Kannada cinema stalwart Vishnuvardhan dead
One of the stalwarts of the Kannada film Industry Vishnuvardhan died of a heart attack in Mysore late on Tuesday evening. The popular Kannada actor, whose real name was Sampath Kumar, passed away at the age of 59 years.
He was popularly referred to as the Phoenix of Kannada cinema. He is survived by his Bharati who is also a popular actress, and two adopted daughters, Keerthi and Chandana.
In 2005 Vishnuvardhan was awarded honorary doctorate by Bangalore University.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kannada-cinema-stalwart-vishnuvardhan-dead/107951-8.html
December 29, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Shocking news
RIP
January 1, 2010 at 7:47 AM
this is one worst possible thing to happen in kannada.
Now the whole indian cinema as lost a preciest gem
kannada industry as set a huge drawback. We cant
see how kannada industry move forward from here.
December 29, 2009 at 9:47 PM
Unbelievable!
December 29, 2009 at 9:51 PM
South Bangalore is already tense. Thousands of fans have gathered into his residence. Hopefully there will be no violence this time
December 29, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Indeed…this is really a shocker…
December 29, 2009 at 9:54 PM
RIP Inspector Dhanush
December 29, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Such a good actor. Sad to hear the news ! End of an era
December 29, 2009 at 10:28 PM
This is shocking news..Cannot belive it. He just completed his 60 th year birthday not too recently. Great loss to South Film Industry.
December 29, 2009 at 10:58 PM
I feel very bad
because he is such good person
i am so sad
December 29, 2009 at 11:01 PM
Dr. Vishnuvardhan was in Mysore for many days for rest and medical observation of doctors of Vikram Hospital. He was even checked thoroughly on Tuesday Evening and was found good by the doctors. But during 2.30 A.M. on Wednesday morning he complained some chest pain and died halfway while travelling to the Hospital.
Vishnuvardhan rose in the Kannada film industry like a great star and his talents were in full zoom in all the one hundred ninety nine films he had acted. His film Aaptha Rakshaka is to be released shortly.
Vishnuvardhan had many milestones in his career including Vamsha Vruksha, Nagarahaavu, Bandhana, Kaidhi, Yajamana and Aaptha Mithra and others.
Dr. Vishnuvardhan got nine state awards and five film fare awards.
December 29, 2009 at 11:16 PM
very sad. He is my favorite actor. i really sad about this. But i love him for ever
December 29, 2009 at 11:22 PM
Wow, HUGE news.. very untimely death..
December 29, 2009 at 11:26 PM
Aajkaarjun, do keep updating this post as and when you get other news stories.. will keep it on or near the top here.
December 29, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Will try to post videos Satyam. I am yet to recover from the shock.. Vishnuvardhan’s body is being taken to the National College Grounds, Basavanagudi,
December 29, 2009 at 11:53 PM
It could be a mere coincidence. But the death of Vishnuvardhan even as his 200th film Aptharakshaka was being completed has evoked memories of Apthamitra and the death of actress Soundarya. Apthamitra directed by P Vasu was released in 2004 and was one of the biggest hits of Dr Vishnuvardhan’s career
. It brought back Dwarkish as a producer and the ‘Kalla-Kulla’ combination clicked again. But it was the untimely death of actress Soundarya in a helicopter crash just before the film’s release that made people take notice. The film had a paranormal theme and Soundarya played a character with split personality. Many people linked the film with her death.
Aptharakshaka is the sequel to Apthamitra and has a similar theme. Paranormal incidents have been reported during the shooting of Aptharakshaka as well. Actress Vimala Raman claimed that she saw ‘things’ in her hotel room during filming and was so spooked that she took a ten-day break from shooting. The actress had said that she saw shadows moving around in her room and also felt ‘something’ was sleeping next to her.
