{{short description|Indian actor}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Sriimurali | image = Sriimurali (02).jpg | caption = Murali during [[press conference]] of ''[[Ugramm]]'' in 2014. | birth_name = Sri Murali Gowda | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|12|17|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]], India | occupation = Actor | other_names = Murali Dev | years_active = 2003–present | spouse = {{marriage|Vidya|2008}} | children = 2 | father = [[S. A. Chinne Gowda]] | relatives = See [[List of South Indian film families#Rajkumar family|Rajkumar family]] }}
'''Sri Murali Gowda''' (born 17 December 1981),<ref>{{cite web|title=Srimurali's magnanimous cake|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/Srimuralis-magnanimous-cake/articleshow/45560317.cms|work=The Times of India|date=18 December 2014|accessdate=3 March 2015}}</ref> known as '''Sriimurali''' and sometimes '''Murali''',<ref name="Shaping rage into strength">{{cite news |title= Shaping rage into strength |url= http://www.deccanherald.com/content/387699/shaping-rage-strength.html |newspaper= Deccan Herald |date= 22 February 2014 |accessdate= 22 February 2014}}</ref> is an Indian actor who works predominantly in [[Kannada cinema]]. After making his lead debut in 2003 in ''[[Chandra Chakori]]'', he appeared in ''[[Kanti (2004 film)|Kanti]]'' as the eponymous lead, a performance that won him the [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor]] in 2004.<ref name="The Times of India">{{cite web|title=Shruti, Murali bag Karnataka film awards|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Shruti-Murali-bag-Karnataka-film-awards/articleshow/1238722.cms|work=The Times of India|accessdate=29 March 2017|date=22 September 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viggy.com/english/current_state_award04_05.asp|title=Karnataka State Film Awards 2004-05 |website=viggy.com|accessdate= 8 August 2020}}</ref>
Murali's performance in the 2014 film ''[[Ugramm]]'' received unanimous praise and emerged as a major success.<ref>{{cite news|title=After 14 flops, Sri Murli finally got success|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140530/entertainment-sandalwood/article/after-14-flops-sri-murli-finally-got-success|access-date=8 October 2015|work=Deccan Chronicle|date=30 May 2014}}</ref> For his performance in ''[[Bagheera (2024 film)|Bagheera]]'' (2024), he won the [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Kannada|Filmfare Best Actor]] award.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-22 |title=70th Filmfare Awards South winners list: Pushpa 2, Amaran, Aadujeevitham win big; Amitabh Bachchan bags Best Supporting Actor award. See full list |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/70th-filmfare-awards-south-winners-list-pushpa-2-amaran-aadujeevitham-win-big-10545383/ |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
==Early and personal life== Sriimurali was born on 17 December 1981 in [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]], in a family of film people. His father [[S. A. Chinne Gowda]] is a film producer and brother [[Vijay Raghavendra]], an actor. Actor [[Dr. Rajkumar|Rajkumar]] was his uncle and actors [[Shiva Rajkumar]] and [[Puneeth Rajkumar]] his cousins. He married his [[Telugu people|Telugu]] girlfriend, Vidya from [[Andhra Pradesh|Andhra]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/kgf-director-prashanth-neels-special-connection-with-andhra-pradesh-learn-more-5065183.html | title=KGF Director Prashanth Neel's Special Connection with Andhra Pradesh. Learn More | date=27 April 2022 }}</ref> on 11 May 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bangalore365.com/actors/murali-to-marry-girlfriend-vidya/ |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120719185007/http://www.bangalore365.com/actors/murali-to-marry-girlfriend-vidya/ |url-status= usurped |archive-date= 19 July 2012 |title= Murali to marry girlfriend Vidya|publisher= bangalore365.com |accessdate= 22 March 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/article/36153.