R. Nagendra Rao

Rattihalli Nagendra Rao (23 June 1896 – 9 February 1977) was an Indian theatre actor, film actor and director in South Indian cinema. 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.

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.

Early life Nagendra Rao was born on 23 June 1896, in Holalkere, in Kingdom of Mysore of British India.

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.

With the beginning of the 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. The production company existed until 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.

Filmography Year Film Language Functioned as Notes Director Producer Screenwriter Actor Role 1932 Ramadasu Telugu Lead role 1933 Parijatha Pushpaharunam Tamil Narada 1933 Kovalan Tamil Lead role 1934 Sati Sulochana Kannada Ravana First Kannada sound film 1935 Naveena Sadarame Tamil 1940 Bhookailas Telugu Narada 1941 Vasantsena Kannada Sakara Supporting role 1943 Satya Harishchandra Kannada Vishvamitra Supporting role 1947 Mahatma Kabir Kannada 1949 Apoorva Sagodharargal Tamil Marthandan Supporting role 1950 Apoorva Sahodarulu Telugu 1952 Moondru PillaigalMugguru Kodukulu Tamil Telugu 1953 Chandirani TeluguTamilHindi 1953 Jataka PhalaJatakaphalamJatakam Kannada Telugu Tamil 1955 SantoshamNaya Aadmi TeluguHindi Dayanidhi Supporting role 1956 Nagula ChavithiAdarshasati Telugu Kannada 1956 Renuka Mahatme Kannada 1956 Bhaktha Markandeya Kannada Telugu Supporting role 1957 Bettada Kalla Kannada 1957 Mahiravana Kannada 1957 Premada PutriAnbe Deivam Kannada Tamil National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada 1959 Amudhavalli Tamil 1960 Ranadheera Kanteerava Kannada Vikrama Raya Supporting role 1961 Vijayanagarada Veeraputra Kannada 1962 Gaali Gopura Kannada Govindaiah 1963 Veera Kesari Kannada Dharma Nayaka 1963 Ananda Bashpa Kannada 1964 Pathiye Daiva Kannada 1964 Navajeevana Kannada Cameo 1965 Nanna Kartavya Kannada 1965 Balarajana Kathe Kannada 1965 Maduve Maadi Nodu Kannada 1965 Chandrahasa Kannada Chakreshwara Cameo 1966 Thoogudeepa Kannada 1967 Sri Kanyaka Parameshwari Kathe Kannada Supporting role 1967 Premakkoo Permitte Kannada 1967 Nakkare Ade Swarga Kannada 1967 Shri Purandaradasaru Kannada Krishna 1967 Janara Jana Kannada 1968 Hannele Chiguridaga Kannada Anantha Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor 1968 Attegondukala Sosegondukala Kannada Supporting role 1969 Kannu Muchale Kannada 1969 Grihalakshmi Kannada 1969 Namma Makkalu Kannada 1969 Makkale Manege Manikya Kannada 1970 Nadina Bhagya Kannada Dharmaiah 1970 Sri Krishnadevaraya Kannada 1970 Lakshmi Saraswathi Kannada 1970 Karulina Kare Kannada Subbanna 1971 Aliya Geleya Kannada Rao Bahadur Ranga Rao 1971 Sakshatkara Kannada Ajjayya 1971 Kula Gourava Kannada Kala's grandfather Cameo 1971 Naguva Hoovu Kannada 1972 Kalavari Kutumbam Telugu 1972 Naa Mechida Huduga Kannada N. G. Rao 1973 Mannina Magalu Kannada 1973 Prema Pasha Kannada 1974 Professor Huchuraya Kannada Shama Shastry