Dinesh

Biography Balasubramaniam was born and brought up in Mysore, where he completed his matriculation. He was one of seven children of Singaravelu, a ticket collector with the Indian Railways, and Dhanalakshmi. Balasubramaniam was married to Vimala, a singer. His wife was called to perform at Gubbi Veeranna's theatre company, when Dinesh followed her. Once there, he was given opportunities to act in plays, thanks to his booming voice. However, eager to act in films, Balasubramaniam travelled to Madras (now Chennai) for an audition for a Kannada-language film. He was rejected owing to his lack of fluency in the language. Balasubramaniam subsequently returned to Karnataka where he continued performing on stage.

Balasubramaniam's first film appearance came in Naandi (1964), during the making of which he was given the screen name, Dinesh, by producer Vadiraj. The 1960s saw Dinesh appearing in negative-shaded roles such as in Choori Chikkanna (1969). In Seetharamu (1979), he appeared in a comedic character, a role he would continue to portray majorly for the rest of his career. In Ruthugaana (1977), his 100th film as an actor, Dinesh played the lead role. Dinesh appeared in a total of 360 films. His final screen appearance came in Udbhava (1990). Dinesh was also an active stage actor during this time; he was touring with a troupe performing Lakshadheeshwara, a play written by him. Dinesh died from cardiac arrest on 28 April 1990, aged 53.

Selected filmography

Year Title Role Notes 1964 Naandi Gopal Rao 1965 Ide Mahasudina Ranga Bettada Huli 1966 Kiladi Ranga Sri Kanyaka Parameshwari Kathe Agni Deva 1967 Beedi Basavanna Gange Gowri Manassiddare Marga Johnny Premakkoo Permitte Rajashekara Rajadurgada Rahasya 1968 Amma Lingaraju Chinnari Puttanna Gandhinagara Hannele Chiguridaga Keshava Jedara Bale Manku Dinne Mysore Tanga Rowdy Ranganna Chikka Simha Swapna Yugandhara Lakshadheeshwara Raje Gowda 1969 Choori Chikkanna Rajashekhar Gandondu Hennaru Makkale Manege Manikya Odahuttidavaru Suvarna Bhoomi 1970 Bhoopathi Ranga Dharmashekhara Sathyamurthy C.I.D. Rajanna Karulina Kare Raja / Soorappa Namma Mane Giri Sri Krishnadevaraya Achyuta Deva Raya Modala Rathri Nanjundappa Nyayave Devaru Narasimha 1971 Pratidwani Bhushan Sri Krishna Rukmini Satyabhama Shishupala 1973 Swayamvara Swami Triveni Parameshwaraiah Bidugade Devappa1978 Kiladi Jodi Somaiah Madhura Sangama Vasu's friend 1979 Seetharamu Naniruvude Ninagagi Columbus 1980 Point Parimala 1981 Ranganayaki Venkataramana Shetty Simhada Mari Sainya Bhaari Bharjari Bete Chamkanna 1982 Jimmy Gallu Chowdappa Mullina Gulabi Sarvesha Tony Damodara 1984 Gandu Bherunda Taggappa Sharanappa Menshinkayi Indina Bharatha Constable Hanumayya Shapatha Swaminatha Makkaliralavva Mane Thumba Maruthi Rao 1986 Malaya Marutha 1987 Anthima Ghatta Poornachandra Kuppaswamy Naidu Prema Kadambari Ee Bandha Anubandha Lorry Driver Appanna Pandita 1988 Shanthi Nivasa Krishna Rukmini 1989 Anantana Avantara Hrudaya Geethe Kindari Jogi C.B.I. Shankar Subramanya 1990 Golmaal Radhakrishna Inspector S. P. Sangliyana Part 2 Udbhava Rangayya 1991 Avatara Purusha 1993 Prana Snehitha