About Uday kumar
Lived 1933 – 1985 (aged 52). Uday kumar was an Indian actor, lyricist and novelist.
Bommasandra Srinivasaiah Suryanarayana Murthy (16 March 1933 – 26 December 1985), known professionally as Udaykumar, was an Indian actor, writer, and film producer who worked primarily in Kannada cinema. Along with Rajkumar and Kalyan Kumar, he was part of the trio known as the Kumarathrayaru ("the three Kumars") of Kannada cinema. In addition to acting, he wrote several stage dramas and books.
Uday Kumar appeared in a wide variety of roles and collaborated with many notable actors of his era. In the early part of his career, he was cast in heroic roles, but he later became known for portraying complex antagonists, particularly in historical and mythological films, where he was frequently cast opposite Rajkumar’s protagonist roles.
Early life Uday Kumar was born into a Brahmin family, with sources differing on his birth date—some citing 5 March 1933 and others 16 March 1933. He was the second of four children and the only son of B. S. Srinivasaiah and Sharadamma. He had three sisters. The family's ancestral roots trace back to Andhra Pradesh but they had settled in Karnataka approximately two centuries prior to his birth.
He received his primary education in the villages of Helaine and Muthanallur near Sarjapura in Bangalore district and later completed his secondary education in Anekal. During his school years, he actively participated in cultural events and competitions.
After an unsuccessful attempt at the matriculation examination, Uday Kumar married Kamalamma at the age of 20. He subsequently worked as a physical education teacher at a school in Anekal. On the advice of a friend, he relocated to Bangalore, where he joined the theatre troupe of Gubbi Veeranna, marking the beginning of his acting career.
Film career In 1954, while working on the script for Bhagyodaya (1956), screenwriter Kanagal Prabhakar Shastry was seeking a lead actor for the film. At the time, Uday Kumar was performing as Buddha in a stage production in Mandya with Gubbi Veeranna’s theater troupe. S. K. Bhagavan, Shastry’s assistant, observed the performance and offered Uday Kumar a screen test. Following the test, he was cast in the lead role. Shastry also gave him the screen name "Uday Kumar," inspired by the film's title and the production company, Udaya Productions.
He founded Udaya Kalanikethana, a training institute for theater and film acting, with the aim of promoting performing arts. He also supported professional theater groups across Karnataka, and beginning in 1960, regularly dedicated one week each month to stage performances. Public Prosecutor Maryade Mahalu Police Papanna
Vishakanya Kapala Bhairava Pithamaha Havu Eni Aata Lakshmi Kataksha Narayanadasa 1988 Varna Chakra Telugu films YearFilmRole(s)Notes 1959 Veer Bhaskaradu 1961 Sita Rama Kalyanam Kumbhakarna 1966 Sri Krishna Pandaveeyam Bhima 1983 Maga Maharaju Raghavaiah 1984 Bharyamani Mahanagaramlo Mayagadu Ee Charitra Inkennallu
Tamil films YearFilmRole(s)Notes 1958 Sengottai Singam Singam 1960 Yanai Paagan Shankar Ivan Avanethan 1980 Maria My Darling
Awards Karnataka State Film Awards: 1967-68 – Won – Best Supporting Actor – Chakra Theertha 1977-78 – Won – Best Supporting Actor – Hemavathi
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Important facts
People in Uday kumar's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Uday kumar's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Uday kumar?
Kannada Cine actor and producer (1933–1985)
When was Uday kumar born?
Uday kumar was born on 5 March 1933 in Salem.
When did Uday kumar die?
Uday kumar died on 26 December 1985 in Bengaluru.
What was Uday kumar's occupation?
Uday kumar was an actor, lyricist and novelist.
What nationality was Uday kumar?
Uday kumar was Indian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Uday kumar. https://biography.guide/uday-kumar/
MLA: "Uday kumar." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/uday-kumar/.
Chicago: "Uday kumar." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/uday-kumar/.
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