Vishnuvardhan himself suffered a fall from a horse during the shooting. He had said that he had a gut feeling that something would go wrong. However he mounted the horse and the fall almost hurt his spine. Early on Wednesday morning the SMS doing the rounds among film fraternity is, “Apthamitra took away Soundarya. Aptharakshaka has taken away Vishnuji.”
http://www.chitraloka.com/news/112-shooting-reports-news-of-kannada-films/1803-aptharakshaka-hero-vishu.html?5835f6087eac4ed250b8054e531d591c=8f903208617d026c26f0ba798b6c85b3
December 29, 2009 at 11:55 PM
yes of course I recall the Soundarya event..
December 29, 2009 at 11:54 PM
I can well imagine it.. my condolences to you and all fans of Kannada cinema..
December 29, 2009 at 11:29 PM
Legeds GONE, this final days of this year is very BAD. rest in peace SIR
December 29, 2009 at 11:54 PM
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2. Nagarahavu Puttannn Kanagal 1972
3. Seethe Alla Savithri Jayalakshmi 1973
4. Mane Belagida Sose Shrikanth 1973
5. Gandhada Gudi Vijay 1973
6. Bhoothayana Maga Ayyu Siddalingaiah 1974
7. Professor HucchuRaya A.R.Vittal 1974
8. Anna Athige A.R.Vittal 1974
9. Devaragudi R.Ramamurthy 1975
10. Koodi Balona A.R.Vittal 1975
11. Kalla Kulla K.S.R.Das 1975
12. Bhagya Jyothi K.S.L.Swamy 1975
13. Nagakanye S.V.Rajendrasingh Babu 1975
14. Onde Roop Eradu Guna A.M.Samiullah 1975
15. Devaru Kotta Vara R.Ramamurthy 1976
16. Hosilu Mettida Hennu V.T.Thyagarajan 1976
17. Makkala Bhagya K.S.L.Swamy 1976
18. Bhangarada Gudi K.S.R.Das 1976
19. Bhayasade Bhanda Bhagya R.Ramamurthy 1977
20. Sose Thanda Soubhagya A.V.Sheshgiri Rao 1977
21. Nagarahole S.V.Rajendrasingh Babu 1977
22. Chinna Ninna Muddaduve A.M.Samiullah 1977
23. Shrimanthana Magalu A.V.Sheshgiri Rao 1977
24 Sahodara Savaal K.S.R.Das 1977
25. Shani Prabhava Rathnakar-Madhu 1977
26. Galate Samsara C.V.Rajendran 1977
27. Kittu Puttu C.V.Rajendran 1977
28. Hombisilyu Geetapriya 1978
29. Sandharbha Gaurisundar 1978
30. Kiladi Kittu S.V.Rajendrasingh Babu 1978
31. Vamshajyothi A.Bhimsingh 1978
32. Muie Ge Muie Y.R.Swamy 1978
33. Siritanakke Savaal T.R.Ramanna 1978
34. Prathima T.R.Ramanna 1978
35. Nanna Prayaschita Ugranarasimha 1978
36. Sneha Sedu V.Madhusudhan Rao 1978
37. Kiladi Jodi S.V.Rajendrasingh Babu 1978
38. Vasanth Lakshmi A.V.Sheshgiri Rao 1978
39. Amarnath Manimurugan 1978
40. Bhale Huduga T.R.Ramanna 1978
41. Madhura Sangama T.P.Venugopal 1978
42. Singaporalli Raja Kulla C.V.Rajendran 1978
43. Asadhya Aliya Bhargava 1979
44. Vijay Vikram V.Somashekar 1979
45. Naniruvude Ninagagi A.V.Sheshgiri Rao 1979
46. Manini K.S.Sethumanadhavan 1979
47. Nentaro Gantu Kallaro A.V.Sheshgiri Rao 1979
48. Nanna Rosha Nooru Varusha Joesimon 1980
49. Rama Parushurama Vijay 1980
50. Kalinga V.Somashekar 1980