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080128024831/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/article/36153.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 28 January 2008 |title= Murali to marry|date= 25 January 2008|website= indiaglitz.com |accessdate= 22 March 2012}}</ref> They have a son - Agastya and a daughter - Atheeva together, who are born in 2009 and 2014 respectively.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Christopher|first1=Kavya|title=Srimurali blessed with a baby girl|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/Srimurali-is-daddy-again/articleshow/28786910.cms|accessdate=8 October 2015|work=The Times of India}}</ref> Vidya is the sister of [[Prashanth Neel]], a director in [[Kannada cinema]], and cousin of [[Aadarsh Balakrishna]], an actor in [[Telugu cinema]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=New baddie on the block: Aadarsh Balakrishna |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/new-baddie-on-the-block-aadarsh-balakrishna/articleshow/44868712.cms |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=The Times of India |language=en|last1=As |first1=Sashidhar }}</ref>
==Career== Sriimurali made his lead debut in films in 2003 with a romance film, ''[[Chandra Chakori]]''. The film performed well and his performance received praise.<ref>{{cite web|title=Murali|url=http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/celebs/tamil/murali/articleshow/23088481.cms|website=The Times of India|accessdate=8 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Rao|first1=K. N. Venkatasubba|title=2003, a flop for Kannada cinema|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/01/04/stories/2004010408720500.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228162004/http://www.thehindu.com/2004/01/04/stories/2004010408720500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 February 2018|accessdate=8 October 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=4 January 2004}}</ref> In ''[[Kanti (2004 film)|Kanti]]'' set in the backdrop of the [[Belgaum border dispute|Karnataka–Maharashtra border dispute]], he played the eponymous lead of a college student who, on falling in love with a Marathi girl, gets embroiled politically.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kanti |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/july112004/mr3.asp |publisher=Deccan Herald |accessdate=9 October 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040825221938/http://deccanherald.com/deccanherald/july112004/mr3.asp |archivedate=25 August 2004 |date=11 July 2004}}</ref> His performance won him the [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Murali, Shruthi bag Best Actor awards; 'Mona Lisa' best film |url=https://www.oneindia.com/2006/03/25/murali-shruthi-bag-best-actor-awards-mona-lisa-best-film-1143300816.html |accessdate=9 October 2020 |work=oneindia.com |date=25 March 2006 |language=en}}</ref>
Sriimurali then appeared in films such as ''[[Yashwanth]]'', ''[[Siddhu (film)|Siddhu]]'', ''[[Shambu (2005 film)|Shambu]]'' and ''[[Preethigaagi]]'', which did not perform well at the box office. In 2008, he appeared in ''[[Minchina Ota (2008 film)|Minchina Ota]]'', produced by his father, also starring brother Vijay Raghavendra. He also takes care of the production responsibilities of his family banner ''Sowbhagya Pictures'', under which several films produced by his father were made such as ''[[Sevanthi Sevanthi]]'' and ''[[Ganesha Matthe Banda]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.supergoodmovies.com/24243/sandalwood/love-cinema-and-make-it-srimurali-news-details |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002031915/http://www.supergoodmovies.com/24243/sandalwood/Love-Cinema-and-Make-it-Srimurali-News-Details |url-status=usurped |archive-date=2 October 2011 |title= Love Cinema and Make it - Srimurali |date= 7 August 2011 |publisher= supergoodmovies.com |accessdate= 22 March 2012 }}</ref> After hits ''Chandra Chakori'', and ''Kanti'', Sri Murali could not keep up the expectations of the audiences and all of his consecutive films were flops.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140530/entertainment-sandalwood/article/after-14-flops-sri-murli-finally-got-success|title=After 14 flops, Sri Murli finally got success|date=31 May 2014|work=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/actor-sri-murali-talks-about-bharaate-films-and-destiny/article28349662.ece|title=Kannada star Sri Murali is back with his next outing 'Bharaate'|last=R.|first=Shilpa Sebastian|work=The Hindu|date=10 June 2019}}</ref>
