Narasimharaju (Kannada actor)

Tiptur Ramaraju Narasimharaju (24 July 1923 – 11 July 1979) was an Indian actor in Kannada cinema who specialised in roles that required ample comic timing. He was the comedy stalwart of the Kannada film industry. He acted in more than 250 Kannada films between 1954 and 1979. He was also referred to as Hasya Chakravarti.[2]

T. R. Narasimharaju
Born	Tipaturu Ramaraju Narasimharaju 24 July 1923 Tiptur, Mysore State, British India
Died	11 July 1979 (aged 55) Karnataka, India
Nationality	Indian
Other names	Hasya chakravarthi, Hasya Rathna
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1954–1979
Spouse(s)	Sharadamma (1949–)
Children	Narahari Raju (Son) Sudha Narasimharaju (Daughter) Dharmavathi Narasimharaju (Daughter)[1]

Early life

Narasimharaju was born to Ramaraju, a police constable from Tiptur and Venkatalakshmi Amma on 24 July 1923, in Tiptur.

Career

Theatre

Narasimharaju's stage debut happened when he was 4 years old. The poverty prevailing in the house made his uncle Lakshmipathiraju take the young lad to the 'Chandra-moul-eshwara drama company' run by C. B. Mallappa who happened to be touring Tiptur during that period. He played the roles of Prahlada, Lohithaswa, Krishna, Markanda among others. After some time, Narasimharaju left that company and formed his own troupe and enacted his roles from his now previous performances – Gora-Kumbara, and Harischandra. He soon joined "Edathorey Drama Company" after his troupe sustained losses. He took on the garb of a lady in the mythological Vishvamitra, Rama, Ravana, and Bharata among others. He spent the first 27 years of his acting career in professional drama companies. He donned different roles in the plays of different companies like "Shri Chandramauleshwara Nataka Sabha", "Hirannaiah Mitra Mandali", "Bharatha Lalitha Kala Sangha", "Gunda Joisara Company" of Belur, and Gubbi "Channabasaveshwara Nataka Company". He did not neglect these drama companies even after becoming hugely popular as a film actor.[3]

Films

He made his film debut in 1954 when he acted in the film Bedara Kannappa alongside Rajkumar in the role of the son of the temple priest. Both were colleagues from the time they were in Gubbi Veeranna's drama company. Narasimharaju took inspiration from Charlie Chaplin. He is referred to by some as one of the greatest comedians of his time. It is also said that people would not have watched Kannada films in the 1960s if he did not star in them.[2]

Though known for his comic timing, Narasmimharaju unfortunately spent his last days mourning the death of his son in an accident.[4] He died aged 56 on 11 July 1979 at around 4.30 a.m. due to severe heart attack. After his death, an annual cine award, the Narasimharaju Prashasti was established in his memory.[5] He was the busiest actor in the Kannada film industry, even actors like Rajkumar used to wait for his callsheet, and used to adjust to his dates. However, despite his iconic status among Kannadigas, it is ironic that he was not awarded even once either by the state or the central governments.

A comedian by profession, Narasimharaju was a family man and knew what he had to do for his family. Narasimharaju intelligently invested his earnings into building houses in the then Madras city and Bangalore. In fact, he was the first Kannada actor to own a house in Madras, even before the matinee idol Rajkumar and is even credited to have completed 100 films before Dr Rajkumar through the 1967 film, Nakkare ade swarga

