R. Nagendra Rao

Rattihalli Nagendra Rao (23 June 1896 – 9 February 1977) was an Indian theatre actor, film actor and director in South Indian cinema.[1] Following his career in theatre, Rao turned to film a where he became an actor, director, producer, screenwriter and occasional composer. He is considered one of the most influential personalities in the history of South Indian cinema.[2]

R. Nagendra Rao
Born
Rattihalli Nagendra Rao

(1896-06-23)23 June 1896
Holalkere, Kingdom of Mysore, British India
Died9 February 1977(1977-02-09) (aged 80)
NationalityIndian
OccupationActor, film director, producer, screenwriter, composer
Spouse(s)Ratna Bai
Kamala Bai
ChildrenR. N. K. Prasad
R. N. Jayagopal
R. N. Sudarshan
R. N. Srinivas
AwardsPadma Shri (1976)

For his performance in Hannele Chiguridaga (1968), Rao won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor. Recognized for his contributions to cinema, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1976. Rao had four children, three of whom were involved in film. His second son, R. N. K. Prasad, was a cinematographer, his third son, R. N. Jayagopal, a screenwriter and lyricist and his youngest, R. N. Sudarshan, an actor.[3]

Early life

Nagendra Rao was born on 23 June 1896, in Holalkere, in Kingdom of Mysore of British India.[4]

Career

Rao began his career as an actor in theatre, performing in plays written in the Kannada language at the age of eight. As a child, he portrayed mythological female characters such as Sita, Chandramathi and Desdemona. He then switched to male roles, his work proving popular in the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore and the non-Kannada speaking Madras Presidency. In theatre, he worked with A. V. Varadacharya's Ratnavali Drama Company and Chamundeshwari company, in Mysore.[5]

With the beginning of the talking films era in India in 1931, Rao left for Bombay (now Mumbai). There, he was cast by actor and director P. K. Raja Sandow in the Tamil language films Parijata Pushpaharanam (1932), Narada (1932), Kovalan (1933) and the Telugu language film Ramadasu (1933). Rao appeared in lead roles in the latter two. Following a stint in film, Rao returned to Bangalore and founded the Shri Sahitya Samrajya Nataka Mandali (Shri Sahitya Samrajya Drama Company) with Subbaiah Naidu, an actor and director, who would go on to influence Kannada cinema greatly.[4]

To realize his dream of making a film written in Kannada, he approached Shah Chamanlal Doongaji, a Bangalore businessman, to finance it. With Doongaji choosing Yaragudipati Varada Rao to direct the film, the first talking film in Kannada, Sati Sulochana, was made and finally released on 3 March 1934. Rao played the role of Ravana in the film, and scored the music. His first film as a director came in the 1943 film Satya Harishchandra, which he also produced and starred in.[5]

Rao's play Bhukailasa was thrice made into films; in 1938 and 1940 by Sundar Rao Nadkarni, and in 1958 by K. Shankar. It was in this play that Rajkumar, who would go on to become one of Kannada cinema's finest actors, made his breakthrough as a theatre actor, playing the role of Narada.[4] In 1951, Rao formed his own film production company, RNR Pictures. The 1957 film Premada Putri was produced under this banner and Rao directed it, also playing a supporting role in the film. At the 5th National Film Awards, the film was awarded the Best Feature Film in Kannada.[6] The production company existed till 1964. Following this, he appeared in the roles of a father in films such as Shri Kannika Parameshwari Kathe (1966) and Karulina Kare (1970). For his role in his 1968 film Hannele Chiguridaga, that co-stars Rajkumar, he won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor. His last appearance came in the 1974 film Professor Huchuraya.[4]

Filmography
Year Film Language Functioned as Notes
Director Producer Screenwriter Actor Role
1932 Ramadasu Telugu Yes Lead role
1933 Parijatha Pushpaharunam Tamil Yes Narada
1933 Kovalan Tamil Yes Lead role
1934 Sati Sulochana Kannada Yes Yes Ravana First Kannada sound film
1935 Naveena Sadarame Tamil Yes
1940 Bhookailas Telugu Yes Narada
1941 Vasantsena Kannada Yes Yes Yes Sakara Supporting role
1943 Satya Harishchandra Kannada Yes Yes Yes Yes Vishvamitra Supporting role
1947 Mahatma Kabir Kannada Yes Yes
1949 Apoorva Sagodharargal Tamil Yes Marthandan Supporting role
1950 Apoorva Sahodarulu Telugu Yes
1952 Moondru Pillaigal
Mugguru Kodukulu		 Tamil Telugu Yes Yes
1953 Chandirani Telugu
Tamil
Hindi		 Yes
1953 Jataka Phala
Jatakam		 Kannada Telugu Yes Yes
1955 Santosham
Naya Aadmi		 Tamil
Hindi		 Yes Dayanidhi Supporting role
1956 Nagula Chavithi
Adarshasati		 Telugu Kannada Yes
1956 Renuka Mahatme Kannada Yes
1956 Bhakta Markandeya Telugu Yes Supporting role
1957 Bettada Kalla Kannada Yes
1957 Mahiravana Kannada Yes
1957 Premada Putri
Preme Daivam
Anbe Daivam		 Kannada Telugu Tamil Yes Yes Yes National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada
1959 Amudhavalli Tamil Yes
1960 Ranadheera Kanteerava Kannada Yes Vikrama Raya Supporting role
1961 Vijayanagarada Veeraputra Kannada Yes Yes Yes
1962 Gaali Gopura
Gaali Medalu		 Kannada Telugu Yes
1963 Veera Kesari
Bandipotu		 Kannada Telugu Yes
1963 Ananda Bashpa Kannada Yes Yes Yes
1964 Pathiye Daiva Kannada Yes Yes
1965 Nanna Kartavya Kannada Yes
1965 Balarajana Kathe Kannada Yes
1965 Maduve Maadi Nodu Kannada Yes
1966 Thoogudeepa Kannada Yes
1967 Sri Kannika Parameshwari Kathe Kannada Yes Supporting role
1967 Premakku Permitte Kannada Yes Yes
1967 Nakkare Ade Swarga Kannada Yes
1967 Shri Purandaradasaru Kannada Yes
1967 Janara Jana Kannada Yes
1968 Hannele Chiguridaga Kannada Yes Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor
1968 Attegondukala Sosegondukala Kannada Yes Supporting role
1969 Kannu Muchale Kannada Yes
1969 Grihalakshmi Kannada Yes
1969 Namma Makkalu Kannada Yes Yes
1969 Makkale Manege Manikya Kannada Yes
1970 Nadina Bhagya Kannada Yes Yes
1970 Sri Krishnadevaraya Kannada Yes
1970 Lakshmi Saraswati Kannada Yes
1970 Karulina Kare Kannada Yes
1971 Aliya Geleya Kannada Yes
1971 Sakshatkara Kannada Yes
1971 Kulagaurava Kannada Yes
1971 Naguva Hoovu Kannada Yes
1972 Kalavari Kutumbam Telugu Yes
1972 Naa Mechida Huduga Kannada Yes Supporting role
1973 Mannina Magalu Kannada Yes Supporting role
1973 Prema Pasha Kannada Yes Supporting role
1974 Professor Huchuraya Kannada Yes Supporting role
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References
  1. "R. Nagendra bio". chiloka.com. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  2. "Anbey Deivam 1957". The Hindu. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  3. "R.N. Jayagopal passes away". The Hindu. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  4. Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-135-94325-7.
  5. "First film to talk in Kannada". The Hindu. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  6. "18th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festival. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
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