Narasimharaju (Kannada actor)


Tiptur Ramaraju Narasimharaju was a very popular Kannada actor specialised in roles that required ample comic timing. He was the comedy stalwart of the Kannada film industry. He acted in more than 250 Kannada films between 1954 and 1979. He was also referred to as Hasya Chakravarti.

Early life

Narasimharaju was born to Ramaraju, a police constable from Tiptur and Venkatalakshmi Amma on 24 July 1923, in Tiptur.

Career

Theatre

Narasimharaju's stage debut happened when he was 4 years old. The poverty prevailing in the house made his uncle Lakshmipathiraju take the young lad to the 'Chandra-moul-eshwara drama company' run by C. B. Mallappa who happened to be touring Tiptur during that period. He played the roles of Prahlada, Lohithaswa, Krishna, Markanda among others. After some time, Narasimharaju left that company and formed his own troupe and enacted his roles from his now previous performances – Gora-Kumbara, and Harischandra. He soon joined "Edathorey Drama Company" after his troupe sustained losses. He took on the garb of a lady in the mythological Vishvamitra, Rama, Ravana, and Bharata among others. He spent the first 27 years of his acting career in professional drama companies. He donned different roles in the plays of different companies like "Shri Chandramauleshwara Nataka Sabha", "Hirannaiah Mitra Mandali", "Bharatha Lalitha Kala Sangha", "Gunda Joisara Company" of Belur, and Gubbi "Channabasaveshwara Nataka Company". He did not neglect these drama companies even after becoming hugely popular as a film actor.

Films

He made his film debut in 1954 when he acted in the film Bedara Kannappa alongside Rajkumar in the role of the son of the temple priest. Both were colleagues from the time they were in Gubbi Veeranna's drama company. Narasimharaju took inspiration from Charlie Chaplin. He is referred to by some as one of the greatest comedians of his time. It is also said that people would not have watched Kannada films in the 1960s if he did not star in them.
Though known for his comic timing, Narasmimharaju unfortunately spent his last days mourning the death of his son in an accident. He died aged 56 on 11 July 1979 at around 4.30 a.m. due to severe heart attack. After his death, an annual cine award, the Narasimharaju Prashasti was established in his memory. He was the busiest actor in the Kannada film industry, even actors like Rajkumar used to wait for his callsheet, and used to adjust to his dates. However, despite his iconic status among Kannadigas, it is ironic that he was not awarded even once either by the state or the central governments.
A comedian by profession, Narasimharaju was a family man and knew what he had to do for his family. Narasimharaju intelligently invested his earnings into building houses in the then Madras city and Bangalore. In fact, he was the first Kannada actor to own a house in Madras, even before the matinee idol Rajkumar and is even credited to have completed 100 films before Dr Rajkumar through the 1967 film, Nakkare ade swarga

Filmography

Sl NoYearTitleRole
11954Bedara KannapaComedian
21955SodariComedian
31956Shiva Bhaktha MarkandeyaComedian
41956Hari BhakthaComedian
51956Renuka MAhatmeComedian
61957Bhaktha PrahaladaComedian
71957Prabhulinga lealeComedian
81957Nala DamayanthiComedian
91958Chori ChoriGuest appearance
101959Jagajyothi BasaveshwaraComedian
111959Dharma VijayaComedian
121959Abba Aa Hudugi
131960Rani HonnammaComedian
141960DashavataaraComedian
151960Makkala Rajya
161960Ranadheera KanteeravaComedian
171961Kaivara MahatmeComedian
181961NagarjunaComedian
191961Kittur ChennammaComedian
201961Vijayanagarada Veera Putra
211962Vidhi VilasaComedian
221962Swarna GowriComedian
231962Gaali Gopura
241962Bhoodaana
251962Ratna ManjariComedian
261963Sathi ShakthiComedian
271963Nanda DeepaComedian
281963Jenu Goodu
291963Saaku MagaluComedian
301963Jeevana TarangaComedian
311963Vaalmiki
321963Malli MaduveComedian
331964Chandra KumaraComedian
341964Chinnada GombeComedian
351964Amara Shilpi Jakana ChariComedian
361964Shivaratri MahatmeComedian
371964PratigneComedian
381964Nava JeevanaSupporting Actor
391965ChandrahasaComedian
401965VatsalyaComedian
411965Miss LeelavatiComedian
421965Nanna KarthavyaComedian
431965Sathya HarichandraComedian
441965Pathala MohiniComedian
451965Baalaraajana Kathe
461966Sri Kanyaka Parameshwari KatheComedian
471966Love in Bangalore
481966Thugu DeepaComedian
491967Manassiddare MaargaComedian
501967RajashekaraComedian
511967Bhaktha KanakadasaComedian
521967Bangaarada HoovuComedian
531967Devara Gedda ManavaComedian
541967Immadi PulikesiComedian
551967Gange GowriComedian
561967Nakkare Ade SwargaHero
571967Lagna PathrikeComedian
581967Black Market
591967Padaveedhara
601968ManasakshiComedian
611968Simha SwapnaComedian
621968Jedara BaleComedian
631968Goa Dalli CID 999Comedian
641968Namma OoruComedian
651968GandhinagaraComedian
661968Bangalore MailSupporting Actor
671968Rowdi RangannaComedian
681968Amma
691969Bhale BhasavaComedian
701969Operation Jackpot Nalli C.I.D 999Supporting Actor
711969Kaadina RahasyaComedian
721969Eradu MukhaComedian
731970Modala RaatriComedian
741970Hasiru ThoranaComedian
751970Nadina BhagyaComedian
761970Bhoopathi RangaComedian
771970Lakshmi SaraswathiComedian
781970Sri Krishnadevaraya
791970Rangamahal Rahasya
801971Kula GowravaComedian
811971Kasturi NivasaComedian
821971AnugrahaComedian
831971Malathi MadhavaComedian
841971Namma BadakuComedian
851971Jatakaratna Gundaa JoisaLead Hero
861971SharapanjaraComedian
871972Yava Janmumada MythriComedian
881972Naari Munidare Maari
891972Gandhada GudiShivaji Role
901973Devaru Kotta ThangiComedian
911974Professor HucchuryaLead Hero
931975Onde Roopa Eradu GunaComedian
941975Aashirvaada
951976AparadhiComedian
961977Lakshmi NivasaComedian
971977Kittu PuttuGuest Appearance
981977Yella Hanakkagi
991978Maathu Thappadha MagaComedian
1001978Vasantha LakshmiComedian
1011978Kiladi KittuComedian
1021978Nammuru
1031978Sneha Sedu
1041979Preethi Madu Tamashe NoduComedian
1051979Asadhya AliyaComedian
1061980Manjina ThereComedian
1071963Veera KesariComedian
1081967Premakkoo PermitteComedian
1091971PrathidwaniComedian