Komal

Komal Kumar Shivalingappa (born 4 July 1973), known mononymously as Komal, is an Indian actor and film producer known for his work in Kannada cinema. He made his acting debut with Super Nan Maga in 1992. Since his debut, Komal has acted in over 100 films, initially in comedic roles as a supporting actor before playing lead roles. He is the younger brother of actor Jaggesh, with whom he has frequently collaborated professionally.

Komal has won Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film Thavarige Baa Thangi in 2003 and won the South Filmfare Award for his performance in Neenello Naanalle in 2006.

Early life and family Komal was born into a well-to-do family of industrialists. He completed his studies in Ooty and was interested in taking up the civil service examinations before he lost interest in academics. He subsequently wanted to pursue a course in cinematography at the Film and Television Institute in Pune, but was unable to do so "owing to my academic background in arts." He then took to acting "doing small roles". His brother, Jaggesh, is an established actor in Kannada cinema. Komal's nephews Gururaj and Yathiraj are also actors. His wife Anasooya is a producer who has produced the film Kal Manja. The couple released the film under their home banner Soundarya Lahari Combines.

Career Komal made his film debut playing a supporting role in his brother's 1992 film Super Nanna Maga. In Military Mava (1993), he was cast in a lead role under the stage name of Chiranjeevi. In an interview to Deccan Herald in 2003, he recalled, "Unfortunately, the [latter] film flopped miserably, and I lost interest in acting. But my brother kept encouraging me to take up more acting assignments. He would always advice me not to give up." He added, "My role of a villain in Soma (1996) against my brother Jaggesh and Subhashri, who is Malashri's sister, was appreciated so much by Malashri that she cast me for her brother's role in her next movie Lady Commissioner." After a string of other films that he acted in failed to do well or failed to fetch him recognition, it was in Thavarige Baa Thangi (2002) that he received appreciation for his performance. He was subsequently cast in Katthegalu Saar Katthegalu (2003). However he got a break as a lead actor in the 2009 released Chamkaisi Chindi Udaysi produced by his brother-in-law and his wife. Since then he acted as a solo hero in films such as Maryade Ramanna and Kal Manja.

His 2012 film Govindaya Namaha has been declared a blockbuster, catapulting him to stardom status. After a string of commercial failures, Komal starred in the horror–comedy Namo Bhootatma (2014), a performance that was received well by critics. Shyam Prasad S. of Bangalore Mirror felt that "Komal does his job well" and that "here are no histrionics with everything cut to the point." Prior to the film's release, Komal had stated that he would quit Kannada films if it failed commercially. After being typecast as an actor who could only play comedic roles, Komal starred in the cop film Kempegowda 2 (2019), the eponymous role that he shed to play.

After a few years of no releases, Komal appeared in the comedy film Undenama (2023). He played the role of an engineer Venkatesh whose only aim in life was to get married and thereby get the license to have sex, something he had been obsessed with since childhood. The film was not received well by critics who called it "jaded". In the horror-comedy Namo Bhootatma 2 as Arjun, a prankster and owner of a local television channel, that gets into trouble after he pranks a couple of gangsters. The film received mixed reviews from critics. Shashiprasad S. M. of the South First called him "the only saving grace" of the film, while The New Indian Express wrote, "Komal Kumar's comedic timing acts as a lifeline, serving as the saving grace that ties together the mishmash of gags. His comic brilliance keeps you engaged, often reminiscent of his brother Jaggesh's expressions."

Filmography All films are in Kannada, unless otherwise noted. Year Film Role Notes 1992 Super Nanna Maga Vishnu 1993 Shivanna Military Mava Credited as S. Chiranjeevi1994 Prema Simhasana Beda Krishna Ranginata 1996 Soma Pattanakke Banda Putta Shivanna 1997 Lady Commissioner Hari 1999 Drona 2000 Shukradese Khiladi 2001 Jipuna Nanna Ganda Abhishek Mr. Harishchandra Rusthum Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu Ice Candy Gopala 2002 123 Kotigobba Partially reshot versionNinagoskara Thief Hattoora Odeya Thavarige Baa Thangi Nandeesha Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor Love U Makeup Karate master 2003 Katthegalu Saar Katthegalu Komi Preetisle Beku Kasu Iddone Basu 2004 Love Antony Maurya Manu's friend 2005 Jootata Eeshwar Khan Varsha Mr. Bakra Director Guest appearanceGowramma Bunty Sye Reliance worker Love Story 2006 7 O' Clock Thief Neenello Naanalle Gunda Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kannada Mohini 9886788888 Investigating officer Chellata Shree Odahuttidavalu Student Thandege Thakka Maga Honeymoon Express Rama Tenali Rama Aishwarya Bunk Seena Dattha Tingu Sevanthi Sevanthi Malavalli 2007 Govinda Gopala Gopala Arasu Daas Hudugaata "Mathi" Madesha Tamashegaagi Shivu Sathyavan Savithri Cheluvina Chittara Manmatha Marriage broker Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige Gende Chanda College friend2008 Gaja Appaji Akasha Gange Satya in Love Vamshi Vamshi's sidekick Mast Maja Maadi Mylari Meravanige Mr. Garagasa Muniya "Mr. Garagasa" Shivani Sangama Kama Dheemaku Komal Kumar alias KK Cameo2009 Jaaji Mallige Chamkaisi Chindi Udaysi Bot Seena Muniya Male Bille Mooru Guttu Ondu Sullu Ondu Nija Siddu 2010 Appu and Pappu Animal trainer Nannavanu Thief Thipparalli Tharlegalu Pandu Lift Kodla Ring Road Gowda Aptharakshaka Dr. Srinath Yaksha Vaare Vah Adesh Deshpande a.k.a. Adi 2011 Kal Manja "Kal" Manja Allide Nammane Illi Bande Summane Himself Guest appearance Maryade Ramanna Ramu 2012 Govindaya Namaha Govinda Nominated—SIIMA Award for Best Comedian Nandeesha Nandeesha 2013 Lakshmi CID Eesha Veera Radhan Ganda Krishna Pyarge Aagbittaite Sot Somappa Hebbet Mane 2014 Karoodpathi Banti Babu Also singer Pungi Daasa Ramadasa Aindhaam Thalaimurai Sidha Vaidhiya Sigamani Dr. Sathish Kumar Tamil film Namo Boothatma Karthik 2015 Goa Swamy Lodde Narasimha "Lodde" 2016 Kathe Chitrakathe Nirdeshana Puttanna Puttanna Deal Raja "Deal" Raja 2019 Kempegowda 2 Kempegowda 2023 Undenama Venkatesh Namo Bhootatma 2 Arjun 2024Yala KunniK. D. Nagappa / Satya HarishchandraDual role2025Rajaputhiran Linga Tamil film Kona Narayana 2026RolexFilming Tenali D A. LLBTenaliFilming Sangeetha Bar And Restaurant Post-Production AshokavanaCompleted