Honnappa Bhagavathar
Encyclopedia
Honappa Bhagavatar/C. Honnappa Bhagavathar(born as Honappa) (January 15, 1916 - October 10, 1992), was a Kannada - Tamil theater artist, film actor, producer, musician, singer. He was not only a great actor but excellent musician. He was a renowned singer of his times, and had sung many songs. He was one of the pioneers of Kannada Cinema. His son Bharath Bhagavathar was also an actor who worked in Kannada Films and serials.
Once, Honappa's stage play was held in Salem. At that time, M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
- the first superstar of South-Indian cinema, was searching for a cast for his film 'Ambikapathi
'. Honnappa's play was a success there and people appreciated it. Honnappa was honored, and was respected by conferring him the title 'Bhagavathar
'. From then, Honnappa's name became Honnappa Bhagavathar.
Films. Bangalore-based stage and screen star Honnappa Bhagavathar replaced M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
in Sri Murugan
of 1946. He acted along MGR
in the movie. Honnappa Bhagavathar too sung in the movie, along with Jeevaratnam. S. M. Subbaiah Naidu scored the music.
He made is debut in Kannada with the movie Subadra. He is known for bringing actress like B. Saroja Devi
and others into silver screen
.
Later again, in the film Valmiki Honnappa Bhagavathar substituted M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
as Valmiki, the sinner-turned-sage Valmiki
. Honnappa Bhagavathar who became a star after M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
's temporary exit, played the lead role in many Tamil movies and later in Kannada. He played the bandit-turned-sage and created a good impression, especially in the action sequences when he escapes from capture. The romantic sequences of Rajakumari with Honnappa Bhagavathar were much talked about in those days.
In 1960, Bhagavathar started an organization "Nadabrahma Sangeetha Vidyalaya", and imparted music to his many pupils. He also became a member of Kannada Film Advisory Board and also worked as a member in Karnataka Sangeeta Nruthya Academy.
,
Early life
Born in 1915 at Chowdasandra - Nelamangala, weaving was his household profession. At the age of 5, he lost his father and grew up attracted to his mothers Bhajans and Music. He came to Bangalore for work. He first became a pupil of his relative Murthy. Then, became a pupil of Harmonium Arunachalappa.Once, Honappa's stage play was held in Salem. At that time, M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Mayavaram Krishnamurthy Thyagaraja Bhagavathar , also called M.K.T., was a Tamil film actor, producer and Carnatic music singer. He is considered to be one of the most successful Tamil film actors ever....
- the first superstar of South-Indian cinema, was searching for a cast for his film 'Ambikapathi
Ambikapathy (1937 film)
Ambikapathy a 1937 Tamil film directed by American film director Ellis R. Dungan. It starred M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, M. R. Santhanalakshmi, Serugulathur Sama, T. S. Balaiya, N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Madhuram and P. G. Venkatesan. Ambikapathy is regarded as one of the greatest hits of...
'. Honnappa's play was a success there and people appreciated it. Honnappa was honored, and was respected by conferring him the title 'Bhagavathar
Bhagavathar
Bhagavatar may refer to any of the following,* M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, known as MKT was an Tamil Actor.* Honnappa Bhagavatar, was a Kannada Cinema Pioneer and Tamil, Kannada Artist.* Palghat Srirama Bhagavathar, was a renowned Carnatic Vocalist....
'. From then, Honnappa's name became Honnappa Bhagavathar.
Career
Honnappa Bhagavathar worked in many TamilTamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
Films. Bangalore-based stage and screen star Honnappa Bhagavathar replaced M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Mayavaram Krishnamurthy Thyagaraja Bhagavathar , also called M.K.T., was a Tamil film actor, producer and Carnatic music singer. He is considered to be one of the most successful Tamil film actors ever....
in Sri Murugan
Sri Murugan
Sri Murugan is a Tamil language film starring M. G. Ramachandran in the lead role. The film was released in the 1940s.Bangalore-based stage and screen star Honnappa Bhagavathar replaced M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, the first superstar of South-Indian cinema in Sri Murugan of 1946. He acted along...
of 1946. He acted along MGR
MGR
MGR may refer to:* M. G. Ramachandran , Indian actor & politician* MG Rover company* ManaGeR, software* Mass Grocery Retail in abbreviation of an industry sector* Merry-go-round train, British freight-train design...
in the movie. Honnappa Bhagavathar too sung in the movie, along with Jeevaratnam. S. M. Subbaiah Naidu scored the music.
