Vajramuni

Sadananda Sagar (10 May 1944 – 5 January 2006), better known by his stage name Vajramuni, was an Indian actor who appeared in Kannada films. He portrayed negative characters during most of his career and was considered one of Kannada cinema's finest actors. Over his career, he came to be known for his "thundering voice and sterling performance" that earned him the epithets, Nata Bhairava and Nata Bhayankara.

Vajramuni began his career as a stage actor and gained popularity with his portrayal of Ravana in Kanagal Prabhakar Shastri's play Prachanda Ravana. He made his film debut in 1969 with Puttanna Kanagal's Mallammana Pavada. His pairing with Rajkumar, with the latter as the lead, in the 1970s came to be widely appreciated, with films such as Sipayi Ramu (1972), Sampathige Savaal (1974), Premada Kanike (1976), Bahaddur Gandu (1976), Giri Kanye (1977) and Shankar Guru (1978). They belonged to the Hallikar community, known for cattle rearing and agriculture. Vajramuni's ancestors were given land grants and made custodians of the village of Anjanapura (in present-day Bangalore Urban district) by the then Maharaja of Mysore, and the family had settled there since. Vajramuni was the eldest of seven children. was his uncle.

Career Vajramuni was a college dropout and held a degree in cinematography. A product of the Kannada amateur theatre, he performed regularly in the mid-1960s for Gubbi Veeranna's theatre company among others. He impressed Puttanna Kanagal with his performance as Ravana in Kanagal Prabhakar Shastri's play Prachanda Ravana who offered Vajramuni a role in the film Saavira Mettilu. The film however got shelved, but was completed by K. S. L. Swamy and released in 2006. Kanagal eventually cast him in Mallammana Pavada (1969), which would become Vajramuni's first release. Producers insisted that Udaykumar would be a better choice to match to Shivaji Ganeshan who played the role in the Tamil version, but Puttanna insisted that it had to be Vajramuni. He went on to cast Vajramuni again in Gejje Pooje (1969). Impressed by his performances in these two films, director S. Siddalingaiah cast him in his 1971 film, Thayi Devaru.

Vajramuni acted in a number of films such as Mayura, Sampathige Saval, Daari Tappida Maga, Premada Kanike, Giri Kanye, Shankar Guru and Aakasmika with Rajkumar.

Personal life Vajramuni was married to Lakshmi, daughter of a family friend, on 28 May 1967. During the time, he worked as a caretaker of the family's sawmill while also performing on stage. They had three sons together. His grandson is a child actor and has appeared in the television series, Uge Uge Maadeshwara.

