Rajesh (Kannada actor)

Rajesh
Born Vidyasagar
(1935-04-15) 15 April 1935
Bangalore, Kingdom of Mysore, British India
Residence Vidyaranyapura, Bangalore
Nationality  India Indian
Citizenship Indian
Occupation Actor
Years active 1963–present
Known for Actor
Children 5
Relatives Arjun Sarja (son-in-law)

Vidyasagar (born 15 April 1935),[1] known by his stage name Rajesh, is an Indian actor who appears in Kannada films. Known as 'Kala Thapswi', Rajesh is an ardent fan of literature. Vidyasagar is the original name of Rajesh. He appeared in many films as the lead in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but later on started appearing in character roles. He is the father of film actress Aasha Rani who had acted in the film Rathasapthami with Shivrajkumar and the father in law of popular Kannada and Tamil actor Arjun Sarja. He has acted in over 150 films.[1] "Kalathapasvi Rajesh Athmakathe" is the biography of Rajesh. In 2014, he was awarded the Dr. Rajkumar Cultural Endowment Award by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat.[2]

Early life

Rajesh was born as Vidyasagar was born in 1935 in Bangalore, India. 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, Bangalore.[3]

Career

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 gave it a 100 per cent tax exemption. It was the film's producer B.S. Narayan,Late Shri Suryanarayan Rao & Late J N Shetty 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.[3]

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.[3] 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, 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,"[4]

Famous Songs

  1. Ravi Varmana - Sose Thanda Sowbhagya
  2. Indina hindu deshada - Kappu Bilapu
  3. Mutthu Uruli Hogi, Kangalu Vandane Needidhe - Mughiyada Kathe.
  4. Ee desha chenna - Kaveri
  5. Krishna Gaaliyapata - Devarda duddu
  6. Mareyadhiru Aa Shaktiya - Pitamaha
  7. Beluvalada Madilalli - Beluvalada Madilalli
  8. Tari Kere Yeri Mele - Devara Duddu
  9. Hogadhiri sohadare - Namma Ooru
  10. Alli illi hudukuthe yeke - Boregowda Bengalurige Banda
  11. Devanobba - Namma Oora Devaru
  12. Siri Kannada Nadu - Swarnabhoomi
  13. Kanada Devaru - Kappu Bilapu[5]

Awards

Honorary Doctorate: For his contribution to Indian Cinema and achievements in the Kannada Film Field for four and a half decades, legendary actor Rajesh was conferred the honorary doctorate by the Karnataka University in the year 2012.[6][7]