51. Hanthakana Sanchu B.Kishan 1980
52. Makkala Sainya Lakshmi 1980
53. Biligiriya Banadalli Siddalingaiah 1980
54. Simhajodi Joesimon 1980
55. Rahasya Rathri M.S.Kumar 1980
56. Bhangaradha Jinke Nagabharana 1980
57. Driver Hanumanthu K.S.L.Swamy 1980
58. Mane Mane Kathe Rajachandra 1981
59. Naaga kala Bhairava Tiptur Raghu 1981
60. Mahaprachandaru Joesimon 1981
61. Guru Sishyaru Bhargava 1981
62. Snehitara Savaal K.S.R.Das 1981
63. Avala Hejje Bhargava 1981
64. Preetisi Nodu Geetapriya 1981
65. Pedda Gedda Bhargava 1982
66. Sahasa Simha Joesimon 1982
67. Karmika kallanalla K.S.R.Das 1982
68. Oorige Upakari Joesimon 1982
69. Jimmi Gallu K.S.L.Swamy 1982
70. Suvarna Sethuve Geetapriya 1982
71. Onde Guri Bhargava 1982
72. Kallu Veene Nudiyithu Tiptur Raghu 1982
73. Sididedda Sahodara Joesimon 1983
74. Muthaide Bhagya Chandrashekar Sharma 1983
75. Gandharva Giri Dhananjaya 1983
76. Gandugali Rama Bhargava 1983
77. Chinnadantha Maga K.S.R.Das 1983
78. Simha Garjane S.V.Chandrashekar 1983
79. Prachanda Kulla P.S.Prakash 1983
80. Rudranaga Manimurugan 1984
81. Khaidi K.S.R.Das 1984
82. Benki Birugali Tiptur Raghu 1984
83. Indina Ramayana Rajachandra 1984
84. Bhandana S.V.Rajendrasingh Babu 1984
85. Huli Hejje K.S.L.Swamy 1984
86. Chanakya V.Somashekar 1984
87. Aaradhane Deepakjalraj 1984
88. Madhuve Madu Tamashe Nodu Sathya 1984
89. karthavya K.S.R.Das 1985
90. Mahapurusha Joesimon 1985
91. Veeradhi Veera Vijay 1985
92. Nee Bareda Kadambari Dwarkish 1985
93. Mareyada Manikya Vijay 1985
94. Nanna Prathigne K.S.R.Das 1985
95. Jeevana Chakra Bhargava 1982
96. Nee Thanda Kanike Dwarkish 1985
97. Karna Bhargava 1986
98. Kathanayaka P.Vasu 1986
99. EE Jeeva Ninagagi V.Somashekar 1986
100. Sathya Jyothi K.Rangarajan 1986
101. Krishna Nee Begane Baro Bhargava 1986
102. Malyamarutha Ravi 1986
103. Premaloka Ravichandran 1987
104. Saubhagyalakshmi Bhargava 1987
105. Karunamayi Bhargava 1987
106. Jayasimha P.Vasu 1987
107. Aaseya Bhale Rajkishore 1987
108. Jeevana Jyothi P.Vasu 1987
109. Shubhamilana Bhargava 1987
110. Sathyam Shivam Sundaram K.S.R.Das 1987
111. December31 Manobala 1988
112. Olavina Aasare K.V.Jayaram 1988
113. Nammora Raja Bhargava 1988
114. Jananayaka Bhargava 1988
115. Suprabhatha Dinesh Babu 1988
116. Krishna Rukmini Bhargava 1988
117. Dada P.Vasu 1988
118. Mithileya Seetheyaru K.S.L.Swamy 1988
119. Ondhagi Bhaalu K.S.R.Das 1989
120. Hrudhaya Geethe Bhargava 1989
121. Rudra K.S.R.Das 1989
122. Deva Vijay 1989
123. Doctor Krishna Paniramachandra 1989
124. ShivaShankar Bhargava 1990
125. Mutthina Hara S.V.RajendraSingh Babu 1990
126. Mathe Hadithu Kogile Bhargava 1990
127. Lion Jagapathirao Saiprakash 1991
128. Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare Dhore-Bhagwan 1991
129. Jagadeka Veera Bhargava 1991
