Rajesh (Kannada actor)

2022-01-02T15:45:55Z

2406:7400:63:C1:102C:C2C7:A5:7D79:

{{Short description|Indian Kannada actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rajesh
| image = Rajesh (Kannada Actor) DS.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name = Munichowdappa/later Vidyasagar
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1932|04|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Bangalore]], [[Kingdom of Mysore]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Indian
| citizenship = Indian
| known for = [[Actor]]
| occupation = [[Actor]]
| relatives = [[Arjun Sarja]] (son-in-law)
| parents =
| children = 5, including [[Niveditha Arjun|Asharani]]
| years_active = 1963–present
}}
'''Vidyasagar''' (born 15 April 1932),<ref name="TH" /> known by his [[stage name]] '''Rajesh''', is an Indian actor who appears in [[Cinema of Karnataka|Kannada films]]. Known as 'Kala Thapaswi', 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 [[Niveditha Arjun|Aasha Rani]] who had acted in the film ''Rathasapthami'' with [[Shivrajkumar]] and the father in law of popular [[Kannada]] and [[Tamil language|Tamil]] actor [[Arjun Sarja]]. He has acted in over 150 films.<ref name="TH">{{cite news |title= From theatre to celluloid |url= http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article1629654.ece |newspaper= The Hindu |date= 9 April 2011}}</ref> "Kalathapasvi Rajesh Athmakathe" is the biography of Rajesh. In 2014, he was awarded the Dr. Rajkumar Cultural Endowment Award by the [[Kannada Sahitya Parishat]].<ref>{{cite news |title= 'Quality of Kannada films has declined' |url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/quality-of-kannada-films-has-declined/article5948656.ece |newspaper= The Hindu |date= 26 April 2014 |access-date= 3 May 2014}}</ref>

==Early life==
Rajesh was born as Vidyasagar 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. In the name of tuition he was going for practice and the first role he got was ‘Sri Rama’. From pamphlets, his parents came to know that he has joined theatre troupe. He currently lives in [[Vidyaranyapura]], Bangalore.<ref name=rajesh1>[http://www.supergoodmovies.com/12536/sandalwood/rajesh-stunner-on-silver-screen-exclusives-details Rajesh: Stunner on Silver Screen]</ref>

==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 - [[Udaya Kumar (actor)|Udaykumar]], [[Dr. Rajkumar|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.<ref name=rajesh1 />

===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.<ref name=rajesh1 /> 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,"<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130803235850/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-26/hubli/29474541_1_films-rajesh-kannada Rajesh's View on Current Trend in Film Industry]</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/article/76245.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004222112/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/article/76245.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-10-04 |title=Rajesh honarary doctorate - Kannada Movie News |publisher=Indiaglitz.com |date=2012-01-04 |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.supergoodmovies.com/36383/sandalwood/doctorate-for-rajesh-news-details |title=Doctorate for Rajesh |publisher=Supergoodmovies.com |date=2012-01-04 |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref>