Partial Filmography

Please refine and expand this Filmography. The List contains only selected movies in Lead Role
No Year Movie (in Kannada) Director Co-stars Banner
1 1964 Veera Sankalpa Hunsur Krishnamurthy
2 1963 Sri. Ramanjanaiah Yuddha M.S. Nayak
3 1967 Gange Gowri B.R. Pantulu
4 1968 Namma Ooru C.V. Shivshankar Shailashri, Krishnakumari, Ashwath, Balakrishna, Narasimharaju, Dinesh. Jayis Productions
5 1969 Suvarna Bhoomi A.M. Sammevulla Sudarshan, Shailashri, Udaykumar, Balakrishna. Bava movies
6 1969 Broker Bheeshmachari B.C. Srinivas Jayanthi, Shailashri, Narasimharaju. L.B.N. Productions
7 1969 Kappu Bilupu Puttanna Kanagal Kalpana, Balakrishna, Adavani Lakshmidevi, Sudarshan. Ravikumar Movies
8 1969 Eradu Muka M.R. Vittal Jayanthi, Manjula, Narasimharaju, Sampath, Ashwath, Ranga, Chitrashri International
9 1969 Punnya Purusha K. Janakiram Chandrakala, Narasimharaju, Pandaribai, Niranjan. Suvarna Movies
10 1969 Kaanike Satyam Kalpana, Ashwath, Dwarakish, Shailashri. Srilakshmi Movietone
11 1969 Brindavana S.P. Rajgopal Kalpana, Padmanjali, Balakrishna, Ashwath. Nandi Films
12 1969 Bhale Basava B.S. Ranga Jayanthi, Udaykumar, Rajashri, Premalatha Vikram Productions
13 1970 Arishina Kumkuma K.S.L. Swamy Kalyankumar, Kalpana, B.V. Radha, Dwarakish. Gurubhakthi Films
14 1970 Mooru Muthugalu Aaruru pattabhi Srinath, Pandaribai, Radha, Mainavathi. Sriranganatha Productions
15 1970 Boregowda Bangalorige Banda B.a. Urskumar Leelavathi, Vandana, Srinath. Sri Mallikarjuna Enterprises
16 1970 Namma Mane Bangara raju Kalpana, B.V. Radha, Ashwath, Dinesh, Pandaribai. Yeshwanth Films
17 1970 Suka Samsara Vijaya Satyam Udaykumar, Srinath, Rajashri. Venugopal
18 1970 Aaaru Mooru Vambathu. K.S.L. Swamy Udaykumar, Srinath, Ramesh, Ravi, Ashwath, Radha, Raghunandan
19 1970 Devara Makkalu Y.R. Swamy Rajkumar, Kalpana, Jayanthi, Narasimharaju. Bharath Enterprises
20 1971 Poornima R. Dayananda Sagar Srinath, Udaykumar, B. Sarojadevi. Dayananda Productions
21 1971 Betaala Gudda B.A. Urskumar Udayachandrika, Shankar, Dwarakish, Eesh. Sri Gajanana Films
22 1971 Namma Baduku M.N. Aaradhya Vijayakala, Purnima, Narasimharaju. Vijaya Karnataka
23 1971 Bhale Adhrushtavo Adrustha K.S.L. swamy Gangadhar, Kalpana, Dwarakish, Srinath, Chi.Udayshankar, Shivram, Radha. Raghunandan Movies
24 1971 Bhale Bhaskara R. Ramamurthy Rajesh, Gangadhar, Anitha, Narasimhraju, Udaykumar, Jayakumari. Srirama Enterprises
25 1971 Hennu, Honnu, Mannu "Basavaraja kesturu, Baradaraj" Udayachandrika, Shankar, B.R.Jayaram, Shakthi Prasad, Toogudeepa Srinivas Triveni Films
26 1971 Prathidhwani Dorai-Bhagvan Rajkumar, Aarathi, Shankar, Dinesh. Anupama Movies
27 1972 Vishakanye Hunsur Krishnamurthy Ashwath, Jayanthi. Karnataka Movies
28 1972 Subhadra Kalyana Kangal Prabhakar Shastri Kalpana, Gangadhar, Vajrmuni, B.V.Radh, Vijayakala, Narasimharaju. Chamundeshwari Studios
29 1972 Ondu Hennina Kathe B.R. Pantulu Jayanthi, Rajamma, B.V.Radha, Sudarshan. Padmini Pictures
30 1972 Kranti Veera R. Ramamurthy Rajkumar, Jayanthi, Radha, Dwarakish. Srirama Enterprises
31 1972 Bhandavya Ratnakar-Madhu Gangadhar, Pandaribai, B.V.Radha, Ashwath. Deepak Films
32 1972 Mareyada Deepavali R.Sampath Kalpana, Sampath, Ashwath. S.V.N. Movies
33 1973 Sahadarmini Satyanarayana B. Sarojadevi, Shubha, Pramila Josai. Shashiraj Movies
34 1973 Bidugade Y.R. Swamy Rajkumar, Kalpana, Bharathi, Kala. Ramesh Movies
35 1974 Urvashi Tipturu Raghu Rajashri, Shivram, Dinesh, Balakrishna, Shakti prasad. Kalpataru Films
36 1974 Grihini "Vijay, Satyam" B.Sarojadevi, Ramgopal, Vijayakala. Samudra Movies
