Narasimharaju (Kannada actor)

T. R. Narasimharaju
File:Narasimharaju (Kannada actor).jpg
Born	Tipaturu Ramaraju Narasimharaju (1923-07-24)24 July 1923 Tiptur, Mysore State, British India
Died	11 July 1979(1979-07-11) (aged 55) Karnataka, India
Other names	Hasya chakravarthi, Hasya Rathna
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1954–1979
Spouse(s)	Sharadamma (1949–)
Children	Narahari Raju (Son) Sudha Narasimharaju (Daughter) Dharmavathi Narasimharaju (Daughter)

Tiptur Ramaraju Narasimharaju (24 July 1923 – 11 July 1979) was an Indian actor in Kannada cinema who 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 and Venkatalakshmamma 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 'Chandramouleshwara 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

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Sl No	Year	Title	Role
1	1954	Bedara Kannapa	Kashinatha Shastry
2	1955	Sodari
3	1956	Shiva Bhaktha Markandeya
4	1956	Hari Bhaktha
5	1956	Renuka MAhatme
6	1957	Bhaktha Prahalada
7	1957	Prabhulinga leale
8	1957	Nala Damayanthi
9	1958	Chori Chori	Guest appearance
10	1959	Jagajyothi Basaveshwara
11	1959	Dharma Vijaya
12	1959	Abba Aa Hudugi
13	1960	Rani Honnamma
14	1960	Dashavataara
15	1960	Makkala Rajya
16	1960	Ranadheera Kanteerava
17	1961	Kaivara Mahatme
18	1961	Nagarjuna
19	1961	Kittur Chennamma
20	1961	Vijayanagarada Veera Putra
21	1962	Vidhi Vilasa
22	1962	Swarna Gowri
23	1962	Gaali Gopura
24	1962	Bhoodaana
25	1962	Ratna Manjari
26	1963	Sathi Shakthi
27	1963	Nanda Deepa
28	1963	Jenu Goodu
29	1963	Saaku Magalu
30	1963	Jeevana Taranga
31	1963	Vaalmiki
32	1963	Malli Maduve
33	1964	Chandra Kumara
34	1964	Chinnada Gombe
35	1964	Amara Shilpi Jakana Chari
36	1964	Shivaratri Mahatme
37	1964	Pratigne
38	1964	Nava Jeevana	Supporting Actor
39	1965	Chandrahasa
40	1965	Vatsalya
41	1965	Miss Leelavati
42	1965	Nanna Karthavya
43	1965	Sathya Harichandra
44	1965	Pathala Mohini
45	1965	Baalaraajana Kathe
46	1966	Sri Kanyaka Parameshwari Kathe
47	1966	Love in Bangalore
48	1966	Thugu Deepa
49	1967	Manassiddare Maarga
50	1967	Rajashekara
51	1967	Bhaktha Kanakadasa
52	1967	Bangaarada Hoovu
53	1967	Devara Gedda Manava
54	1967	Immadi Pulikesi
55	1967	Gange Gowri
56	1967	Nakkare Ade Swarga	Hero
57	1967	Lagna Pathrike
58	1967	Black Market
59	1967	Padaveedhara
60	1968	Manasakshi
61	1968	Simha Swapna
62	1968	Jedara Bale
63	1968	Goa Dalli CID 999
64	1968	Namma Ooru
65	1968	Gandhinagara
66	1968	Bangalore Mail	Supporting Actor
67	1968	Rowdi Ranganna
68	1968	Amma
69	1969	Bhale Bhasava
70	1969	Operation Jackpot Nalli C.I.D 999	Supporting Actor
71	1969	Kaadina Rahasya
72	1969	Eradu Mukha
73	1970	Modala Raatri
74	1970	Hasiru Thorana
75	1970	Nadina Bhagya
76	1970	Bhoopathi Ranga
77	1970	Lakshmi Saraswathi
78	1970	Sri Krishnadevaraya	Tenali Ramakrishna
79	1970	Rangamahal Rahasya
80	1971	Kula Gourava	Gopu
81	1971	Kasturi Nivasa
82	1971	Anugraha
83	1971	Malathi Madhava
84	1971	Namma Badaku
85	1971	Jatakaratna Gundaa Joisa	Lead Hero
86	1971	Sharapanjara
87	1972	Yava Janmumada Mythri
88	1972	Naari Munidare Maari
89	1972	Gandhada Gudi	Shivaji Role
90	1973	Devaru Kotta Thangi
91	1974	Professor Hucchurya	Lead Hero
93	1975	Onde Roopa Eradu Guna
94	1975	Aashirvaada
95	1976	Aparadhi
96	1977	Lakshmi Nivasa
97	1977	Kittu Puttu	Guest Appearance
98	1977	Yella Hanakkagi
99	1978	Maathu Thappadha Maga
100	1978	Vasantha Lakshmi
101	1978	Kiladi Kittu
102	1978	Nammuru
103	1978	Sneha Sedu
104	1979	Preethi Madu Tamashe Nodu
105	1979	Asadhya Aliya
106	1980	Manjina There
107	1963	Veera Kesari
108	1967	Premakkoo Permitte
109	1971	Prathidwani
110	1979	Asadhya Aliya

Sources

• HSK. "T. R. Narasimharaju: Humorous Actor". Star of Mysore. OurKarnataka.Com, Inc. Retrieved 25 September 2007.

References

University of Pennsylvania Search string: narasimha raju [1]

External links

• Narasimharaju on IMDb