130. Police Mathu Dada Thulsi-Shyam 1991
131. Rajadhi Raja Bhargava 1992
132. Ravivarma Joesimon 1992
133. Harikeya Kuri K.S.L.Swamy 1992
134. Nanna Shatru Bhargava 1992
135. Sangarsha Sunil Kumar Desai 1993
136. Vyshakada Dinagalu Katte Ramachandra 1993
137. Naanendu Nimmavane Paniramachandra 1993
138. Rayaru Bhandaru Mavana Manege Dwarkish 1993
139. Vishnu Vijaya Keshu 1993
140. ManiKantana Mahime K.Shankar 1993
141. Nishkarsha Sunilkumar Desai 1994
142. Time Bomb Joesimon 1994
143. Kunthi Putra Vijay 1994
144. Samrat Naganna 1994
145. Mahakshatriya S.V.RajendraSingh Babu 1994
146. Halunda Thavaru D.RajendraBabu 1995
147. Kiladigalu Dwarkish 1995
148. Kona Edaithe Bharavi 1995
149. Yamakinkara Prabahakar 1995
150. Mojugara Sogusugara Vijay 1996
151. Deerga Sumangali D.RajendraBabu 1995
152. Bangarada kalasa Bhargava 1995
153. Thumbida Mane Umesh 1995
154. Karulinakudi V.P.Sarathy 1995
155. Himapatha S.V.RajendraSingh Babu 1995
156. Appaji D.Rajendra Babu 1996
157. Hello Dady Naganna 1996
158. Karnataka Suputhra Vijay 1996
159. Dhani Balajisingh Babu 1996
160. Jeevanadhi D.RajendraBabu 1996
161. Balina Jyothi Dwarkish 1996
162. Mangalasoothra Balajisingh Babu 1997
163. Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda Umesh 1997
164. Shruthi Hakida Hejje Dwarkish 1997
165. Janani Janma Bhoomi Bhargava 1997
166. Laali Dinesh Babu 1997
167. Nishabdha Dinesh Babu 1998
168. Yaare Neenu Cheluve D.Rajendra Babu 1998
169. Simhada Guri M.Narayan Rao 1998
170. Hendithge Helthini Dinesh Babu 1998
171. Veerappa Nayaka S.Narayan 1999
172. Habba D.Rajendra Babu 1999
173. Suryavamsha S.Narayan 1999
174. Premotsava Dinesh Babu 1999
175. Soorappa Naganna 2000
176. Deepavali Dinesh Babu 2000
177. Nanna Hendthi Chennagiddale. Dinesh Babu 2000
178. Yajamana. Seshadri & Radha Bharathi 2000
179. Diggajaru. D.Rajendra Babu 2001
180. Kotigobba. Naganna 2001
181. Parva. Sunil Kumar Desai 2002
182. Jamindarru. S.Narayan 2002
183. Simhadriya Simha. S.Narayan 2002
184. Raja Narasimha. Muthyalu Subaiah 2003
185. Hrudayavantha. P.Vasu 2003
186. Kadamba. Suresh Krishna 2004
187. Apthamitra. P.Vasu 2004
188. Sahukara. Om Prakash 2004
189. Jyeshta. Suresh Krishna 2004
190. Varsha. S.Narayan. 2005
191. Vishnu Sena. Naganna. 2005
192. Nenello Nanalle. Dinesh Baboo. 2006
193. Sirivantha. S.Narayan. 2006
194. Ekadantha. Sachin 2007
195. Mathad Mathadu Mallige. Nagathihalli Chandrashekar 2007
196. Ee Bandhana. Vijaylakshmi Singh 2007
197. Nam Yajamanaru. Nagabharana 2009
198. Master. Dinesh Baboo Yet To Release
199. Bellary Naga. Dinesh Baboo 2009
December 30, 2009 at 12:53 AM
December 30, 2009 at 1:03 AM
December 30, 2009 at 1:26 AM
SAD News or bad DAY
Bad 2009 year for Kannada film industry for loosing exclent actor Dr.Vishnuvardhan.