==Partial filmography==
{{Expand list|date=December 2020}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="0" bgcolor="#F5F5F5"
|-
!No
!Year
!Movie (in Kannada)
!Director
!Co-stars
!Banner
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
| 1 || 1964 || Veera Sankalpa || Hunsur Krishnamurthy || ||
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
| 2 || 1963 || Sri. Ramanjanaiah Yuddha || M.S. Nayak || ||
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
| 3 || 1967 || Gange Gowri || B.R. Pantulu || ||
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|4 || 1968 || Namma Ooru || C.V. Shivshankar || Shailashri, Krishnakumari, [[K. S. Ashwath|Ashwath]], [[Balakrishna (Kannada actor)|Balakrishna]], [[Narasimharaju (Kannada actor)|Narasimharaju]], Dinesh. || Jayis Productions
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|5 || 1969 || Suvarna Bhoomi || A.M. Sammevulla || Sudarshan, Shailashri, [[Udaykumar]], [[Balakrishna (Kannada actor)|Balakrishna]]. || Bava movies
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|6 || 1969 || Broker Bheeshmachari || B.C. Srinivas || [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]], Shailashri, [[Narasimharaju (Kannada actor)|Narasimharaju]]. || L.B.N. Productions
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|7 || 1969 || Kappu Bilupu || Puttanna Kanagal || [[Kalpana (Kannada actress)|Kalpana]], [[Balakrishna (Kannada actor)|Balakrishna]], Adavani Lakshmidevi, Sudarshan. || Ravikumar Movies
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|8 || 1969 || Eradu Muka || M.R. Vittal || [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]], Manjula, [[Narasimharaju (Kannada actor)|Narasimharaju]], Sampath, [[K. S. Ashwath|Ashwath]], Ranga, || Chitrashri International
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|9 || 1969 || Punnya Purusha || K. Janakiram || Chandrakala, [[Narasimharaju (Kannada actor)|Narasimharaju]], [[Pandaribai]], Niranjan. || Suvarna Movies
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|10 || 1969 || Kaanike || Satyam || [[Kalpana (Kannada actress)|Kalpana]], [[K. S. Ashwath|Ashwath]], [[Dwarakish]], Shailashri. || Srilakshmi Movietone
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|11 || 1969 || Brindavana || S.P. Rajgopal || [[Kalpana (Kannada actress)|Kalpana]], Padmanjali, [[Balakrishna (Kannada actor)|Balakrishna]], [[K. S. Ashwath|Ashwath]]. || Nandi Films
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|12 || 1969 || Bhale Basava || B.S. Ranga || [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]], [[Udaykumar]], Rajashri, Premalatha || Vikram Productions
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|13 || 1970 || Arishina Kumkuma || K.S.L. Swamy || Kalyankumar, [[Kalpana (Kannada actress)|Kalpana]], B.V. Radha, [[Dwarakish]]. || Gurubhakthi Films
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|14 || 1970 || Mooru Muthugalu || Aaruru pattabhi || Srinath, [[Pandaribai]], Radha, Mainavathi. || Sriranganatha Productions
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|15 || 1970 || ''[[Boregowda Bangalorige Banda]]'' || B. A. Arasu Kumar || [[Leelavathi (actress)|Leelavathi]], B. Vijayalakshmi, [[Srinath]] || Sri Mallikarjuna Enterprises
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|16 || 1970 || Namma Mane || Bangara Raju || [[Kalpana (Kannada actress)|Kalpana]], B.V. Radha, [[K. S. Ashwath|Ashwath]], Dinesh, [[Pandaribai]]. || Yeshwanth Films
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|17 || 1970 || Suka Samsara || Vijaya Satyam || [[Udaykumar]], Srinath, Rajashri. || Venugopal
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|18 || 1970 || Aaaru Mooru Vambathu. || K.S.L. Swamy || [[Udaykumar]], Srinath, Ramesh, Ravi, [[K. S. Ashwath|Ashwath]], Radha, || Raghunandan
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|19 || 1970 || Devara Makkalu || Y.R. Swamy || Rajkumar, [[Kalpana (Kannada actress)|Kalpana]], [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]], [[Narasimharaju (Kannada actor)|Narasimharaju]]. || Bharath Enterprises
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|20 || 1971 || Poornima || R. Dayananda Sagar || Srinath, [[Udaykumar]], B. Sarojadevi. || Dayananda Productions
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|21 || 1971 || Betaala Gudda || B.A. Urskumar || Udayachandrika, Shankar, [[Dwarakish]], Eesh. || Sri Gajanana Films
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|22 || 1971 || Namma Baduku || M.N. Aaradhya || Vijayakala, Purnima, [[Narasimharaju (Kannada actor)|Narasimharaju]]. || Vijaya Karnataka
