Remembering Dr. Vishnuvardhan a Stylish actor ......on his Birthday
Puttanna Kanagal named him as Vishnuvardhan for this film and today he has almost spent thirty five years in filmy land.
After film " Bhagya Jyoti " he proposed and married then popular actress " Bharati " and become a lovable husband all thorough out his life
His venture into parallel cinema was in a film called “ Harakeya Kuri “ (based on Dr. Chandrashekar Kambar' s novel with same title) directed by Ravi (K.S.L.N Swamy who also directed his Malaya Maruta).
A young cute boy Kumar wanted to become a “ Daaku” with the inspiration he got from watching films. He was promptly sent back from Rajasthan by his elder sister for studies to Bangalore.
He roamed several places and the one liking he picked up was that of visiting to the sets of Kannada films for the sake of eating spicy tasty eatables served.
This attraction made him to attend the sets and bunk the classes. He was spotted for a small role in National award winner “ Vamshavruksha “ and later he got an opportunity of his life from the great director S.R.Puttanna Kanagal for the film “ Nagara Havu “ which was a smash hit and raked into lot of popularity for this Kumar.
Puttanna Kanagal named him as Vishnuvardhan for this film and today he has almost spent thirty five years in filmy land.
He is the one of the most versatile, talented, stylish and popular actors in the Kannada film Industry. Be it a romantic, action, emotional, music, comedy or a family drama movie Vishuvardhan can enact them with effortless ease.
Three decades of career and a variety of popular roles in more than 175 films speak high about his calibre as an actor.
Some of his all-time hits are Naagara haavu, Bhooytayyana Maga Ayyu, Bhagya Jyoti, Bandhana, Naagara Hole, Muthina Haara,Suprabhata , Himapatha, Nishkarsha and
After film " Bhagya Jyoti " he proposed and married then popular actress " Bharati " and become a lovable husband all thorough out his life
His venture into parallel cinema was in a film called “ Harakeya Kuri “ (based on Dr. Chandrashekar Kambar' s novel with same title) directed by Ravi (K.S.L.N Swamy who also directed his Malaya Maruta).
It is believed that the huge fan following of him didn't want Vishnu Vardhan to deviate from his "Star Value" and "image". He continued to don the roles of macho hero and the ideal lover husband.
after his action film "Sahasa Simha" (the lion of action) directed by Joe-Saiman , Vishnuvardhan never reverted back from his action image and he still continues at this age of 55 years.
after his action film "Sahasa Simha" (the lion of action) directed by Joe-Saiman , Vishnuvardhan never reverted back from his action image and he still continues at this age of 55 years.
So
he became a prisoner of his own image in the later stages of his
carrier and signed some insignificant films which he would have easily
avoided.
He is named as Abhinaya Bhargava by his fans.
After Nagarahavu a silver jubilee film Vishnuvardhan had to wait for a long time for his second hit in Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu directed by Siddalingayya .
The films like Hombisilu, Bandhana based on novels, the hit films like Karna, Malayamarutha, Mahakshatriya, Suprabhata, Chanakya, Samraat, Halunda Thavaru possesed strong story line.
There is no doubt that Vishnuvardhan has given an above average performance in the field and has contributed significantly for the growth of Kannada cinema.
While his maiden film as hero was way back in 1972 fetched him state award, his subsequent emotional performance in Hombisilu (1977) Bandhana (1984) Lion Jagapathi Rao (1990) and in the later years brought him acclaim at the state level.
In Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu ,he has a tailor made role of Macha and angry young man in a village who always fights for the injustice and takes on the mighty power of Bhootayayya (played by Late M.P.Shankar.) the village head.
His another chilling performance came in JIMMI GALLU (though a remake) where he played an innocent villager who comes to city and becomes a victim of a conspiracy and gets “ Gallu Shikshe “ for the crime he has not done.
He has alos sang his first song in his own voice in this film ? Tuttu Anna Tinnoke , Bogase Neeru Kudiyoke ?
His best performances always came with best directors like S.V.Rajendrasing Babu and Dinesh Baboo. His performances in Dinesh Baboos films Suprabhata and Laali , can be called as Land marks in his carrier.
As a speech impaired person who learn to speak fluently by continuously talking to him self in Suprabhata was fantastic and can be done only by Vishnu.
His subdued performance as a doctor husband in Hombisilu directed by Geetapriya earned him lot of ladies fans.
