Dr. Vishnuvardhana was a legendary Kannada actor who had a tremendous fan following in Karnataka and among Kannadigas all over the world. In his film career that spanned across 37 years, he acted in more than 200 films and won a number of awards and honours.

Highlights of Dr. Vishnuvardhana’s career

• In his film career of 37 years (1972-2009) Dr. Vishnuvardhana acted in 220 films which include Kannada (200), Hindi (5), Telugu (5), Malyalam (3) and Tamil (6) films.


• He debuted through Vamshavruksha, an art film directed by jnanapeeta awardee Shri. Girish Karnad in 1972.


• Dr. Vishnuvardhana debuted as a protagonist with Nagarhavu, a movie that set the box offices on fire and created history in the Kannada film industry. It was Shri. Puttanna Kanagal, one of the greatest director of Kannada cinemas, who directed this movie, changed his name from his original name Sampath Kumar to Vishnuvardhana.


• His first film Nagarhavu and his last film Aptharakshka, both created history in terms of audience adulations and box office success.


• A number of Dr. Vishnuvardhana's movies were highest grossing and received a lot of accolades over the years, winning millions of hearts around the world.


• He has also acted in parallel movies such as Harikeya Kuri based on Jnanapeeta awardee Dr. Chandrashekhar Kambar’s novel.

• Dr. Vishnuvardhana has done double roles in 13 films and triple roles in 3 films.


• He has sung a number of songs in his Kannada movies and has two albums of devotional songs. He could play various musical instruments such as tabla, jimbe, drums and professional keyboard.


• Dr. Vishnuvardhana played the lead role in one of the episodes of the popular television serial ‘Malgudi days’ directed by Shankar Nag.


• He used to do his own stunts in the movies.


• He was known as one of the most versatile, talented, stylish and popular actors in the Kannada film Industry as he has effortlessly played roles in romantic, action, emotional, music, comedy or a family drama movies.


• Even after his demise,Dr.Vishnuvardhana continues to enthrall his fans who re-release his popular films and also watch it on the TV channels on a regular basis. But more importantly he continues to live through the comics series ‘Detective Sahasasimha’ where he plays a detective and solves various social issues with assistance from his two grandchildren thus combining social messages with entertainment.

Titles given to Dr. Vishnuvardhana by his fans

• Sahasa Simha .


• Abhinaya Bhargava


• Kotigobba


• Kaladaiva


• Bhavashilpi


• Mysore Ratna

His style statement

• The Kada he wore for the film titled ‘Simhajodi’ became his trademark and the way he stylishly moved his kada became iconic.

His passion

• Apart from movies he had passion for cricket, martial arts,tennis, mimicking, singing, Swimming,

Dr. Vishnuvardhana’s social commitment

• He had a spiritual mindset and helped a number of people in the struggles for education and health.


• Dr. Vishnuvardhana had played an active role in the Gokak movement.


• He had collected funds for the relief activities for the North Karnataka flood victims.


• He had also collected funds and taken part to help the Kargil War.


• He has established ‘Vibha Charitable Trust’ in 2009 to channelize his philanthropic endeavours and to provide financial assistance to institutions that promote art and music, educational institutions and hospitals and help the poor and needy. The activities of the Trust are continued even after his demise by the fans and family members.

Recognition

• As an acknowledgement to his service to Indian cinema, the state government also decided to name its annual lifetime achievement award to long-serving film personalities after Vishnuvardhana, renaming it as the Karnataka State Dr.Vishnuvardhana Award.


• When he expired on 30th December 2009, he was cremated with full state honours.


• The Government of Karnataka has earmarked Rs. 10 crores to build his memorial and allotted a 2 acre land for the same. The responsibility of building the memorial has been given to a newly established Trust named Dr. Vishnuvardhana Pratisthana Trust.


• He has appeared on postage stamps issued by the Government of India.


• A 14.3 km-long stretch of road between the Banashankari Temple and Kengeri in Bengaluru has been named after the superstar. It is the longest road in the Asian continent to be named after a celebrities.