Wednesday Dec 30 2009, Bangalore

Vishnuvardhan: A Requiem

Vishnuvardhan (59), who passed away in the early hours of December 30, 2009,was one of the most talented and stylish actors to have graced the Kannada film industry. He suffered a massive heart attack and died while he was being taken to a private hospital in Mysore. He was known for his amiable nature and the warm relationships he had kept with his colleagues.

Vishnuvardhan was born Sampath Kumar, to HL Narayana Rao (an artist and a scriptwriter) and Kamakshamma, on September 18, 1950.

He debuted in films with Girish Karnad's 'Vamsavriksha' and changed his name to Vishnuvardhan. But it was Puttanna Kanagal's 'Naagarahaavu' (1973), in which he debuted as a hero, that made him a star. 'Naagarahaavu' fetched him a Best Actor award as well. It took not too long for the enthusiastic young man to find a place for himself in Sandalwood.

In a career spanning 36 years, Vishnuvardhan portrayed a variety of characters for blockbusters including 'Muthina Haara', 'Hombisilu', 'Bandhana', 'Naagara Hole', 'Nishkarsha', 'Yajamana', 'Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu', 'Nagarahaavu', 'Hombisilu', 'Malayamarutha', 'Suprabhata' and 'Apthamitra'.

Known as "Sahasasimha" among his fans, Vishnuvardhan became synonymous with Kannada action movies. It was during the shoot of 'Mutthinahara' (made on the lines of 'The Guns of Navarone' and 'Omar Mukthar') that Vishnu missed death by a whisker; he was performing a dangerous parachute dive stunt.

Vishnuvardhan acted in three Hindi movies: 'Inspector Dhanush', 'Zaalim' and Akshay kumar's 'Ashaanth'. He also acted in two Rajnikanth films in Tamil--'Vidutahlai' and 'Sri Raghavendra'. His only film in Malayalam was the Mammootty starrer, 'Kouravar'.

During his last years, Vishnuvardhan had cut a few devotional albums, which were big hits. Some of his popular songs are "Hegiddharu Neene Chenna" ('Sahasa Simha'), "Shashiya Kandu Moda Helithu" ('Sirithanakke Savaal'), "Thuthu Anna Thinnoke" ('Jimmi Gallu'), "Beda Annoro Unte" ('Sididedda Sahodara') and "Kannadave Nammamma" ('Mojugara Sogusugara').

Star of 199 films, Vishnuvardhan was awarded an honorary doctorate by Bangalore University in 2005. He won seven state awards in the best actor category for 'Nagarahavu' (1972), 'Hombisilu' (1978), 'Bhandana' (1984), 'Suprabatha' (1988), 'Lion Jagapathi Rao' (1991), 'Laali' (1998) and 'VerappaNayaka' (1999). He received the Dr Rajkumar Award in 2008.

Vishnuvardhan is survived by wife Bharati, a former actress, and two adopted daughters.