Partial filmography Year Film Role Notes 1969 Mallammana Pavaada Suryakanth Gejje Pooje Gangaiah 1970 Aliya Geliya Shankar 1971 Thayi Devaru Somanna Sipayi Ramu Sudhakar Nyayave Devaru Vajramuni Sakshatkara Naganna 1972 Bangaarada Manushya Keshava Naagarahaavu Laxmu Kulla Agent 000 Kranti Veera Bhale Huchcha Giri 1973 Bidugade Gopal Mooroovare Vajragalu Duryodhana Bangaarada Panjara 1974 Bhakta Kumbara Krishna Upasane Neelakantaiah Sampathige Saval Siddappa Sri Srinivasa Kalyana Bhrigu 1975 Mayura Vishnugopa Daari Tappida Maga Ashok Kalla Kulla Sukumar 1976 Premada Kanike Chandru Bangarada Gudi Rayappa "Rama Rao" / Johnny Roy Bahaddur Gandu Crown Prince Baduku Bangaaravayithu Badavara Bandhu Gopinatha Aparadhi 1977 Babruvahana Vrishaketu Srimanthana Magalu Sose Tanda Soubhagya Karigowda Giri Kanye Keshava Galate Samsara 1978 Shankar Guru Premakumar Vasantha Lakshmi Sneha Sedu Rao Saheb Siritanakke Savaal Vishakantha Operation Diamond Racket Muyyige Muyyi Gopal Madhura Sangama Vasu Kiladi Kittu Kiladi Jodi Venu 1979 Pakka Kalla Nagendra Balina Guri Huliya Haalina Mevu Bhima Nanobba Kalla Bhaskar 1980 Maria My Darling Raja Kaalinga "Lion" Dayanand Ravichandra Banjo Point Parimala Pattanakke Banda Pathniyaru Mangesh Bhai 1981 Bhoomige Banda Bhagavantha Guruji Jivakke Jiva Antha Ajab Singh Bhaari Bharjari Bete Daanu 1982 Garuda Rekhe Oorige Upakari Karmika Kallanalla Jimmy Gallu Sahasa Simha Shankarlal / Dheerajlal Nanna Devaru Actor Khadeema Kallaru Mareyalagada Kathe Arjun 1983 Onde Guri Motorcycle gang member Chandi Chamundi Diwakar Chakravyuha Bhupathi Benkiya Bale Hasida Hebbuli Landlord Geluvu Nannade Dharma Das Nagabekamma Nagabeku Muthaide Bhagya Alexander Thirugu Baana 1984 Taaliya Bhaagya Premigala Saval Jagdish Vigneshwarana Vahana Inspector Shankar Madhuve Madu Tamashe Nodu Rahim Huliyada Kala Jailer Mariyappa Gandu Bherunda Mark Abraham Gajendra Chanakya Apoorva Sangama Dhanraj / Rao Bahadur Saheb Prema Sakshi Male Banthu Male Thaliya Bhagya Parameshwaraiah Kalinga Sarpa Subramanya 1985 Veeradhi Veera Vajra Mushti Dharmaraj Thayi Mamathe Nanna Prathigne Vishakantaiah Kumkuma Thanda Saubhagya Satyamurthy Maruthi Mahime Chaduranga Bheemaraju 1986 Katha Nayaka Bettada Thayi Brahmastra Jaisimha Bete Preethi Rajashekhar Satkaara 1987 Sathyam Shivam Sundaram Mahabala Rao Athiratha Maharatha Vikramraj Jayasimha Punyakoti Digvijaya Vikram Asha Thaliya Aane Lorry Driver Nagendra Sangliyana Nagappa 1988 Nee Nanna Daiva Vasu Rao Vijaya Khadga Balwanth Thaayi Karulu 1989 Yuga Purusha Anthony D'Costa Rudra C.B.I. Shankar Narayana Gowda Onti Salaga Rudraiah Hongkongnalli Agent Amar 1990 Ranabheri Chalapathi Rao "Kalinga" Raja Kempu Roja Khiladi Tata Prathap Mamgya 1991 Police Matthu Dada Nageshwar Rao Kaliyuga Bheema Baladeva Raj Durgashtami Gowri Kalyana 1992 Purushotthama Rajadhi Raja Mysore Jaana Mohan Raj Halli Krishna Delhi Radha Sahasi Hosa Kalla Hale Kulla Kanasina Rani Sadananda Mannina Doni Bernard / Ramayya Dual identity role 1993 Aakasmika Vyasaraya Sri Devi Mookambika Rayaru Bandaru Mavana Manege Police officer Mahendra Varma Major D'Souza Jana Mecchida Maga Kollura Sri Mookambika Mookasura Bhagavan Sri Saibaba Nana Chandorkar Jailor Jagannath Mohan Raj 1994 Lockup Death Venkataramayya Odahuttidavaru Rudrayya Bhairava Prem Path Musuku Mister Mahesh Kumar Rao Bahadur Raja Rao 1996 Karnataka Suputra Circle Inspector K. Soma Shekar 1996 Paalegara Venkatappa Nayaka 1997 Simhada Mari Bhupathi 1998 Daayaadi

Awards Karnataka State Film Awards 1982–83: Best Supporting Actor — Bettale Seve 2005: Lifetime Contribution to Kannada Cinema Award