He made is debut in Kannada with the movie Subadra. He is known for bringing actress like B. Saroja Devi
B. Saroja Devi
B. Saroja Devi is an Indian actress. She is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan award and has acted in Kannada,Tamil, Telugu and Hindi movies.She is referred to as Abinaya Saraswathi by Tamil film industry and as Kannadathu Paingili by Kannada Film Industry.She ruled the roost for more than three...
and others into silver screen
Silver screen
A silver screen, also known as a silver lenticular screen, is a type of projection screen that was popular in the early years of the motion picture industry and passed into popular usage as a metonym for the cinema industry...
.
Later again, in the film Valmiki Honnappa Bhagavathar substituted M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Mayavaram Krishnamurthy Thyagaraja Bhagavathar , also called M.K.T., was a Tamil film actor, producer and Carnatic music singer. He is considered to be one of the most successful Tamil film actors ever....
as Valmiki, the sinner-turned-sage Valmiki
Valmiki
Valmiki is celebrated as the poet harbinger in Sanskrit literature. He is the author of the epic Ramayana, based on the attribution in the text of the epic itself. He is revered as the Adi Kavi, which means First Poet, for he discovered the first śloka i.e...
. Honnappa Bhagavathar who became a star after M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Mayavaram Krishnamurthy Thyagaraja Bhagavathar , also called M.K.T., was a Tamil film actor, producer and Carnatic music singer. He is considered to be one of the most successful Tamil film actors ever....
's temporary exit, played the lead role in many Tamil movies and later in Kannada. He played the bandit-turned-sage and created a good impression, especially in the action sequences when he escapes from capture. The romantic sequences of Rajakumari with Honnappa Bhagavathar were much talked about in those days.
In 1960, Bhagavathar started an organization "Nadabrahma Sangeetha Vidyalaya", and imparted music to his many pupils. He also became a member of Kannada Film Advisory Board and also worked as a member in Karnataka Sangeeta Nruthya Academy.
Partial Filmography
| No | Film | Year | Director | Language | Co-star | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Krishnakumar | 1941 | S. D. S. Yogi S. D. S. Yogi S. D. Subramania Yogi, popularly known as S. D. S. Yogi was a Tamil director, playwright, screenplay writer and poet from Tamil Nadu, India. He was born in a family of poets and published his first collection of poems, while still a student at the Erode Mahajana High School in 1924... |
Tamil | T. S. Rajalakshmi | Lead Actor |
| 2 | Subhadra | 1941 | P. Pullaiah P. Pullaiah P. Pullaiah or P. Pullayya B.A. is a Telugu film director and producer. He was recipient of Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for his contributions to Telugu cinema. He married veteran actress P. Santha Kumari in 1937... |
Kannada | Gubbi Veeranna Gubbi Veeranna Gubbi Veeranna was an Indian theatre director, one of the pioneers and most prolific contributors to Kannada theatre. He established the drama company, Gubbi Veeranna Nataka Company that played a crucial role in promoting the Kannada theatre. Some of the stalwarts that have emerged out of this... , J. Jayamma |
|
| 3 | Sathi Suganya | 1942 | T. R. Sundaram T. R. Sundaram Tiruchengodu Ramalingam Sundaram was a Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Sinhalese film actor, director and iconic film producer... & P. V. Chari |
Tamil | T. R. Rajakumari T. R. Rajakumari Thanjavur Ranganayaki Rajayee , popularly known by her screen name T. R. Rajakumari was a Tamil film actress, Carnatic singer and dancer. She has been called the first "dream girl" of Tamil cinema.-Early life:... |
Lead Actor |
| 4 | Arunthathi | 1943 | M. L. Tandan & T. R. Sundaram T. R. Sundaram Tiruchengodu Ramalingam Sundaram was a Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Sinhalese film actor, director and iconic film producer... |
Tamil | U. R. Jeevarathinam | Lead Actor |
| 5 | Devakanya | 1943 | R. Padmanaban R. Padmanaban R. Padmanabhan was one of the pioneer of South Indian Film Industry. He initially started distribution of silent films and later started directing and producing his own movies. He was son of K. Rangaswamy Iyer, of Sivaganaga, Tamil Nadu.... |