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|23 || 1971 || Bhale Adhrushtavo Adrustha || K.S.L. swamy || [[Gangadhar (Kannada actor)|Gangadhar]], [[Kalpana (Kannada actress)|Kalpana]], [[Dwarakish]], Srinath, Chi.Udayshankar, Shivram, Radha. || Raghunandan Movies
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|24 || 1971 || Bhale Bhaskara || R. Ramamurthy || Rajesh, [[Gangadhar (Kannada actor)|Gangadhar]], Anitha, Narasimhraju, [[Udaykumar]], Jayakumari. || Srirama Enterprises
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|25 || 1971 || Hennu, Honnu, Mannu || "Basavaraja kesturu, Baradaraj" || Udayachandrika, Shankar, B.R.Jayaram, Shakthi Prasad, Toogudeepa Srinivas || Triveni Films
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|26 || 1971 || Prathidhwani || Dorai-Bhagvan || Rajkumar, Aarathi, Shankar, Dinesh. || Anupama Movies
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|27 || 1972 || Vishakanye || Hunsur Krishnamurthy || [[K. S. Ashwath|Ashwath]], [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]]. || Karnataka Movies
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|28 || 1972 || Subhadra Kalyana || Kangal Prabhakar Shastri || [[Kalpana (Kannada actress)|Kalpana]], [[Gangadhar (Kannada actor)|Gangadhar]], Vajrmuni, B.V.Radh, Vijayakala, [[Narasimharaju (Kannada actor)|Narasimharaju]]. || [[Chamundeshwari Studios]]
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|29 || 1972 || Ondu Hennina Kathe || B.R. Pantulu || [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]], Rajamma, B.V.Radha, Sudarshan. || Padmini Pictures
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|30 || 1972 || Kranti Veera || R. Ramamurthy || Rajkumar, [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]], Radha, [[Dwarakish]]. || Srirama Enterprises
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|31 || 1972 || Bhandavya || Ratnakar-Madhu || [[Gangadhar (Kannada actor)|Gangadhar]], [[Pandaribai]], B.V.Radha, [[K. S. Ashwath|Ashwath]]. || Deepak Films
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|32 || 1972 || Mareyada Deepavali || R.Sampath || [[Kalpana (Kannada actress)|Kalpana]], Sampath, [[K. S. Ashwath|Ashwath]]. || S.V.N. Movies
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|33 || 1973 || Sahadarmini || Satyanarayana || B. Sarojadevi, Shubha, Pramila Josai. || Shashiraj Movies
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|34 || 1973 || Bidugade || Y.R. Swamy || Rajkumar, [[Kalpana (Kannada actress)|Kalpana]], Bharathi, Kala. || Ramesh Movies
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|35 || 1974 || Urvashi || Tipturu Raghu || Rajashri, Shivram, Dinesh, [[Balakrishna (Kannada actor)|Balakrishna]], Shakti prasad. || Kalpataru Films
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|36 || 1974 || Grihini || "Vijay, Satyam" || B.Sarojadevi, Ramgopal, Vijayakala. || Samudra Movies
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|37 || 1975 || Devara Gudi || R. Ramamurthy || Bharati, [[Vishnuvardhan (actor)|Vishnuvardhan]], Manjula, Shivram, Manorama. || Srirama Enterprises
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|38 || 1975 || Kasturi Vijaya || Srikanth || [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]], Shivram, Chandrashekar, [[Balakrishna (Kannada actor)|Balakrishna]]. || Mukambika Films
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|39 || 1975 || Mane Belaku || Y.R. Swamy || Chandrakala, [[K. S. Ashwath|Ashwath]], Chandrashekar, [[Balakrishna (Kannada actor)|Balakrishna]], Radha. || Sovereign Cine Enterprises
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|40 || 1975 || Sarpa Kaavalu || S.N. Singh || Anitha, B.V. Radha, Tugudeepa Srinivas. || Malleshwari Pictures
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|41 || 1975 || Kaveri || H.N. Reddy || Bharathi, [[K. S. Ashwath|Ashwath]], Sampath, [[Balakrishna (Kannada actor)|Balakrishna]], Surekha. || Sri Sharada Cine Productions
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|42 || 1975 || Viplava vanithe || Chakravarthi || Vijalalitha, B.V. Radha, [[Gangadhar (Kannada actor)|Gangadhar]], [[Balakrishna (Kannada actor)|Balakrishna]]. || Kiran Pictures
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|43 || 1975 || Ashirvada || [[Kunigal Nagabhushan]] || [[Udaykumar]], Ramgopal, [[Narasimharaju (Kannada actor)|Narasimharaju]], Rajashri, Vijayakala. || R. Jayartna Films
