Udaykumar

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Udaykumar
Born	Bommasandra Srinivasaiah Suryanarayana Murthy (1933-03-05)5 March 1933 Palacode, Dharmapuri, Madras Presidency, British India
Died	26 December 1985(1985-12-26) (aged 52) Bangalore, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Actor, film producer, director, writer, novelist, lyricist
Years active	1954–1985
Spouse(s)	Kamalamma ​ (m. 1953)​
Children	4

Bommasandra Srinivasaiah Suryanarayana Murthy (5 March 1933 – 26 December 1985), known by his screen name Udaykumar, was an Indian actor and producer in Kannada cinema. Udaykumar, along with Kalyan Kumar and Rajkumar, were called the Kumarathrayaru (meaning the three Kumars) of the Kannada cinema.^[1] He has authored many dramas and books.^[2] He has played a wide variety of roles and acted with all the popular actors of his time.^[3]

His sons Vikram Udaykumar and Vishwa Vijetha were also actors and have appeared in many Kannada films and serials. His daughter Renukabaali has worked in several Kannada serials.

Early life[]

Udaykumar was born into a family of Telugu-speaking Mulukanadu Brahmins on 5 March 1933 (some sources say, 16 March 1933). His father was B. S. Srinivasaiah and mother, Sharadamma. Udaykumar was the second of their four children; he had three sisters. The family had their roots in Andhra Pradesh; their ancestors had moved to Karnataka close to 200 years prior to Udaykumar's birth. Udaykumar completed his primary schooling in Heelalige and Muthanallur hamlets near the Sarjapura village in Bangalore, and secondary schooling in Anekal. He actively participated in cultural school events and competitions during the time. After failing to pass his matriculation examination, he was married to Kamalamma; he was 20 at the time. Udaykumar subsequently began working as a physical education teacher at a school in Anekal. He later moved to Bangalore city and upon an acquaintance's recommendation, joined the theatre company of Gubbi Veeranna where he began his career as an actor.^[4]

Film career[]

This section may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards, as it is written in a worshipful, promotional tone and in a highly idiosyncratic English. . The talk page may contain suggestions. (April 2016)

In 1954, story and screenwriter Kanagal Prabhakar Shastry began working on the script of Bhagyodaya. During this time, Udaykumar played Buddha on stage in Mandya with Gubbi Veeranna's theatre troupe, when Shastry's assistant during the time, S. K. Bhagavan, offered him the lead role in the film. After a successful screen test with Shastry a few days later, Udaykumar was cast in the role. Shastry also gave Udaykumar his screen name after the film's title and the banner it was being produced under — Udaya Productions.^[5]

"Kalakesari", "Natasamrat", "Pavanasutha" Udaykumar was a popular South Indian film artist of yesteryear. "Gandugali" Udaykumar has acted in 193 feature films which includes 171 in Kannada, 15 in Telugu, 6 in Tamil and one in Hindi. He has won many regional and national awards for best performance, especially in Kannada films.

Udayakumar was a person with multiple skills. He is admired by his fans as a playwright, a lyricist, a novelist, a music composer, a producer and a director, besides being an actor. A true patriot, he led the team of volunteers to serve his fellow people when he was a teenager. (The only artist to take part in India's freedom movement at his young age) A strong leader and a powerful orator, he has fought for the purpose of "Kannadigas unity". He participated actively and took the front line along with leaders like Ma. Ramamurthy Kannada flag, Aa. Na. Kru A. N. Krishna Rao, Thirumale Shriranga Tatacharya (of the Karnataka Navodaya movement), Ta. Su. Shama Rao, Dr. Ha. Ma. Nayak, Ta. Ra. Su and with many more had fought for the well-being of the language Kannada and the people of Karnataka, through his travels, write-ups and public speeches throughout the state.

A highly talented stage artist, he carried the social messages by his stage plays to the common people through "Udaya Kalanikethana", a training school of Theatrical arts and Film acting, founded by him. Despite his busy shooting schedules, right from 1960, to support the downtrodden professional theatrical groups, Kalakesari Udaykumar used to cater at least a week every month with the drama troupes by acting in plays all over the state of Karnataka.

The 'Icon' and the 'Legend' Kalakesari Udaykumar (1933-1985) 'was' and 'is' an inspiration to promote several social and cultural activities. "Pavanasutha Kesari Kalaa Shalaa" a registered charitable trust came into existence in the fond memory of Kalakesari Udaykumar in the year 2005 on his 73rd birthday. The trust was inaugurated in a cultural event "Udaya-73 ONDU SAVINENAPU" (Udaya-73 a fond memory) arranged at his birthplace, Anekal, Bangalore. The trust is led by Mr. Vikram Udaykumar, the Founder-President and supported by Smt. Kamalamma Udaykumar, the Chief Trustee, a team of Executive Trustees and an advisory committee consisting of experts from several walks of life like Doctors, Chartered Accountants, Journalists, Advocates and Seniors. The Trust is aiming at the social and the cultural services and has promoted a formal educational institution in the name "P.S.M. School" at Anekal and "Kalaashaala", a cultural school, which is active in providing an opportunity to learn classical music and the Performing Arts such as Bharathanatyam. The dreams of the trust are several. Formal education, educating and encouraging the rural talents in the Performing Arts, arranging drama competitions at state level, felicitation of achievers from different fields, arranging health camps, blood donation camps, etc.

Filmography[]

Awards[]

He won several National Awards and State awards for best performance.

Karnataka State Film Awards

• 1967-68 - Best Supporting Actor
• 1977-78 - Best Supporting Actor^[6]

References[]

External links[]

• http://www.kalakesariudaykumar.com/
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDPMKYRmyCOJkZ63j72aS5A
• [1]
• Udaykumar at IMDb