Tamil | U. R. Jeevarathinam | Lead Actor |
| 6 | Prabavathi | 1944 | T. R. Raghunath | Tamil | T. R. Rajakumari T. R. Rajakumari Thanjavur Ranganayaki Rajayee , popularly known by her screen name T. R. Rajakumari was a Tamil film actress, Carnatic singer and dancer. She has been called the first "dream girl" of Tamil cinema.-Early life:... |
Lead Actor |
| 7 | Raja Rajeshwari | 1944 | M. L. Tandon & T. R. Sundaram T. R. Sundaram Tiruchengodu Ramalingam Sundaram was a Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Sinhalese film actor, director and iconic film producer... |
Tamil | K. L. V. Vasantha | Lead Actor |
| 8 | Burma Rani Burma Rani Burma Rani was a 1945 Tamil-language film directed by T. R. Sundaram. It starred K. L. V. Vasantha in the lead role of the female spy Mangalam and Sundaram, himself, as the lead antagonist.- Pre-production :... |
1945 | T. R. Sundaram T. R. Sundaram Tiruchengodu Ramalingam Sundaram was a Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Sinhalese film actor, director and iconic film producer... |
Tamil | K. L. V. Vasantha | |
| 9 | Hemareddy Mallamma | 1945 | G. R. Rao & S. Soundararajan | Kannada | Gubbi Veeranna Gubbi Veeranna Gubbi Veeranna was an Indian theatre director, one of the pioneers and most prolific contributors to Kannada theatre. He established the drama company, Gubbi Veeranna Nataka Company that played a crucial role in promoting the Kannada theatre. Some of the stalwarts that have emerged out of this... |
|
| 10 | Bhakta Kalathi | 1945 | R. Padmanaban R. Padmanaban R. Padmanabhan was one of the pioneer of South Indian Film Industry. He initially started distribution of silent films and later started directing and producing his own movies. He was son of K. Rangaswamy Iyer, of Sivaganaga, Tamil Nadu.... |
Tamil | Thavamani Devi | Lead Actor |
| 11 | Subhathra | 1945 | T. R. Sundaram T. R. Sundaram Tiruchengodu Ramalingam Sundaram was a Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Sinhalese film actor, director and iconic film producer... |
Tamil | K. L. V. Vasantha | |
| 12 | Kundalakesi | 1946 | Boman D. Irani | Tamil | N. C. Vasanthakokilam | Lead Actor |
| 13 | Sri Murugan Sri Murugan Sri Murugan is a Tamil language film starring M. G. Ramachandran in the lead role. The film was released in the 1940s.Bangalore-based stage and screen star Honnappa Bhagavathar replaced M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, the first superstar of South-Indian cinema in Sri Murugan of 1946. He acted along... |
1946 | M. Soma Sundaram & V. S. Narayanan | Tamil | MGR MGR MGR may refer to:* M. G. Ramachandran , Indian actor & politician* MG Rover company* ManaGeR, software* Mass Grocery Retail in abbreviation of an industry sector* Merry-go-round train, British freight-train design... as support , U. R. Jeevarathinam, K. Malathi |
Lead Actor |
| 14 | Subathra | 1946 | T. R. Sundaram T. R. Sundaram Tiruchengodu Ramalingam Sundaram was a Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Sinhalese film actor, director and iconic film producer... |
Tamil | K. L. V. Vasantha | Lead Actor |
| 15 | Valmiki Valmiki (1946 film) Valmiki was a 1946 Tamil-language film starring Honnappa Bhagavathar, U. R. Jeevarathnam, N. C. Vasanthakokilam, T. R. Rajakumari and T. S. Balaiah. It was directed by Sundar Rao Nadkarni.- Pre-production :... |
1946 | Sundarao Nadkarni Sundar Rao Nadkarni Sundar Rao Nadkarni was an Indian film actor, editor, cinematographer and director. He was the director of the record-creating Tamil film Haridas.- Early life :... |
Tamil | U. R. Jeevarathinam, N. C. Vasanthakokilam, T. R. Rajakumari T. R. Rajakumari Thanjavur Ranganayaki Rajayee , popularly known by her screen name T. R. Rajakumari was a Tamil film actress, Carnatic singer and dancer. She has been called the first "dream girl" of Tamil cinema.-Early life:... |
Lead Actor |
| 16 | Bhakta Jana | 1948 | P. Pullaiah P. Pullaiah P. Pullaiah or P. Pullayya B.A. is a Telugu film director and producer. He was recipient of Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for his contributions to Telugu cinema. He married veteran actress P. Santha Kumari in 1937... |
Tamil | Chittor V. Nagaiah Chittor V. Nagaiah Chitturu Nagayya or Chittor V. Nagaiah birth name - Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya was an Indian actor, composer, director, producer, writer and playback singer of Telugu film industry, Andhra Pradesh, India. Indian film journalist and the editor of Film India, Baburao Patel, described Nagiah as ‘The... , P. Santha Kumari |
