{{Short description|Indian actor (1936–2003)}} {{other uses}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Gangadhar | birth_name = Gangadhar | image = Gangadhar-actor-img.jpg | image_size = 180px | birth_place = Koratagere Tumkuru district | birth_date = 1936 | death_date = {{Death date and given age|2003|12|27|67|df=y}}<ref name="hindu.com">[http://www.hindu.com/2003/12/29/stories/2003122906960400.htm Yesteryear actor Gangadhar dead] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109075121/http://www.hindu.com/2003/12/29/stories/2003122906960400.htm |date=9 November 2012 }} The Hindu</ref> | death_place = Bangalore, Karnataka, India | other_names = Rajendra Kumar | occupation = Actor | spouse = | children = }}
'''Gangadhar''' (1936–2003) was an Indian actor known for his work in Kannada cinema.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gangadhar - Photos, Videos, Birthday, Latest News, Height In Feet - FilmiBeat |url=https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/gangadhar-kannada-actor.html |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=www.filmibeat.com |language=en}}</ref> A character actor who transitioned from stage to films in the mid-1960s, he had a brief period of success when his performances in social-dramas such as ''Gejje Pooje'' (1969), ''Sharapanjara'' (1971) and ''Seetha'' (1970) were noted. In addition to the former two, he starred in ''Katha Sangama'' (1975) and ''Ranganayaki'' (1981), all of which were directed by Puttanna Kanagal.<ref name="E59">{{cite web |title=ಘಟಾನುಘಟಿ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರು, ನಾಯಕಿಯರ ಜೊತೆ ಸಿನೆಮಾ ಮಾಡಿಯೂ ಸೋತ ನತದೃಷ್ಟ ಗಂಗಾಧರ್..!! {{!}} Cinema Swarasyagalu Ep-59 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YaIr68yBdQ |publisher=Total Kannada |access-date=21 November 2021 |language=en |date=9 September 2021}}</ref> Other films he starred in include ''Nanna Thamma'' (1970), ''Aliya Geleya'' (1971) and ''Bhale Adrushtavo Adrushta'' (1972).<ref name="hindu.com"/>
Gangadhar returned to stage in the 1980s after film opportunities failed to come his way; poor health condition led him to retire from acting in 1995, when he was aged 59.<ref name="CS61">{{cite video |title=ನಟವರ ಗಂಗಾಧರನ ನಲಿವು-ನೋವಿನ ಕಥೆ {{!}} Cinema Swarasyagalu Part 61 {{!}} Hariharapura Manjunath {{!}} Total Kannada |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ramB56GsI98 |publisher=Total Kannada |access-date=21 November 2021 |language=en |date=15 September 2021}}</ref> Gangadhar appeared in a total of 80 Kannada-language films and was awarded the Rajyotsava Award by the government of Karnataka in recognition of his contribution to Kannada cinema. He died in 2003, aged 67.<ref name="hindu.com"/>
== Early life == Gangadhar was born in 1936. He obtained a diploma in mechanical engineering before beginning to work in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore. While there, he staged plays like ''Samsare Nauke'', ''Echamanayaka'' and ''Vijayotsava''.<ref name="E57">{{cite video |title="ಗೆಜ್ಜೆ ಪೂಜೆ", "ಶರಪಂಜರ"ದಂಥ ಹಿಟ್ ಸಿನೆಮಾ ಮಾಡಿಯೂ ನಾಪತ್ತೆಯಾದ ಗಂಗಾಧರ್..{{!}} Cinema Swarasyagalu Part 57 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x2_ORU0fJI |publisher=Total Kannada |access-date=21 November 2021 |language=en |date=3 September 2021}}</ref> He had achieved considerable success during his time at the theatre group Prabhat Kalavidaru.<ref name="chitraloka">{{cite web |title=Gangadhar Dead |url=http://www.chitraloka.com/flash-back/3159-gangadhar-dead.html |website=Chitraloka |access-date=10 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223170926/https://www.chitraloka.com/flash-back/3159-gangadhar-dead.html |archive-date=23 February 2022 |date=28 December 2003 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
== Career == A makeup artist, Mahadevaiah, introduced Gangadhar to filmmaker G. V. Iyer, who cast him in ''Chowkada Deepa'' (1969) in the lead role.<ref name="E57"/> He was credited as Rajendra Kumar for the film.<ref name="chitraloka"/> The film also marked the debut of actor Srinath.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kumar |first1=S. Nanda |title=A little boy's dream |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/275786/a-little-boys-dream.html |website=Deccan Herald |access-date=21 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904000945/https://www.deccanherald.com/content/275786/a-little-boys-dream.html |archive-date=4 September 2012 |language=en |date=1 September 2012}}</ref> The film was an attempt to blend into the hitherto onset of Parallel cinema, but failed to perform well. However, Gangadhar's first release was the Rajkumar-starrer ''Lagna Pathrike'' (1967). He played a stage actor in the film. After ''Chowkada Deepa'', he starred in Puttanna Kanagal's successful film, ''Gejje Pooje'' (1969), alongside Kalpana.<ref name="hindu.com"/> He subsequently appeared in ''Nanna Thamma'' (1970), playing the brother of Rajkumar's character. He was paired opposite Kalpana again in ''Seetha'' (1970).<ref name="E57"/> A popular collaboration during the time, the two went on to star together subsequently in ''Sotu Geddavalu'' (1971), ''Yaava Janmada Maitri'' (1972) and ''Bhale Adrushtavo Adrushta'' (1972).<ref name="CS61"/> In ''Bandhavya'' (1972), he played a Raja, a thief and a brother of K. S. Ashwath's character, who reforms himself in order to pursue his love interest.<ref name="E57"/>
