is an ardent fan of literature. Vidyasagar is the original name of Rajesh. He acted in many movies as a hero in the late 60's and 70's but later on started acting in character roles. He is the father of film actress Aasha Rani. He has acted in over 150 films. There is a book written on Rajesh in Kannada called "Kalathapasvi Rajesh Athmakathe".
Firstly, he joined Sudarshana Nataka Samsthe. My parents were not aware. he was uttering lie. In the name of tuition he was going for practice and the first role he got was ‘Sri Rama’. From pamphlets my parents came to know that he have joined theatre troupe. He currently lives in Vidyaranyapura
, Bangalore.
Playwright Basheer asked to him act in plays and he was in Visha Sarpa, Nandadeepa, Chandrodaya and Kittur Rani Chennamma. Thackeray role was well received.
His theatre performances eventually progressed to film roles. It was veteran director Hunsur Krishnamurthy who introduced Vidyasagar in Veera Sankalpa.He applied for 15 days leave to his job and went to Madras. While acting in this film he got offer for ‘Sri Ramanjeneya Yuddha’. Dr Rajakumar was Sri Rama and he was Bharatha, Udayakumar was Anjaneya. It was a successful film. While acting in his second film he got offer from BR Panthuluji for ‘Gange Gowri’. Dr Rajkumar was ‘Shiva’ and he was ‘Maha Vishnu’. For some politics he rejected the offer in ‘Jeevana Tharanga’. he kept quiet for two years and came back to Bangalore. But Narayan Seth from Mumbai came in touch with him and took him to CV Shivashanker. That was the new beginning of his life. Vidyasagar became Rajesh and the film was ‘Namma Ooru’.He was not only good at acting but also a good singer.
The turning point was Namma Ooru in 1968. Directed by C.V. Shivashankar, it was a runaway hit and then Finance Minister Ramakrishna Hegde
gave it a 100 per cent tax exemption. It was the film's producer B.S. Narayan who rechristened Vidyasagar as Rajesh and after that, he was flooded with offers, the song "Hoogadhiri Soohdarare" of the film Namma Ooru is a famous Hit. He recently acted in Nanna Gopala, a children film directed by Lakshman.
Though he started little late compared to the Kumars - Udaykumar, Rajkumar
and Kalyan Kumar
, they were all contemporaries. In that competitive period, Rajesh stood strong for his terrific performance on silver screen in Kannada cinema. In the charged up roles similar to what counterpart Sivaji Ganesan
was doing the stellar performance of Rajesh was well received. He was not only good in acting but also in singing.
He is of the notion that, in the 1950 onwards Honnappa Bhagavatar, Rajkumar, Udayakumar, Kalyankumar, B.R. Pantulu, K. S. Ashwath
, Narasimha raju, Balakrishna, Iyer, B. Saroja Devi
, Leelavathi, Pandari Bai, MV Rajamma, Mynavathi, Vandhana, Kalpana, Jayanthi, Bharathi enriched the film industry. But, now Rajesh regrets that Kannada films produced in the recent times have lost their credence in the absence of good story and social commitment. The yesteryear star says "Those films had a message for the society besides providing healthy entertainment. But the films that have come after 1980 lack social commitment and are of cheap taste. The technological development and huge money being spent on films have not been used by filmmakers for the good of the society,"
:Reference: Kannada films of the 1960s
, Kannada films of the 1970s
Early life
He was born in 1935 in Bangalore, India. His real name is Vidyasagar. He grew up watching then stars such as Thyagaraja Bhagavatar, Rajakumari and T.R. Mahalingam. He developed interest in theatre from his childhood and joined Sudarshana Nataka Mandali without his parents' knowledge. I grew up in life watching Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, Rajakumari BU, PU Chinnappa, TR Mahalingam, Shivakavi devotional works.Firstly, he joined Sudarshana Nataka Samsthe. My parents were not aware. he was uttering lie. In the name of tuition he was going for practice and the first role he got was ‘Sri Rama’. From pamphlets my parents came to know that he have joined theatre troupe. He currently lives in Vidyaranyapura
Vidyaranyapura
Vidyaranyapura is situated in the Northern Part of Bangalore City. Coming under the Greater Bangalore jurisdiction of [BBMP]http://www.bmponline.org), the township is named after the great Kannada poet Vidyaranya...
, Bangalore.