|
| 17 | Gokuldasi | 1948 | K. Subramaniam K. Subramaniam Krishnaswami Subramaniam was a renowned Tamil film director of the 30s and 40s. He is the father of popular Indian danseuse Padma Subramanyam.-Biography:... |
M. V. Rajamma | ||
| 18 | Bhakta Kumbara | 1949 | Boman D. Irani | Kannada | Pandaribai | Lead Actor & Producer |
| 19 | Devamanohari | 1949 | A. T. Krishnaswamy | Tamil | P. Bhanumathi | Lead Actor |
| 20 | Sathya Shodhanai | 1953 | H. L. N. Simha | |||
| 21 | Gunasagari | 1953 | H. L. N. Simha | Kannada | Pandaribai | Lead Actor |
| 22 | Mahakavi Kalidasa | 1955 | K. R. Seetarama | Kannada | B. Saroja Devi B. Saroja Devi B. Saroja Devi is an Indian actress. She is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan award and has acted in Kannada,Tamil, Telugu and Hindi movies.She is referred to as Abinaya Saraswathi by Tamil film industry and as Kannadathu Paingili by Kannada Film Industry.She ruled the roost for more than three... (Introduced) |
Actor, Producer & Music Director |
| 23 | Aashadya Bhoothi | 1955 | Kannada | B. Saroja Devi B. Saroja Devi B. Saroja Devi is an Indian actress. She is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan award and has acted in Kannada,Tamil, Telugu and Hindi movies.She is referred to as Abinaya Saraswathi by Tamil film industry and as Kannadathu Paingili by Kannada Film Industry.She ruled the roost for more than three... |
||
| 24 | Pancharathna | 1956 | K. Vembu | Kannada | Udaykumar , T. N. Balakrishna | Actor & Music Director |
| 25 | Jagajyoti Basaweswara | 1959 | T. V. Singh Thakore | Kannada | Rajkumar Rajkumar Rajkumar , born as Singanalluru Puttaswamayya Muthuraju was a popular actor and singer in the Kannada film industry... , B. Saroja Devi B. Saroja Devi B. Saroja Devi is an Indian actress. She is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan award and has acted in Kannada,Tamil, Telugu and Hindi movies.She is referred to as Abinaya Saraswathi by Tamil film industry and as Kannadathu Paingili by Kannada Film Industry.She ruled the roost for more than three... |
|
| 26 | Uzhavukkum Thozhilukkum Vandhanai Seivom | 1959 | M. A. Thirumugham | Tamil | Prem Nazir Prem Nazir Abdul Khader , better known by his stage name Prem Nazir , was an Indian film actor. He is considered one of the all time super stars in Malayalam cinema... , E. V. Saroja E. V. Saroja E. V. Saroja was a famous Tamil and Telugu actress and dancer. She belonged to Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu.Her debut film was En Thangai in 1952 starring M. G. Ramachandran... |
Producer, With M. Karunanidhi M. Karunanidhi Muthuvel Karunanidhi is an Indian politician and a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is the head of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , a Dravidian political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. He has been the leader of the DMK since the death of its founder, C. N... in a Role |
| 27 | Kataari Vee?ra | 1966 | Kannada | Udaykumar | ||
| 28 | Sadananda | 1979 | Ananth Hiregowder | Kannada | Actor & Producer |
,
Awards
In 1976, he was conferred the title "Gana Kalabhushana". Honnappa Bhagavthar's Mahakavikalidasa and Jagajyothi Basaveshwara got National Award in 1955 and 1959 respectively. In 1991, Center for Music Drama Academy awarded him for his contribution to Music. In the same year, he was also awarded for stage music. Madras Sina Pyans Associations awarded him for 'Best Actor' for the Kannada films of 1956. In 1978, Scholars of Mysore state respected him conferring the title 'Gaanakalaa Gandharva'. In 1986, he was awarded the 'Rajyothsava Award'.External links
See also
- M. K. Thyagaraja BhagavatharM. K. Thyagaraja BhagavatharMayavaram Krishnamurthy Thyagaraja Bhagavathar , also called M.K.T., was a Tamil film actor, producer and Carnatic music singer. He is considered to be one of the most successful Tamil film actors ever....
- B. Saroja DeviB. Saroja DeviB. Saroja Devi is an Indian actress. She is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan award and has acted in Kannada,Tamil, Telugu and Hindi movies.She is referred to as Abinaya Saraswathi by Tamil film industry and as Kannadathu Paingili by Kannada Film Industry.She ruled the roost for more than three...