The year 1971 saw seven releases starring Gangadhar, including the hugely successful ''Sharapanjara'' and B. R. Panthulu's ''Aliya Geleya''.<ref name="chitraloka"/> Gangadhar's Satish played husband of a postpartum psychosis-affected Kaveri (played by Kalpana) in ''Sharapanjara'', who interns her to a mental asylum, before beginning to have an extramarital affair with an office colleague. Upon her return home after recovery, he mistreats her often reminding her of the illness.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sharapanjara (1971) |url=https://indiancine.ma/ORW/info |website=Indiancine.ma |access-date=21 November 2021}}</ref> In 1972, Gangadhar had a total of four releases. He played Chennappa in Kanagal's anthology film ''Katha Sangama'' (1975), as the husband of a blind woman (played by Aarathi). Based on the novel ''Munithaayi'', the plot follows Chennappa's struggle after knowing that his wife is raped by Rajinikanth's character.<ref name="E59"/> The remainder of the 1970s and 1980s saw less opportunities coming Gangadhar's way. Film historian Hariharapura Manjunath attributes it to the emergence of other leading men during the time such as Vishnuvardhan, Ambareesh and Shankar Nag among others.<ref name="E57"/> Gangadhar made occasional screen appearances in the 1980s; one notable role came in ''Bhakta Prahlada'' (1983), in which he played the Hindu deity Indra.<ref name="CS61"/> In ''Mutthu Ondu Mutthu'' (1979), he played the father of female lead's character; in ''Jeevakke Jeeva'' (1981), a negative-shaded character; and in ''Karna'' (1986), the brother of Vishnuvardhan's character.<ref name="E59"/> During this time, Gangadhar returned to theatre and worked for a period of 12 years.<ref name="chitraloka"/>
== Personal life == The 1990s saw worsening health condition of Gangadhar as he was ailing from diabetes, kidney-related illness and deteriorating eyesight. This was evident during the film of ''Aata Hudugata'' (1995), which was his last screen appearance.<ref name="CS61"/> In one of his last public appearances, the annual Kannada Film Directors Association event at the Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Bangalore, in April 2001, he teared up lamenting his deteriorating eyesight stating he was looking forward for his death.<ref name="chitraloka"/> After prolonged illness, Gangadhar died at 11:15 p.m. (IST) on 27 December 2003 in Bangalore, aged 67.<ref name="hindu.com"/><ref name="CS61"/>
==Partial filmography== {{unreferenced section|date= January 2023}} {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- | 1967 || ''Lagna Pathrike'' || Stage actor || |- | rowspan="2" | 1969 || ''Chowkada Deepa'' || Raghu || Credited as Rajendra Kumar |- | ''Gejje Pooje'' || Somu || |- | rowspan="3" | 1970 || ''Nanna Thamma'' || || |- | ''Seetha'' || Ramnath || |- | ''Kalyani'' || Ranganath || |- | rowspan="4" | 1971 || ''Sotu Geddavalu'' || Shankara Murthy || |- | ''Sharapanjara'' || Sathish || |- | ''Aliya Geleya'' || Mohan|| |- | ''Bhale Bhaskar'' || Ramesha || |- | rowspan="6" | 1972 || ''Bandhavya'' || Raja || |- | ''Yaava Janmada Maitri'' || Krishna Murthy || |- | ''Bhale Adrushtavo Adrushta'' || Krishna || |- | ''Subhadra Kalyana'' || || |- | ''Malathi Madhava'' || || |- | ''Jeevana Jokali'' || || |- | rowspan="2" | 1973 || ''Jaya Vijaya'' || || |- | ''Mane Belagida Sose'' || || |- | 1974 || ''Mannina Magalu'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Viplava Vanithe'' || || |- | rowspan="7" | 1976 || ''Katha Sangama'' || Chennappa || |- | ''Makkala Bhagya'' || || |- | ''Baalu Jenu'' || Ravi || |- | ''Bangarada Gudi'' || Shankar || |- | ''Devaru Kotta Vara'' || Shivu || |- | ''Mugiyada Kathe'' || || Guest appearance |- | ''Bangalore Bhootha'' || || |- | rowspan="4" | 1977 || ''Shani Prabhava'' || || |- | ''Sri Renukadevi Mahathme'' || || |- | ''Ruthugana'' || || |- | ''Manassinanthe Mangalya'' || || |- | rowspan="2" | 1979 || ''Atthege Thakka Sose'' || || |- | ''Khandavideko Mamsavideko'' || || |- | rowspan="2" | 1980 || ''Nyaya Neethi Dharma'' || Shekhar || |- | ''Guru Sarvabhowma Sri Raghavendra Karune'' || || |- | rowspan="2" | 1981 || ''Ranganayaki'' || Seth || Cameo |- | ''Jeevakke Jeeva'' || Santosh || |- | 1983 || ''Bhakta Prahlada'' || Indra || |- | 1986 || ''Karna'' || || |- | 1988 || ''Mithileya Seetheyaru'' || || |- | rowspan="2" | 1990 || ''Ekalavya'' || || |- | ''Sri Sathyanarayana Pooja Phala'' || || |- | 1991 || ''Central Rowdy'' || || |- | 1992 || ''Harakeya Kuri'' || || |- | 1994 || ''Rashmi'' || || |- | 1995 || ''Aata Hudugata'' || Rajashekhar || |- | 1996 || ''Palegara'' || || |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|nm0304309}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gangadhar}} Category:Indian male film actors Category:Male actors in Kannada cinema Category:2003 deaths Category:1936 births Category:20th-century Indian male actors Category:Male actors from Bengaluru Category:Indian male stage actors Category:Male actors in Kannada theatre Category:Recipients of the Rajyotsava Award 2003