December 30, 2009 at 2:35 AM
RIP
December 30, 2009 at 3:25 AM
Vishnu fan attempting suicide
December 30, 2009 at 3:31 AM
December 30, 2009 at 4:55 AM
Memories of Vishunvardhan
December 30, 2009 at 8:45 AM
thanks for all the updates here Aajkaarjun..
I went through the songs as well.. good tunes all..
December 30, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Vishnuvardhan: The silent superstar
December 30, 2009 at 9:12 AM
Girish Kasarvalli pays tribute to Vishnuvardhan
December 30, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Kannada superstar Vishnuvardhan’s funeral procession turned into ugly violence after thousands of fans who were unable to get a glimpse of the star, resorted to stone pelting.
Angry fans threw petrol bombs near Basavangudi National College grounds, where the body of Vishnuvardhan has been kept for the public to pay their last respects.
Police then burst tear gas shells to bring the violent mob under control after it threatened to blow out of proportion.
“We had to resort to lathicharge after the mob tried to set some police vehicles on fire and threw a petrol bomb at the crowd from the top of the flyover,” a police official told.
December 30, 2009 at 1:35 PM
It’s unfortunate that even a funeral can beget such violence in India..
December 30, 2009 at 7:14 PM
Thanks a lot aajkaarjun for this updates and video clippings. Excellent songs u have chose here from a huge list of Vishnu’s hits.
December 30, 2009 at 11:52 AM
R.I.P. — I was not familiar with his work to any meaningful extent, but was familiar with his name as one of the stalwarts of kannada cinema…but my condolences to to all his fans, especially to aajkaarjun, rajesh, santosh, gemini, vinod, Chetan, and any others on this thread whom I have overlooked.
December 30, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Thanks much Qalandar. Still cannot belive this is true and sink this news. Grown up watching his movies. If I were to draw a parallel to Tamil movie industry..I would say MGR was equivalent to Dr Rajkumar, Rajnikanth to Vishnuvardhan. So you could imagine the fan following he had and the impact he had in the Kannada film industry. A huge loss to kannada filmdom.
December 30, 2009 at 6:06 PM
RIP.
I have seen “Inspector Dhanush” in Hindi.
December 30, 2009 at 7:14 PM
RIP.
December 31, 2009 at 1:37 AM
a link from Masterpraz:
http://sharmilasays.wordpress.com/2009/12/30/a-tribute-to-vishnuvardhan/
December 31, 2009 at 3:57 AM
sorry oftopic..please if u can direct this to sandy…
http://www.nbcindia.com/Booksimages/8129104598.jpg
it shows that already the copies with soon to be major motion picture are out since long so m sure they can come with 3 idiots as chetan has been credited…
December 31, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Aamirs latest blog entry mentions the death
http://www.aamirkhan.com/blog/login.php
The sad note in our happiness was the untimely demise the next day of super star Vishnuvardhan. Mr Vishnuvardhan who is a huge star in Karnataka and has had a prolific career was only 59. Our condolences to his family, to all those who love him, and to all of Karnatka for whom he is such an icon. May his soul rest in peace.
December 31, 2009 at 11:40 AM
great to see him mention this..
February 21, 2010 at 1:14 AM
Never before Rs 3,000 a ticket
Vishnuvardhan’s last film Aptharakshaka creates movie mania like in the good old days
- S Shyam Prasad (Bangalore Mirror)
Movie lovers who went out on Friday to catch Vishnuvardhan’s posthumously released film Aptharakshaka (Bodyguard) were treated to sweets and a free lunch. Excitement about the film peaked to star-crazy 1980s levels, leaving new Bangaloreans stunned.
“I’ve never seen anything like this anywhere,” said Punyasloka, a techie from Orissa, now a resident of Bangalore. Fans washed cut-outs with milk, broke coconuts, carried huge paper-crafted stars, and bought tickets in black. Some paid Rs 3,000 a ticket to watch the film first day, first show.