Early Career
Rajesh initially worked as a typist in government offices. Later he formed the Shakti Nataka Mandali, staging many popular plays. One fine day he got up from the sleet and started writing a play on unemployment. It was titled as ‘Nirudyogi Baalu’. The play he directed later. Got good appreciation. ‘Badavana Baalu’ was his next and it continued like that.Playwright Basheer asked to him act in plays and he was in Visha Sarpa, Nandadeepa, Chandrodaya and Kittur Rani Chennamma. Thackeray role was well received.
His theatre performances eventually progressed to film roles. It was veteran director Hunsur Krishnamurthy who introduced Vidyasagar in Veera Sankalpa.He applied for 15 days leave to his job and went to Madras. While acting in this film he got offer for ‘Sri Ramanjeneya Yuddha’. Dr Rajakumar was Sri Rama and he was Bharatha, Udayakumar was Anjaneya. It was a successful film. While acting in his second film he got offer from BR Panthuluji for ‘Gange Gowri’. Dr Rajkumar was ‘Shiva’ and he was ‘Maha Vishnu’. For some politics he rejected the offer in ‘Jeevana Tharanga’. he kept quiet for two years and came back to Bangalore. But Narayan Seth from Mumbai came in touch with him and took him to CV Shivashanker. That was the new beginning of his life. Vidyasagar became Rajesh and the film was ‘Namma Ooru’.He was not only good at acting but also a good singer.
The turning point was Namma Ooru in 1968. Directed by C.V. Shivashankar, it was a runaway hit and then Finance Minister Ramakrishna Hegde
Ramakrishna Hegde
Ramakrishna Mahabaleshwar Hegde was an Indian politician who served as the Chief Minister of Karnataka for three terms and as Minister of Commerce and Industry in the Union government.-Early life:...
gave it a 100 per cent tax exemption. It was the film's producer B.S. Narayan who rechristened Vidyasagar as Rajesh and after that, he was flooded with offers, the song "Hoogadhiri Soohdarare" of the film Namma Ooru is a famous Hit. He recently acted in Nanna Gopala, a children film directed by Lakshman.
Though he started little late compared to the Kumars - Udaykumar, Rajkumar
Rajkumar
Rajkumar , born as Singanalluru Puttaswamayya Muthuraju was a popular actor and singer in the Kannada film industry...
and Kalyan Kumar
Kalyan Kumar
Kalyan Kumar was a Kannada film actor. During 60s and 70s there were three prominent Kannada Film actors and among them Kalyan Kumar was one; the others being Rajkumar and Udayakumar. He was the protagonist in the first ever full length Kannada film in colour. Kalyan Kumar along with Udaykumar,...
, they were all contemporaries. In that competitive period, Rajesh stood strong for his terrific performance on silver screen in Kannada cinema. In the charged up roles similar to what counterpart Sivaji Ganesan
Sivaji Ganesan
Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan Manrayar , commonly known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan , was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century. He is one of the most respected film actors in India. He is well known for his versatility and acting skills with...
was doing the stellar performance of Rajesh was well received. He was not only good in acting but also in singing.
Later Career
He was doing what Chi Udayashanker famous cinema writer was doing in the office. In the ledger books he was keeping the famous novels and reading. Chi Udayashanker was sent out from office for that. Even he also faced the same situation. After he became hero as Rajesh he have acted with Dr Rajakumar again in Devara Makkalu, Prathidwani, Kranthiveera. In ‘Devara Gudi’ he was with Vishnuvardhana in an important role. From 1975 he got various good offers. Devara Duddu, Badhu Bangaravaythu, Beluvaladha Madilalli, Mugiyadha Kathe, which all one after the other became hits. It was a lifetime role for him in ‘Beluvaladha Madilalli’. Kaliyuga, Pitamaha. Satyanarayana Pooja Phale, Karna, and the recent Bhimoos Bang Bang Kids of SV Rajendra Singh Babu he played important roles.He is of the notion that, in the 1950 onwards Honnappa Bhagavatar, Rajkumar, Udayakumar, Kalyankumar, B.R. Pantulu, K. S. Ashwath
K. S. Ashwath
K. S. Ashwath was a veteran Kannada film actor. He has acted in more than 350 films during his five-decade-long career.-Early life:Aswath was born in Karaganahalli Village, Arakalagudu Taluk, Hassan district, Karnataka, India...
, Narasimha raju, Balakrishna, Iyer, B. Saroja Devi
B. Saroja Devi
B. Saroja Devi is an Indian actress. She is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan award and has acted in Kannada,Tamil, Telugu and Hindi movies.She is referred to as Abinaya Saraswathi by Tamil film industry and as Kannadathu Paingili by Kannada Film Industry.She ruled the roost for more than three...