[[Prashanth Neel]] (Murali's brother in law) came up with an action drama story in 2008, exclusively for taking off Sri Murali's career again on a high note. The movie was initially named ''Nandhe'' and later changed to ''[[Ugramm]]''. It took nearly 4–5 years for completion of the project, which marked Neel's directorial debut. The film was released in 2014. In the film, Sri Murali played the role of Agastya, a mechanic, who protects Nithya (played by [[Haripriya]]) from being caught alive by goons, and takes on the mafia. The film emerged as a critical and commercial success with his performance receiving acclaim.<ref name="Shaping rage into strength"/> A. Sharadhaa of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' wrote: "This is definitely a 'comeback' film for Murali, a carefully thought-out project for him by the director. Murali is smarter than he looks and tougher than people expected him to be."<ref>{{cite web|author=A. Sharadhaa|title=A Grand Avatar of Sri Murali in 'Ugramm'|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/reviews/A-Grand-Avatar-of-Sri-Murali-in-Ugramm/2014/02/22/article2070310.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313150824/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/reviews/A-Grand-Avatar-of-Sri-Murali-in-Ugramm/2014/02/22/article2070310.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 March 2014|website=The New Indian Express|accessdate=8 October 2015}}</ref> He received his first nominations for Best Actor in [[Filmfare Awards South]] and [[South Indian International Movie Awards|SIIMA Awards]]. Following the massive success of the film, it was reported that he was flooded with offers for film totaling to 67, all of which he rejected.<ref>{{cite news|author=A. Sharadhaa|title=Sri Murali Rejects 67 Scripts After Ugramm|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/Sri-Murali-Rejects-67-Scripts-After-Ugramm/2014/06/04/article2262321.ece1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304204053/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/Sri-Murali-Rejects-67-Scripts-After-Ugramm/2014/06/04/article2262321.ece1|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2016|accessdate=8 October 2015|work=The New Indian Express|date=4 June 2014}}</ref>
==Filmography== *''Note: He was credited as Murali from 2003 to 2007. He was credited as Sriimurali from 2008 onwards''. {| class="wikitable" |+Key | style="background:#FFFFCC;"| {{dagger|alt=Films that have not yet been released}} | Denotes films that have not yet been released |} {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Film ! Role ! class="unsortable"|Notes ! Ref. |- |1993||''[[Chinnari Mutha]]''||Blue shirt boy ||child actor; uncredited appearance in the song "Mannalli Biddonu"||<ref>{{cite media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJAZCqAentA|time=0:40 to 0:45, 1:06 to 1:10|title=Mannalli Biddonu - Video Song {{!}} Chinnari Mutta {{!}} Vijay Raghavendra {{!