After the advent of multiplexes, such old-fashioned enthusiasm had almost vanished from Bangalore. What fans had missed for over a decade made a grand comeback on Friday.
A fan pours milk on a Vishnuvardhan cut-out at Uma theatre
SWEET DAY
In all 28 cinema halls where the film is being screened in Bangalore, fans went around distributing sweets to everyone.
Aptharakshaka, completed just before Vishnuvardhan’s death on December 30 last year, is a sequel to Apthamitra, his last big hit released five years ago.
At Narthaki cinema near Majestic, fans gave away lunch packets to the audience. At Uma in Chamarajpet, fans poured 101 litres of milk on the actor’s cut-out.
At Siddalingeshwara, fans went a step further and poured curds, honey and milk on Vishnuvardhan cut-outs.
BOOK GIFTS
Fan groups gave away books to school children. They plan folk dances and mobile orchestras over the weekend. Incredibly, touts found buyers willing to buy tickets at Rs 3,000 each.
“The dedicated fan following for a hero grows with the number of films of that actor. But after the 1980s, when fans of Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan and Ambareesh would compete to celebrate a film’s release, the mania had diminished,” says B N Subramanya, film critic.
In recent years only Puneeth Rajkumar and Darshan films have provoked fan frenzy. But the reaction of fans to Aptharakshaka is like in the old days.
A brisk sale of a book on Vishnuvardhan, ‘Vishnu — Noorondu Nenapu,’ (Vishnu — Hundreds of Memories) was also seen near cinema halls. “Film lovers read,” said the book’s author Sadashiva Shenoy.
But not everyone was impressed. Ganesh Kasargod, veteran film critic, said, “The film looks more like a sequel to the Telugu film Arundhati than to Apthamitra. Frankly, I was disappointed with Aptharakshaka.”
A S Murthy, another critic, said, “Innovation in mainstream films had vanished. Apthamitra comes as a stroke of good luck. It can become a very big hit. It is a fitting last film.”
Ravishankar, lecturer at VVS Institute of Management and Sciences, said, “The old man’s role Vishnuvardhan plays in the film is probably something no other actor can match. The three voices he has spoken in is unbelievable. If anybody thinks this film will run just because of grief and sympathy after this death, admirers like me will be hurt.”
Ticket for 42 times its price
Many complain multiplex tickets are costly. But the black rates for first-day first-show tickets of Aptharakshaka beat the multiplexes hollow. At Rs 3,000 a ticket near Narthaki cinema, the film beat all records in Bangalore.
Last year, the Telugu film Magadheera created a sensation in Bangalore, and tickets in the black market sold at Rs 800 each. Before that it was Rajinikanth’s Tamil film Shivaji which made touts happier than the producers.
Tickets for Shivaji were sold for up to Rs 1,000. The balcony ticket rate at Narthaki is Rs 70. At 3,000 it has sold itself at 42 times its price.
Nagavalli lives on
Aptharakshaka is a sequel to the 2004 film Apthamitra, a remake of the 1993 Malayalam film Manichithrathazhu. The huge success of Apthamitra saw it being remade in Tamil and Telugu with Rajinikanth (Chandramukhi) and even Hindi (Bhool Bhulaiya).
Aptharakshaka is an original in Kannada, and is both a sequel and a prequel to Apthamitra. The story chronicles the struggles of a psychiatrist and a swamiji to help a family supposedly affected by the ghost of a long dead royal dancer, Nagavalli.
Aptharakshaka also talks about the legend of Nagavalli and a king obsessed with her
* Fans curious about dead dancer Nagavalli’s spirit
* Frenzy touches star-crazy 1980s levels
* Groups pour milk, honey, curd on cut-outs
* Superstar’s last opus opens in 28 cinemas
http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/1/201002202010022007474544a47c2243/Never-before-Rs-3000-a-ticket.html
February 21, 2010 at 2:33 AM
Thanks a lot aajkaarjun. Rs 3000 for a ticket. Unbelievable..How I wish Vishnu was among us to see this day.