, Leelavathi, Pandari Bai, MV Rajamma, Mynavathi, Vandhana, Kalpana, Jayanthi, Bharathi enriched the film industry. But, now Rajesh regrets that Kannada films produced in the recent times have lost their credence in the absence of good story and social commitment. The yesteryear star says "Those films had a message for the society besides providing healthy entertainment. But the films that have come after 1980 lack social commitment and are of cheap taste. The technological development and huge money being spent on films have not been used by filmmakers for the good of the society,"
Partial Filmography
- Please refine and expand this Filmography.
Year Film Director Notes 1964 Veera Sankalpa Junsur Krishnamurthy Vanisri 1968 Namma Ooru CV Shivashanker With Narasimharaju,Balakrishna Balakrishna (Kannada actor)Balakrishna was an Indian actor in the Kannada film industry, known for the comedy roles and drama roles. He had acted in movies such as Bangarada Manushya and many others. Though he had acted in many movies, he was ill and penniless towards end of his life.-Notable filmography:He was born on 1911...
, Hit Song1969 Bhale Basava B.S.Ranga Uday Kumar, Jayanti 1969 Punya Purusha K.Janakiram Pandaribai, Chandrakala 1969 Yeradu Mukha M.R.Vittal Jayanti, Ashwath 1970 Boregowda Bangalorige Bandha B.A.Arasu Leelavathi Leelavathi (actress)Leelavathi is a Kannada film actress who predominantly worked in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu. She has acted with legends such as Rajkumar, M. G. Ramachandran, N. T. Rama Rao, Sivaji Ganeshan, Shankar Nag, Kamal Hassan, Vishnuvardhan, Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi and various popular artists in her films...
, Vandana1970 Devara Makkalu Y.R.Swamy Rajkumar 1970 Muru Muttugalu Aaruru Pattabhi Mynavati 1970 Namma Mane Bangaara Raju Kalpana Kalpana (Kannada actress)Kalpana was a very popular Kannada cinema actress. Her epithet was Minugu taare . A versatile actress, she dominated the Kannada film industry during the late 1960s and 1970s and was critically acclaimed for her roles in movies like Sharapanjara, Gejje Pooje, Belli moda, Eradu Kanasu, Kappu Bilupu,...
, Dinesh1971 Bhale Bhaskar R.Ramamurthy Gangadhar Gangadhar (Kannada actor)Gangadhar was an Indian actor in the Kannada film industry. He had acted in over 80 films such as Sharapanjara and many others.-Career:Gangadhar studied Diploma in Mechanical and HAL. In HAL, he staged plays like Samsare Nauke, HM Nayaka and Vijayotsava. He met G.V.Iyer and was selected for...
, Anita1971 Bhethala Gudda B.A.Arasu With Dwarakish 1971 Hennu, Honnu Mannu Basavaraj Kestur Udayachandrika 1971 Namma Samsaara Siddalingaiah With K. S. Ashwath K. S. AshwathK. S. Ashwath was a veteran Kannada film actor. He has acted in more than 350 films during his five-decade-long career.-Early life:Aswath was born in Karaganahalli Village, Arakalagudu Taluk, Hassan district, Karnataka, India...1971 Onde Kula Onde Daiva D.Shankar Kalpana 1971 Poornima R. Dayananda Uday Kumar, B. Sarojadevi 1971 Pratidwani Dorai-Bhagwan Rajkumar,Aarati 1977 Sri Renukadevi Mahathme B Saroja Devi 1974 Gruhini B. Saroja Devi 1978 llaiamman B. Saroja Devi 1987 Ladies Hostel B. Saroja Devi 1977 Sose Thanda Soubagya First CinemaScope film of Kannada, With Vishnuvardhan VishnuvardhanSampath Kumar , popularly known as Vishnuvardhan , was a prominent Indian film actor. He has acted in Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil films. He has acted in over 220 movies in total that includes 200 Kannada movies, 5 Hindi movies, 5 Telugu movies, 3 Malayalam movies and 6 Tamil movies...1985 Pitamaha With Udaykumar, Mareyadhiru Aa Shaktiya Hit song 1973 Bidugade YR Swamy With Rajkumar 1972 Kranti Veera R. Ramamurthy With Rajkumar 1970 Devara Makkalu YR Swamy With Rajkumar Unknown Mareyadha Deepavali With Kalpana
:Reference: Kannada films of the 1960s
Kannada films of the 1960s
The list of Kannada feature films released by the Kannada film Industry located in Bangalore, Karnataka in the 1960s. -References:*...
, Kannada films of the 1970s
Kannada films of the 1970s
This is a list of Kannada language films released in the 1970s.-References:*...