CNN-IBN listed Vishnuvardhan In 2008 the most popular star in the Kannada Film BORN ON 1950 SEPTEMBER 18

CNN-IBN listed Vishnuvardhan In 2008

 the most popular star in the Kannada Film

BORN ON 1950 SEPTEMBER 18

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Vishnuvardhan (Kannada: ವಿಷ್ಣುವರ್ಧನ್), (born Sampath Kumar 18 September 1950 –
30 December 2009),

was an Indian film actor known for his works predominantly in Kannada cinema.[1] He was fondly called the Phoenix of Indian Cinema.[2][3][4][5][6] He appeared in over 220 films, in Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam.[7] He made his debut in the 1972 film, Vamsha Vriksha, in a supporting role.

 The same year he played the lead role in Puttanna Kanagal's Naagarahaavu, and was recognized as the Angry young man of Kannada cinema.[8] He has played a variety of roles in different genres.[9][10][3][11]

In 2008, A poll conducted by CNN-IBN listed Vishnuvardhan as the most popular star in the Kannada Film Industry.[12] A road stretching 14.5 km from Banashankari Temple to Kengeri in Bengaluru has been named after the superstar. It is the longest road in Asia to be named after a celebrity.[13][14] He was a martial artist, In an interview with The Hindu, he had said that it was the era of Bruce Lee and it was only Kamal Haasan and himself who had learnt martial arts in his generation.[15]

Early life[edit]

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Vishnuvardhan was born in Mysore to H. L. Narayana Rao and Kamakshamma. His ancestors are from Hallegere, Mandya district of Karnataka.

His father was an artist, music composer and a scriptwriter who was known for his collection of musical instruments. His sister Rama was a Kathak dancer at Mysore Palace. He had six siblings. He was educated first in Mysore's Gopalswamy School and then at Bangalore's Kannada Model High School. He attended high school and obtained a degree from National College, Basavanagudi, Bangalore.[16][17]









Personal life[edit]

Vishnuvardhan married actress Bharathi on 17 February 1975 in Bangalore.

They had two adopted children, Keerthi and Chandana.[18]














Early career[edit]

Vishnuvardhan started his career with the National Award-winning movie Vamshavruksha (1972) directed by Girish Karnad based on the novel written by S. L. Bhyrappa. His first lead role was in Naagarahaavu, directed by Puttanna Kanagal and based on a novel by T. R. Subba Rao.

It was the first in Kannada film history to complete 100 days in three main theatres of Bangalore. In his 35-year career, he played a variety of roles in more than 200 films.[19]

Television[edit]

He appeared on television for the first time in the 1980s. Shankar Nag directed Malgudi Days and introduced Vishnuvardhan as the main character Venkat Rao, in an episode called "Rupees Forty-five a Month". Here, his co-star was Gayatri Nag.[20][21][22]

Philanthropy[edit]

Vishnuvardhan started an organisation called Sneha Loka to promote harmony and to help during calamities like floods. He conducted a 'padayatra' to collect funds for the flood-affected people in the northern part of the state. Vishnuvardhan and his wife Bharathi had adopted the Melukote town in Mandya district where he had dug borewells in the water-starved temple town.

Many of his other charitable donations were revealed only when the beneficiaries came forward and spoke about it.[23] In January 2005, Vishnuvardhan, cricketer Syed Kirmani and Shivram participated in a Cancer Awareness Walkathon organised by Bangalore Institute of Oncology (BIO) to commemorate its 15 years of public service in Bangalore.[24]













Film score[edit]

S. P. Balasubrahmanyam is record-holder for having sung more than 45,000 songs in Indian languages including Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi. SPB's voice suited Vishnuvardhan, and people felt it was a perfect combination.[25] 

He started singing for Vishnuvardhan in the 1972 film Naagarahaavu. Balasubrahmanyam as music director, composed all the songs for Vishnuvardhan's Sowbhagyalakshmi. Vishnuvardhan never missed any of the birthdays of S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. In every film of the actor, he had to sing couple of songs and Vishnu would insist. Balasubrahmanyam has sung all the five songs in his last Kannada film. Aptharakshaka and was awarded the Best Playback Singer Filmfare Award for the song Gharane Ghara Gharane. He dedicated his award to Vishnuvardhan. After Vishnuvardhan's death, Balasubrahmanyam paid tribute to him in musical nights and one such show happened in Bengaluru and Mysuru.





As singer[edit]

He started singing in movies occasionally and later went on to singing devotional songs for albums.

The first song he sang was in the movie Nagarahole. The first devotional album sung by him was on Lord Ayappa and the title of the album was Jyothiroopa Ayappa. His other albums were "Thayi Bhanashankari" (on goddess Banashankari) and Vishwapremi Ayappa. He also sang devotional songs on Dharmastala's Lord Manjunathaswamy, Malemadeshwara and Ranachandi Chamundi.