Filmography

Narasimha Raju in Makkala Rajya

Sl No	Year	Title	Role
1	1954	Bedara Kannapa	Comedian
2	1955	Sodari	Comedian
3	1956	Shiva Bhaktha Markandeya	Comedian
4	1956	Hari Bhaktha	Comedian
5	1956	Renuka MAhatme	Comedian
6	1957	Bhaktha Prahalada	Comedian
7	1957	Prabhulinga leale	Comedian
8	1957	Nala Damayanthi	Comedian
9	1958	Chori Chori	Guest appearance
10	1959	Jagajyothi Basaveshwara	Comedian
11	1959	Dharma Vijaya	Comedian
12	1959	Abba Aa Hudugi
13	1960	Rani Honnamma	Comedian
14	1960	Dashavataara	Comedian
15	1960	Makkala Rajya
16	1960	Ranadheera Kanteerava	Comedian
17	1961	Kaivara Mahatme	Comedian
18	1961	Nagarjuna	Comedian
19	1961	Kittur Chennamma	Comedian
20	1961	Vijayanagarada Veera Putra
21	1962	Vidhi Vilasa	Comedian
22	1962	Swarna Gowri	Comedian
23	1962	Gaali Gopura
24	1962	Bhoodaana
25	1962	Ratna Manjari	Comedian
26	1963	Sathi Shakthi	Comedian
27	1963	Nanda Deepa	Comedian
28	1963	Jenu Goodu
29	1963	Saaku Magalu	Comedian
30	1963	Jeevana Taranga	Comedian
31	1963	Vaalmiki
32	1963	Malli Maduve	Comedian
33	1964	Chandra Kumara	Comedian
34	1964	Chinnada Gombe	Comedian
35	1964	Amara Shilpi Jakana Chari	Comedian
36	1964	Shivaratri Mahatme	Comedian
37	1964	Pratigne	Comedian
38	1964	Nava Jeevana	Supporting Actor
39	1965	Chandrahasa	Comedian
40	1965	Vatsalya	Comedian
41	1965	Miss Leelavati	Comedian
42	1965	Nanna Karthavya	Comedian
43	1965	Sathya Harichandra	Comedian
44	1965	Pathala Mohini	Comedian
45	1965	Baalaraajana Kathe
46	1966	Sri Kanyaka Parameshwari Kathe	Comedian
47	1966	Love in Bangalore
48	1966	Thugu Deepa	Comedian
49	1967	Manassiddare Maarga	Comedian
50	1967	Rajashekara	Comedian
51	1967	Bhaktha Kanakadasa	Comedian
52	1967	Bangaarada Hoovu	Comedian
53	1967	Devara Gedda Manava	Comedian
54	1967	Immadi Pulikesi	Comedian
55	1967	Gange Gowri	Comedian
56	1967	Nakkare Ade Swarga	Hero
57	1967	Lagna Pathrike	Comedian
58	1967	Black Market
59	1967	Padaveedhara
60	1968	Manasakshi	Comedian
61	1968	Simha Swapna	Comedian
62	1968	Jedara Bale	Comedian
63	1968	Goa Dalli CID 999	Comedian
64	1968	Namma Ooru	Comedian
65	1968	Gandhinagara	Comedian
66	1968	Bangalore Mail	Supporting Actor
67	1968	Rowdi Ranganna	Comedian
68	1968	Amma
69	1969	Bhale Bhasava	Comedian
70	1969	Operation Jackpot Nalli C.I.D 999	Supporting Actor
71	1969	Kaadina Rahasya	Comedian
72	1969	Eradu Mukha	Comedian
73	1970	Modala Raatri	Comedian
74	1970	Hasiru Thorana	Comedian
75	1970	Nadina Bhagya	Comedian
76	1970	Bhoopathi Ranga	Comedian
77	1970	Lakshmi Saraswathi	Comedian
78	1970	Sri Krishnadevaraya
79	1970	Rangamahal Rahasya
80	1971	Kula Gowrava	Comedian
81	1971	Kasturi Nivasa	Comedian
82	1971	Anugraha	Comedian
83	1971	Malathi Madhava	Comedian
84	1971	Namma Badaku	Comedian
85	1971	Jatakaratna Gundaa Joisa	Lead Hero
86	1971	Sharapanjara	Comedian
87	1972	Yava Janmumada Mythri	Comedian
88	1972	Naari Munidare Maari
89	1972	Gandhada Gudi	Shivaji Role
90	1973	Devaru Kotta Thangi	Comedian
91	1974	Professor Hucchurya	Lead Hero
93	1975	Onde Roopa Eradu Guna	Comedian
94	1975	Aashirvaada
95	1976	Aparadhi	Comedian
96	1977	Lakshmi Nivasa	Comedian
97	1977	Kittu Puttu	Guest Appearance
98	1977	Yella Hanakkagi
99	1978	Maathu Thappadha Maga	Comedian
100	1978	Vasantha Lakshmi	Comedian
101	1978	Kiladi Kittu	Comedian
102	1978	Nammuru
103	1978	Sneha Sedu
104	1979	Preethi Madu Tamashe Nodu	Comedian
105	1979	Asadhya Aliya	Comedian
106	1980	Manjina There	Comedian
107	1963	Veera Kesari	Comedian
108	1967	Premakkoo Permitte	Comedian
109	1971	Prathidwani	Comedian
110	1979	Asadhya Aliya	Comedian

Sources

• HSK. "T. R. Narasimharaju: Humorous Actor". Star of Mysore. OurKarnataka.Com, Inc. Retrieved 25 September 2007.

References

1. "Indian movie stars died at 55". patheticfacts.com.
2. A Tribute Comedian. Deccan Herald.
3. Lakshmana. Jana Maretha Nage Nata. Prajavani, Cinema Ranjane, page 3, 15 July 2011, p. 1.
4. Mattur, H. "Memories of The Golden Era – An Interview with S.K Bhagavan". OurKarnataka.Com, Inc. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
5. "Awards in memory of Narasimharaju". Deccan Herald. 9 June 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2007.

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External links

• Narasimharaju at IMDb