}} C Ashwath|date=21 August 2023|access-date=5 September 2025|publisher=SGV Sandalwood Songs}}</ref> |- | 2003 || ''[[Chandra Chakori]]'' ||Puttaraju || | |- | 2004 || ''[[Kanti (2004 film)|Kanti]]'' || Srikantha "Kanti" || | |- |rowspan=3|2005 || ''[[Yashwanth]]'' || Yeshwanth || credited as Murali Dev |<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.viggy.com/english/review_yashawanth.asp | title='Yashawanth' film review - a film starring Murali and Rakshita }}</ref> |- | ''[[Siddhu (film)|Siddhu]]'' || Siddharth "Siddhu" || |<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/aug/09siddu.htm | title=Siddu: Good for Murali fans }}</ref> |- | ''[[Shambu (2005 film)|Shambu]]'' || Shambu || |<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/2560/kannada/shambu/606/review.htm | title=Shambu Review | Shambu Kannada Movie Review by R.G.Vijayasarathy | date=20 October 2005 }}</ref> |- | 2006 || ''[[Gopi (2006 Kannada film)|Gopi]]'' || Gopi || credited as Murali Dev |<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/mar/07gopi.htm | title=Gopi: Even Murali fails to save it }}</ref> |- | 2007 || ''[[Preethigaagi]]'' ||Sanjay || | |- | 2008 || ''[[Minchina Ota (2008 film)|Minchina Ota]]'' || Bhadra || | |- | rowspan="2" |2009 || ''[[Shivamani]]'' || Shivamani || | |- |''[[Yagna (film)|Yagna]]'' ||Yagna || | |- | rowspan="2" |2010 || ''[[Sihigali]]'' || Dharani || | |- |''[[Sri Harikathe]]'' || Hari || | |- | 2011 || ''[[Hare Rama Hare Krishna (2011 film)|Hare Rama Hare Krishna]]'' ||Rama / Krishna || | |- | 2012 || ''[[Sri Kshetra Adichunchanagiri]]'' || Sri Balagandhranatha Swami || | |- | rowspan=2|2013 || ''[[Loosegalu]]'' || Kabira || | |- | ''[[Bhajarangi]]'' || Himself || Special appearance in song "Bossu Nam Bossu" | |- |rowspan=2| 2014 || ''[[Ugramm]]'' || Agastya || | |- |''[[Adyaksha]]'' || Himself || Special appearance in song "Phonu Illa" | |- | rowspan="2"|2015 || ''[[Murari (2015 film)|Murari]]'' ||Murari || | |- |''[[Rathavara]]'' || Rathavara || Also playback singer for song "Hudugi Kannu" | |- | rowspan=2|2017 || ''[[Raj Vishnu]]'' || Murali || Special appearance | |- | ''[[Mufti (film)|Mufti]]'' || Gana || | |- | 2018 || ''[[Iruvudellava Bittu]]''|| Narrator || Voice role || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/iruvudellava-bittu-review-family-entertainer-contemporary-twist-88747|title='Iruvudellava Bittu' review: A family entertainer with a contemporary twist|work=The News Minute|date=21 September 2018 }}</ref> |- | 2019 ||''[[Bharaate]]''|| Jagan Mohan & Jaya Ratnakara || Dual role; also presenter | |- | rowspan="1" | 2021 ||''[[Madhagaja]]''||Surya|| | |- | 2024 |''[[Bagheera (2024 film)|Bagheera]]'' || [[Deputy Superintendent of Police|DSP]] Vedanth Prabhakar / Bagheera | || <ref name="filmibeat.com">{{Cite web|title=Upcoming Movies of @SRIMURALIII to watch out for|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/sri-murali/upcoming-movies.html|access-date=2021-08-04|website=FilmiBeat|language=en}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| 2026 | {{pending film|Ugrayudham}} || TBA || || <ref name="2026Releases">{{cite news |last1=Sharadhaa |first1=A. |title=Sriimurali: Ugrayudham is the realisation of my long-awaited dream |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/interviews/2025/Dec/16/sriimurali-ugrayudham-is-the-realisation-of-my-long-awaited-dream |access-date=31 December 2025 |work=Cinema Express |date=16 December 2025 |language=en}}</ref> |- |{{Pending film|Paraak}} || TBA || || <ref name="2026Releases"/> |} <!-- Do not include that Ugramm Veeram has started filming without a reliable source -->
== Discography == {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Film !! Song !! Co-singer !! Composer !Notes |- | rowspan="2" | 2016 || ''[[Zoom (2016 Kannada film)|Zoom]]'' || "Hey Diwana" || [[Radhika Pandit]] || [[S. Thaman]] | |- |''Dombarata'' | | | |Tulu film<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=413989|title=Tulu movie 'Dombarata' to release in Gulf counties on Sept 22|work=[[Daijiworld Media|Daijiworld.com]]|date=14 September 2016|access-date=27 November 2025}}</ref> |- | 2017 || ''[[Mahanubhavaru]]'' || "Gadige Hornu Breaku" || [[Puneeth Rajkumar]] || Satish Mourya | |}