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|44 || 1975 || Belavaladha Madilalli || Geethapriya || [[Kalpana (Kannada actress)|Kalpana]], Chandrashekar, Shantala, [[Balakrishna (Kannada actor)|Balakrishna]], Shakthi prasad, Vankatarao Talageri. || Nirupama Movies
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|45 || 1976 || Baduku bangaravayithu || A.V. Sheshagirirao || Srinath, [[K. S. Ashwath|Ashwath]], [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]], Jyothishri, Manjula, Vajramuni, || Bhuvaneshwari Arts Productions
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|46 || 1976 || Mugiyada kathe || Dorai || Sumitra, [[Balakrishna (Kannada actor)|Balakrishna]], Shailashri, [[K. S. Ashwath|Ashwath]], [[Pandaribai]], [[Gangadhar (Kannada actor)|Gangadhar]], || Panduranga Productions
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|47 || 1976 || Maya manushya || Kutumbarao || Surekha, Radha, Vadiraj, Shakthi prasad, Shailashri. || Sudarshan Films
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|48 || 1976 || Rajanarthakiya rahasya || B.Harinarayana || [[Kalpana (Kannada actress)|Kalpana]], Udayakumar, Ramgopal. || Sri Padma Productions
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|49 || 1977 || [[Devara Duddu]] || K.S.L. Swamy || Srinath, [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]], [[Dwarakish]], Chandrashekar. || Rani Arts
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|50 || 1977 || Renukadevi mahatme || C.s.rao || B.Sarojadevi, Manjula, Srinath, [[Dwarakish]]. || Padmalakshmi Combines
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|51 || 1977 || Sose Tanda Sowbhagya || A.V.Sheshagirirao || Manjula, [[Vishnuvardhan (actor)|Vishnuvardhan]], Vijayalalitha. || Bhuvaneshwari Arts productions
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|52 || 1978 || Aatma Shakthi || Raja || Vasudeva rao, Shakti prasad, Pratima reddy. || Sri Gurunarasimha Enterprises
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|53 || 1980 || Gurusarvabowma Sri Raghavendra Karune || Hunsur Krishnamurthy || B. Sarojadevi, [[Gangadhar (Kannada actor)|Gangadhar]], Jamuna, Dinesh, Ashalatha, Sri lalitha, || Lakshmi Prakash Combines
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|54 || 1980 || Mayeya musuku || B.Y. Ramdas || Srilalita, [[Balakrishna (Kannada actor)|Balakrishna]], Shashikala, Direndra Gopal. || Kalasri Productions
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|55 || 1981 || Premanubanda || R. Ramamurthy || Srinath, Dinesh, manjula, K.Vijaya. || Srirama Enterprises
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|56 || 1981 || Chadurida chitragalu || N.T. Jayarama reddy || Aarati, Indusri, Ashalata. || Popular Pictures
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|57 || 1982 || Vasanta nilaya || K.V.S. Kutumbarao || Vasantamalini, Su.kru. urs, Shakti prasad. || Kanakadhara Theatres
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|58 || 1983 || Aanand bhairavi || Jandyala || Girishkarnad, Malavika, Kanchana, Mahalakshmi || [[Dwarakish]] Films
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|59 || 1984 || Kaliyuga || Rajachandra || Aarathi, [[Balakrishna (Kannada actor)|Balakrishna]], Vijaya, [[Vijay Kashi]] || Singh Brothers
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|60 || 1985 || Devara Mane || A.T.Raghu || Ambarish, Tu. Srinivas. || Mani padma Films
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|61 || 1985 || Pithamaha || Ravi || [[Udaykumar]], Ravichandran, Vijayalakshmi Singh. || Singh Brothers
|-bgcolor=#eeeeee
|62 || 1986 || Thavaru mane || Vijay || Kalyankumar, Bharathi, Charanraj, Bhavya. || Madhu Enterprises
|-
|63 || 1991 || ''[[Thavarumane Udugore]]'' || [[B. Subba Rao]] || [[Sridhar (Kannada actor)|Sridhar]], [[Malashri]], Sunil || [[Suresh Productions]]
|}

'':Refer: [[Kannada films of the 1960s]], [[Kannada films of the 1970s]]''

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|nm2860034}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajesh}}
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:Male actors from Bangalore]]
[[Category:Kannada male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Indian male playback singers]]
[[Category:Kannada playback singers]]
[[Category:Singers from Bangalore]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian singers]]
[[Category:Film musicians from Karnataka]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male singers]]

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Rajesh (Kannada actor)