{{Short description|Indian Kannada-language actor (1944–2006)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Vajramuni | image = Vajramuni.jpg | caption = | birth_name = Sadananda Sagar | birth_date = {{birth date|1944|5|10|df=yes}} | birth_place = Kanakanapalya, Jayanagar, Bangalore, Kingdom of Mysore | death_date = {{death date and age|2006|1|5|1944|5|10|df=yes}} | death_place = Bangalore, India | spouse = {{marriage|Lakshmi|28 May 1967}}<ref name="E01">{{cite web |title="ನನ್ನ ಗಂಡ ವಜ್ರಮುನಿ ಪರಿಚಯ ಆಗಿದ್ದು ಒಂದು ಮದುವೆ ಮನೇಲಿ"-Ep01-Vajramuni LIFE-Kalamadhyama-#param |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM-bdySBKjs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/iM-bdySBKjs |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|publisher=Kalamadhyama |access-date=1 December 2021 |language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref> | occupation = Actor | children = 3<ref>{{cite video |title=ಶೂಟಿಂಗ್‍ ಮುನ್ನ ವಜ್ರಮುನಿ ಸಿಗರೇಟಿನ ಹೊಗೆ ಕಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದುದೇಕೇ? {{!}} Cinema Swarasyagalu Ep-31 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3rzomvFpHs |website=Total Kannada |access-date=20 November 2021 |language=en |date=29 May 2021}}</ref> | relatives = | years active = }} '''Sadananda Sagar''' (10 May 1944 – 5 January 2006), better known by his stage name '''Vajramuni''', was an Indian actor who appeared in Kannada films.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vajramuni dead|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/06/stories/2006010609550100.htm|date=6 January 2006|access-date=22 September 2010|archive-date=8 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108031348/http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/06/stories/2006010609550100.htm|newspaper=The Hindu|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/this-despicable-villain-was-a-much-loved-star/article3235957.ece |title=This 'despicable villain' was a much loved star |newspaper=The Hindu |date=6 January 2006 |access-date=6 August 2013 |archive-date=4 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220930/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/this-despicable-villain-was-a-much-loved-star/article3235957.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> He portrayed negative characters during most of his career and was considered one of Kannada cinema's finest actors.<ref name="Death">{{cite web|title=Vajramuni bio|url=http://www.vokkaligarasangha.com/vajramuni.html|publisher=Vokkaligara Sangha|access-date=4 October 2013|archive-date=4 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220249/http://www.vokkaligarasangha.com/vajramuni.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Over his career, he came to be known for his "thundering voice and sterling performance[s]" that earned him the epithets, ''Nata Bhairava'' and ''Nata Bhayankara''.<ref name="dh1">{{cite web|title=Tears for the villain|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/Jan152006/enter1326292006113.asp|work=Deccan Herald|access-date=22 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422130110/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/Jan152006/enter1326292006113.asp|archive-date=22 April 2017|date=15 January 2006}}</ref>

Vajramuni began his career as a stage actor and gained popularity with his portrayal of Ravana in Kanagal Prabhakar Shastri's play ''Prachanda Ravana''. He made his film debut in 1969 with Puttanna Kanagal's ''Mallammana Pavada''. His pairing with Rajkumar, with the latter as the lead, in the 1970s came to be widely appreciated, with films such as ''Sipayi Ramu'' (1972), ''Sampathige Savaal'' (1974), ''Premada Kanike'' (1976), ''Bahaddur Gandu'' (1976), ''Giri Kanye'' (1977) and ''Shankar Guru'' (1978).<ref name="dh1"/> Recognizing his contribution to Kannada cinema, he was awarded the Lifetime Contribution to Kannada Cinema Award in 2006.