==Awards== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Film ! Award ! Category ! Result ! Ref. |- |[[Kanti (2004 film)|''Kanti'']] |[[2004–05 Karnataka State Film Awards]] |[[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] |{{won}} |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kannadamoviesinfo.com/karnataka-state-film-awards-2004-05/|title=Karnataka State Film Awards 2004-05 |website=kannadamoviesinfo|accessdate= 8 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="The Times of India"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viggy.com/english/current_state_award04_05.asp|title=Karnataka State Film Awards 2004-05 |website=viggy.com|accessdate= 8 August 2020}}</ref> |- |rowspan=2|''[[Ugramm]]'' |[[62nd Filmfare Awards South]] | [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kannada|Best Actor]] |{{nom}} |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/62nd-filmfare-awards-south-2015-kannada-nomination-puneeth-rajkumar-rakshit-shetty-sharan-634690|title=62nd Filmfare Awards South 2015 Kannada Nomination: Puneeth Rajkumar, Rakshit Shetty, Sharan, Srimurali, Yash in 'Best Actor' Category|publisher=IBtimes|date=4 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyindia.org/62nd-filmfare-awards-south-2015-nominations-tamil-telugu-malayalam-kannada/ |title=62nd Filmfare Awards South 2015 Nominations |work=Daily India |date=4 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626123232/http://www.dailyindia.org/62nd-filmfare-awards-south-2015-nominations-tamil-telugu-malayalam-kannada/ |archivedate=26 June 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref> |- |[[4th South Indian International Movie Awards|4th SIIMA Awards]] |[[South Indian International Movie Awards|Best Actor]] |{{nom}} |<ref>{{cite web|title=Dubai hosts fourth South Indian International Movie Awards|url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/film/dubai-hosts-fourth-south-indian-international-movie-awards-1.38919|date=8 August 2015|author=Ujala Ali Khan|access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref> |- |rowspan=2|''[[Mufti (film)|Mufti]]'' |rowspan=2|[[7th South Indian International Movie Awards|7th SIIMA Awards]] |Best Actor |{{nom}} |rowspan=2|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/siima-awards-2018-telugu-kannada-nomination-list-out-date-place-7th-edition-revealed-777016|title=SIIMA Awards 2018 - Telugu, Kannada nomination list out|website=International Business Times|date=5 August 2018|access-date=19 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/siima-awards-live-update-check-out-see-tollywood-sandalwood-winners-list-780619|title=SIIMA Awards 2018 Telugu Kannada winners list|website=International Business Times|date=16 September 2018|access-date=19 January 2020}}</ref> |- |[[South Indian International Movie Awards|Critics Choice - Best Actor]] |{{won}} |- |''[[Bharaate]]'' |[[9th South Indian International Movie Awards|9th SIIMA Awards]] |Best Actor |{{nom}} | |- | rowspan="2" |''[[Bagheera (2024 film)|Bagheera]]'' |[[9th South Indian International Movie Awards|13th SIIMA Awards]] |Best Actor |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite web |title=SIIMA {{!}} Vote For SIIMA 2025 |url=https://siima.in/vote |access-date=2026-02-26 |website=siima.in}}</ref> |- |[[70th Filmfare Awards South]] |[[Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kannada|Best Actor]] |{{won}} |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Full List of Winners of The 70th Filmfare Awards South With Kerala Tourism (Kannada) {{!}} Filmfare.com |url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/south/full-list-of-winners-of-the-70th-filmfare-awards-south-with-kerala-tourism-kannada-81913.html |access-date=2026-02-22 |website=www.filmfare.com |language=en}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{IMDb name|5834504}}
{{Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor}}{{Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kannada}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sriimurali}} [[Category:Indian male film actors]] [[Category:Male actors in Kannada cinema]] [[Category:Male actors in Telugu cinema]] [[Category:Male actors in Malayalam cinema]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Male actors from Bengaluru]] [[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]] [[Category:Karnataka State Film Award winners]] [[Category:1981 births]] [[Category:Filmfare Awards South winners]]