37 1975 Devara Gudi R. Ramamurthy Bharati, Vishnuvardhan, Manjula, Shivram, Manorama. Srirama Enterprises
38 1975 Kasturi Vijaya Srikanth Jayanthi, Shivram, Chandrashekar, Balakrishna. Mukambika Films
39 1975 Mane Belaku Y.R. Swamy Chandrakala, Ashwath, Chandrashekar, Balakrishna, Radha. Sovereign Cine Enterprises
40 1975 Sarpa Kaavalu S.N. Singh Anitha, B.V. Radha, Tugudeepa Srinivas. Malleshwari Pictures
41 1975 Kaveri H.N. Reddy Bharathi, Ashwath, Sampath, Balakrishna, Surekha. Sri Sharada Cine Productions
42 1975 Viplava vanithe Chakravarthi Vijalalitha, B.V. Radha, Gangadhar, Balakrishna. Kiran Pictures
43 1975 Ashirvada Kunigal Nagabhushan Udaykumar, Ramgopal, Narasimharaju, Rajashri, Vijayakala. R. Jayartna Films
44 1975 Belavaladha Madilalli Geethapriya Kalpana, Chandrashekar, Shantala, Balakrishna, Shakthi prasad, Vankatarao Talageri. Nirupama Movies
45 1976 Baduku bangaravayithu A.V. Sheshagirirao Srinath, Ashwath, Jayanthi, Jyothishri, Manjula, Vajramuni, Bhuvaneshwari Arts Productions
46 1976 Mugiyada kathe Dorai Sumitra, Balakrishna, Shailashri, Ashwath, Pandaribai, Gangadhar, Panduranga Productions
47 1976 Maya manushya Kutumbarao Surekha, Radha, Vadiraj, Shakthi prasad, Shailashri. Sudarshan Films
48 1976 Rajanarthakiya rahasya B.Harinarayana Kalpana, Udayakumar, Ramgopal. Sri Padma Productions
49 1977 Devara Duddu K.S.L. Swamy Srinath, Jayanthi, Dwarakish, Chandrashekar. Rani Arts
50 1977 Renukadevi mahatme C.s.rao B.Sarojadevi, Manjula, Srinath, Dwarakish. Padmalakshmi Combines
51 1977 Sose Tanda Sowbhagya A.V.Sheshagirirao Manjula, Vishnuvardhan, Vijayalalitha. Bhuvaneshwari Arts productions
52 1978 Aatma Shakthi Raja Vasudeva rao, Shakti prasad, Pratima reddy. Sri Gurunarasimha Enterprises
53 1980 Gurusarvabowma Sri Raghavendra Karune Hunsur Krishnamurthy B. Sarojadevi, Gangadhar, Jamuna, Dinesh, Ashalatha, Sri lalitha, Lakshmi Prakash Combines
54 1980 Mayeya musuku B.Y. Ramdas Srilalita, Balakrishna, Shashikala, Direndra Gopal. Kalasri Productions
55 1981 Premanubanda R. Ramamurthy Srinath, Dinesh, manjula, K.Vijaya. Srirama Enterprises
56 1981 Chadurida chitragalu N.T. Jayarama reddy Aarati, Indusri, Ashalata. Popular Pictures
57 1982 Vasanta nilaya K.V.S. Kutumbarao Vasantamalini, Su.kru. urs, Shakti prasad. Kanakadhara Theatres
58 1983 Aanand bhairavi Jandyala Girishkarnad, Malavika, Kanchana, Mahalakshmi Dwarakish Films
59 1984 Kaliyuga Rajachandra Aarathi, Balakrishna, Vijaya, Vijayakashi. Singh Brothers
60 1985 Devara Mane A.T.Raghu Ambarish, Tu. Srinivas. Mani padma Films
61 1985 Pithamaha Ravi Udaykumar, Ravichandran, Vijayalakshmi Singh. Singh Brothers
62 1986 Thavaru mane Vijay Kalyankumar, Bharathi, Charanraj, Bhavya. Madhu Enterprises
63 1991 Thavarumane Udugore B. Subba Rao Sridhar, Malashri, Sunil Suresh Productions

:Refer: Kannada films of the 1960s, Kannada films of the 1970s

References

  1. 1 2 "From theatre to celluloid". The Hindu. 9 April 2011.
  2. "'Quality of Kannada films has declined'". The Hindu. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Rajesh: Stunner on Silver Screen
  4. Rajesh's View on Current Trend in Film Industry
  5. "Old Kannada Songs". Shobha Karandlaje. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
  6. "Rajesh honarary doctorate - Kannada Movie News". Indiaglitz.com. 2012-01-04. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
  7. "Doctorate for Rajesh". Supergoodmovies.com. 2012-01-04. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
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