2A00:23C8:A00:9301:E90B:8C32:5C58:6FF6: /* Career */

2022-01-02T19:06:28Z

Career

New page

{{short description|Indian filmmaker, theatre personality}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = R. Nagendra Rao
| image = R. Nagendra Rao.jpg
| birth_name = Rattihalli Nagendra Rao
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1896|06|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Holalkere, [[Kingdom of Mysore]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1977|02|09|1896|06|23|df=yes}}
| death_place =
| nationality = Indian
| occupation = Actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, composer
| years_active =
| children = [[R. N. K. Prasad]] [[R. N. Jayagopal]] [[R. N. Sudarshan]] R. N. Srinivas
| spouse = Ratna Bai Kamala Bai
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (1976)
}}

'''Rattihalli Nagendra Rao''' (23 June 1896 – 9 February 1977) was an [[India]]n theatre actor, film actor and director in [[Cinema of South India|South Indian cinema]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chiloka.com/celebrity/r-nagendra-rao|title=R. Nagendra bio|website=chiloka.com|access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title= Anbey Deivam 1957 |url= http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/anbey-deivam-1957/article3849085.ece |newspaper= The Hindu |date= 2 September 2012 |access-date= 7 October 2014}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news |title= R.N. Jayagopal passes away |url= http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/rn-jayagopal-passes-away/article1261589.ece |newspaper= The Hindu |date= 20 May 2008 |access-date= 7 October 2014}}</ref>

==Early life==
Nagendra Rao was born on 23 June 1896, in Holalkere, in [[Kingdom of Mysore]] of [[British India]].<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen2014">{{cite book|author1=Ashish Rajadhyaksha|author2=Paul Willemen|title=Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rF8ABAAAQBAJ&pg=RA14-PA1985|date=10 July 2014|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-135-94325-7}}</ref>

==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 divine female characters such as [[Sita]] and historical characters such as 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]].<ref name="th1">{{cite news |title= First film to talk in Kannada |url= http://www.thehindu.com/fr/2004/12/31/stories/2004123102420300.htm |archive-url= https://archive.today/20141007150617/http://www.thehindu.com/fr/2004/12/31/stories/2004123102420300.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 7 October 2014 |date= 31 December 2004 |newspaper= [[The Hindu]] |access-date= 7 October 2014}}</ref>

With the beginning of the [[Sound film|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.<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen2014" />

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 (1943 film)|Satya Harishchandra]]'', which he also produced and starred in.<ref name="th1" />

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 [[Dr. Rajkumar|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]].<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen2014" /> 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 [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada|Best Feature Film in Kannada]].<ref>{{cite web |title= 18th National Film Awards |url= http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm5thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=5NFA.pdf|publisher= Directorate of Film Festival |access-date= 7 October 2014}}</ref> 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]]''.<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen2014" />

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin-right: 0;"
! rowspan="2" width="33" | Year
! rowspan="2" width="250" | Film
! rowspan="2" width="50" | Language
! colspan="5" | Functioned as
! rowspan="2" | Notes
|-
! width="65" | [[Film director|Director]]
! width="65" | [[Film producer|Producer]]
! width="65" | [[Screenwriter]]
! width="65" | [[Actor]]
! width="65" | Role
|-
| 1932
| ''Ramadasu''
| [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
|
|
|
|{{Yes}}
|
| Lead role
|-
| 1933
| ''Parijatha Pushpaharunam''
| [[Tamil language|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 (1940 film)|Bhookailas]]''
| Telugu
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
| [[Narada]]
|
|-
| 1941
| ''[[Vasantsena (1941 film)|Vasantsena]]''
| Kannada
|
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Sakara
| Supporting role
|-
| 1943
| ''[[Satya Harishchandra (1943 film)|Satya Harishchandra]]''
| Kannada
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| [[Vishvamitra]]
| Supporting role
|-
| 1947
| ''[[Mahatma Kabir (film)|Mahatma Kabir]]''
| Kannada
| {{yes}}
|
|
| {{yes}}
|
|
|-
| 1949
| ''[[Apoorva Sagodharargal (1949 film)|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 language|Hindi]]
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
|
|
|-
| 1953
| ''Jataka Phala'' ''Jatakam''
| Kannada Telugu
| {{yes}}
|
|
| {{yes}}
|
|
|-
| 1955
| ''Santosham'' ''Naya Aadmi''
| Telugu Hindi
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
| Dayanidhi
| Supporting role
|-
| 1956
| ''Nagula Chavithi'' ''Adarshasati''
| Telugu Kannada
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
|
|
|-
| 1956
| ''Renuka Mahatme''
| Kannada
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
|
|
|-
| 1956
| ''[[Bhaktha 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}}
| Govindaiah
|
|-
| 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 Kanyaka Parameshwari Kathe]]''
| Kannada
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
|
| Supporting role
|-
| 1967
| ''[[Premakkoo 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}}
| Anantha
| [[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 (film)|Sri Krishnadevaraya]]''
| Kannada
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
|
|
|-
| 1970
| ''[[Lakshmi Saraswathi]]''
| Kannada
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
|
|
|-
| 1970
| ''[[Karulina Kare]]''
| Kannada
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
|
|
|-
| 1971
| ''[[Aliya Geleya]]''
| Kannada
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
|
|
|-
| 1971
| ''[[Sakshatkara]]''
| Kannada
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
| Ajjayya
|
|-
| 1971
| ''[[Kula Gourava]]''
| Kannada
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
| Kala's grandfather
| Cameo
|-
| 1971
| ''[[Naguva Hoovu]]''
| Kannada
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
|
|
|-
| 1972
| ''Kalavari Kutumbam''
| Telugu
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
|
|
|-
| 1972
| ''[[Naa Mechida Huduga]]''
| Kannada
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
| N. G. Rao
|
|-
| 1973
| ''[[Mannina Magalu]]''
| Kannada
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
|
|
|-
| 1973
| ''Prema Pasha''
| Kannada
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
|
|
|-
| 1974
| ''[[Professor Huchuraya]]''
| Kannada
|
|
|
| {{yes}}
| Shama Shastry
|
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0619306}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, Nagendra R.}}
[[Category:1896 births]]
[[Category:1977 deaths]]
[[Category:Place of death missing]]
[[Category:Kannada male actors]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]

R. Nagendra Rao - Revision history

2A00:23C8:A00:9301:E90B:8C32:5C58:6FF6: /* Career */