He has amazing comic timing which was rarely utilized in KFI.
His first comic role as a widower in Makkala-Sainya
who has four children , who marries another widow (Actress Sumitra now
wife of director Late D.Rajendra Babu) who has three children’s from her
first husband was a hilarious fare with equally competent performace by
all the children. This film was directed by actress Laskshmi.
His other good performances came in “ Sose thanda Sowbhagya” , “Hosilu mettida Hennu” , “ Indina Ramayana” and “ Mane Mane Kathe ” .
His role of a drunkard brother loved by every body in Indina Ramayana was a revelation as well as hilarious.
He was equally good in Bhagya-Jyoti , Bangarada Gudi .
He was at his entertaining best at Kalla-Kulla, Singapuaradalli Raja-Kulla, Kiladi-Jodi, Nee Nakkare Halu Sakkare and Sahasasimha.
His another sober performance came in Rayaru-Bandaru-mavana manege .
His performance as a duty bound commando chief with golden heart in Sunilkumar Desai's " Nishkarsha " was another highlight of that movie.
Yet the artist in him has not completely come into force. His impressive performances in certain scenes in Bandhana, Suprabhata, Mutttina Hara really promised a lot. However, sadly, it has just remained a promise.
He
some where in the middle missed the track completely (Probably
misguided by that cunning Kulla of KFI Dwarakish) and resorted to acting
in a string of remakes (which constitutes about 70% of his total films)
without bothering to search for good stories and script.
He has acted in many meaning less stuff like Khaidi , Deva, Jananayaka, Naga-Kala-Bhairava, Kotigobba, Appaji, Kannada
Kuvara, Sogasugara, Vishnu-Sainya Rudra naga, Satyam-shivam-sunderam,
Simaha-jodi, kalinga, Onde-guri, Veeradhiveera, Jayasimha, Yama-Kinkara
and many others.
His very bad move in his carrier which has cost him very dearly both in the form of popularity and fan following his foolish attempt to enter bollywood that too with crap films Vishnu-Dada and Vishnu-Vijay both produced by himself in association of that third rate director Keshu-Ramsey.
From
the day one in film dom, Vishnu has been surrounded by controversies.
He was called as angry young man, moody chap, and of late philosophical.
This moody nature of his and misguided by some of his associates he had broke-up with talented director like S.V.R Babu and deprived KFI some more astonishing films and performances.
Of late the though Veerappanayaka and Suryavamsha further tapped his potentiality but not fully.
Vishnuvardhan caught
in the web he has woven around him or the industry, which is more
commercial oriented, has failed to exploit the best in him. The absence
of valuable criticism and critical writing on cinema and artists, which
is a bane in Kannada cinema also seems to have become a negative factor for his growth.
Fortunately his latest film SIRIVANTHA though a remake has received rave reviews and appreciation from both the press, industry and public.
In 2004 he was awarded a Doctorate by Mysore university and he was the only second actor in KFI who has is awarded a Doctorate till then.
Though his next film Sachin directed “ Ekadanta “ did not done him any good with a miniscule role his other film Nagathi Halli Chandrashekhar directed Film “ Maatad Maatad Mallige
“ in which he played a former who fights against globalization of
villages to perfection received again rave reviews from both press and
public and is another feather in his cap.
His another film “ Ee Bandhana “ though a remake received well by audience and show cased his talent once again in matured roles.
After this he had a lean patch with films like Nammejamanru, Bellary Naga etc failing badly at box office.
His
health was always a matter of concern for him after the age of 50. He
was suffering from severe diabetes and heart ailment. He had undergone a
major operation to remove water from his body because of which he
gained weight.
But finally Vishnuvardhan died on 30 December 2009,
due to a massive cardiac arrest at King's Court Hotel in Mysore. He was
survived by his wife, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, and two adopted
daughters, Keerthi and Chandana.
During his last part of life, he
developed more interest in spirituality. Many of his friends say that
he used to sit at home and read books on spirituality and psychology.
His close associate Dr. Rajkumar’s death also affected him both mentally and physically.
His last films were “ Master “ and Apta rakshaka “ both released after his death.
While “ Master “ failed badly , Its “ Aptarakshaka “ which was second part of his earlier hit “ Apta mitra “ was a resounding success and paid a tribute to this talented actor.
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.
This article is a tribute to this talented actor who had entertained us for nearly 30 years. May his soul rest in peace. ...
