C. Honnappa Bhagavathar (1914-92)

Kannada and Tamil actor and singer born in Choudasandra village, Karnataka. Trained in classical Carnatic music by Shamanna and Sambandhamurthy Bhagavathar. Acted in Company Natak plays in Gubbi Veeranna’s troupe, but his début was in the Tamil cinema, often acting in Modern Theatres films, e.g. T.R. Sundaram’s Burma Rani, Subhadra. Introduced into Kannada via Veeranna productions directed by H.L.N. Simha (Hemareddy Malamma, Gunasagari). Later played in remarkable Saint films (K.R. Seetarama Sastry’s Mahakavi Kalidasa), usually providing his own music. His music, performances and acting remain definitive of the genre in Kannada and Tamil. Also produced films, e.g. Uzhavukkum Thozhilukkum Vandhanai Seivom.

FILMOGRAPHY (* also music d): 1941: 1942: Sati Sukanya; 1943: Arundhati; Devakanya; 1944: Burma Rani; Prabhavati; Rajarajeshwari; 1945: Hemareddy Mallamma; Bhakta Kalathi; Subhadra; 1946: Kundalakesi; Shri Murugan; Valmiki; 1948: Bhakta Jana; Gokula Dasi; 1949: Devamanohari; 1953: Gunasagari; 1955: Mahakavi Kalidasa*; 1956: Pancharathna; 1959: Uzhavukkum Thozhilukkum Vandhanai Seivom*; Jagatjyoti Basaveshwara; 1979: Sadananda.

Music Actor