==Early life== Vajramuni was born as Sadananda Sagar on 10 May 1944 in the Kanakanapalya, a locality in the Jayanagar neighbourhood of Bangalore, into a Vokkaliga family. He was named after the Hindu deity Vajramuneshwara, that members of his family were devotees of.<ref>{{cite AV media|people=Vajramuni|title=ಪ್ರಜಾ ಟಿವಿ ಮೃತ್ಯು ಮರ್ಮ -ಖ್ಯಾತ ಖಳನಟ ವಜ್ರಮುನಿ Sandalwood yesteryear infamous Villain actor Vajramuni|language=kn|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDxiT-kWUJg |access-date=22 April 2017|time=18:00|publisher=Prajaa TV}}</ref> They belonged to the Hallikar community, known for cattle rearing and agriculture.<ref name="E04">{{cite web |title="ನಮ್ಮಣ್ಣ ವಜ್ರಮುನಿಗೆ ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗದ ಆ ಜನ ಮೋಸ ಮಾಡಿಬಿಟ್ಟರು"-Ep04- Vajramuni Brother Dayanand-Kalamadhyama |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56qkUh2a1og |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/56qkUh2a1og |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Kalamadhyama |access-date=1 December 2021 |language=en |date=5 August 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Vajramuni's ancestors were given land grants and made custodians of the village of Anjanapura (in present-day Bangalore Urban district) by the then Maharaja of Mysore, and the family had settled there since.<ref name="E03">{{cite video |title="ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ವಜ್ರಮುನಿ ಅವರ ಒಟ್ಟು ಜಮೀನು, ಆಸ್ತಿ ಎಷ್ಟು?"-Ep03-Lakshmi Vajramuni-Vajramuni LIFE-#param |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2G0XUibVBk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/o2G0XUibVBk |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|publisher=Kalamadhyama |access-date=1 December 2021 |language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Vajramuni was the eldest of seven children.<ref name="E01"/> His father R. Vajrappa (d. 1986) was a politician and served as a corporator in Bangalore for four terms between 1958 and 1968.<ref name="E04"/> Politician and educationist Dayananda Sagar (1922–1982)<ref>{{cite web |title=Dayananda Sagar R |url=http://www.kla.kar.nic.in/council/members/EXMEMBERS/DayanandaSagarR.htm |publisher=kla.kar.nic.in |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref> was his uncle.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vajramuni Dead |url=http://chitraloka.com/flash-back/3150-vajramuni-dead.html |website=Chitraloka |access-date=1 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716220716/http://chitraloka.com/flash-back/3150-vajramuni-dead.html |archive-date=16 July 2014}}</ref>

==Career== Vajramuni was a college dropout and held a degree in cinematography. A product of the Kannada amateur theatre, he performed regularly in the mid-1960s for Gubbi Veeranna's theatre company among others. He impressed Puttanna Kanagal with his performance as Ravana in Kanagal Prabhakar Shastri's play ''Prachanda Ravana'' who offered Vajramuni a role in the film ''Saavira Mettilu''. The film however got shelved, but was completed by K. S. L. Swamy and released in 2006. Kanagal eventually cast him in ''Mallammana Pavada'' (1969), which would become Vajramuni's first release. Producers insisted that Udaykumar would be a better choice to match to Shivaji Ganeshan who played the role in the Tamil version, but Puttanna insisted that it had to be Vajramuni.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/this-diamond-is-forever/article3216897.ece|title=This diamond is forever|date=20 January 2006|work=The Hindu|accessdate=24 August 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141123192402/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/this-diamond-is-forever/article3216897.ece|archive-date=23 November 2014}}</ref> He went on to cast Vajramuni again in ''Gejje Pooje'' (1969). Impressed by his performances in these two films, director S. Siddalingaiah cast him in his 1971 film, ''Thayi Devaru''.<ref>{{cite video |title=ವಜ್ರಮುನಿ ನಟಿಸಿದ ಮೊದಲ ಚಿತ್ರ ಅರ್ಧ ಬ್ಲಾಕ್ & ವೈಟ್.. ಅರ್ಧ ಕಲರ್‌..!! Cinema Swarasyagalu Part 30 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IFW15hWUT0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/9IFW15hWUT0 |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Total Kannada |access-date=20 November 2021 |date=25 May 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Vajramuni acted in a number of films such as ''Mayura'', ''Sampathige Saval'', ''Daari Tappida Maga'', ''Premada Kanike'', ''Giri Kanye'', ''Shankar Guru'' and ''Aakasmika'' with Rajkumar.<ref>{{cite web |title= Dr. Raj pays last tribute to Vajramuni |url= http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/article/19569.html |work= indiaglitz |date= 6 January 2006 |access-date= 6 August 2013 |archive-date= 4 October 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220656/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/article/19569.html |url-status= live }}</ref>

== Personal life == Vajramuni was married to Lakshmi, daughter of a family friend, on 28 May 1967. During the time, he worked as a caretaker of the family's sawmill while also performing on stage. They had three sons together.<ref name="E01"/>

Vajramuni's health condition worsened starting 1998 when he began suffering from kidney-related illness. Deteriorating health due multiple diseases including chronic diabetes led to his death at 5:30&nbsp;a.m. (IST) on 5 January 2006, at a private hospital in Bangalore.<ref name="Death" /><ref name="Vajramuni">{{cite news |title= Vajramuni is no more |url= http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/jan62006/state202843200615.asp |newspaper= Deccan Herald |date= 6 January 2006 |access-date= 6 August 2013 |archive-date= 4 October 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215700/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/jan62006/state202843200615.asp |url-status= live }}</ref> His grandson is a child actor and has appeared in the television series, ''Uge Uge Maadeshwara''.<ref name="E03"/>

==Partial filmography== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * ''Mallammana Pavaada'' (1969)...Suryakanth * ''Gejje Pooje'' (1969) * ''Aliya Geliya'' (1970)...Shankar * ''Thayi Devaru'' (1971)...Somanna * ''Sipayi Ramu'' (1971)...Sudhakar * ''Nyayave Devaru'' (1971)...Vajramuni * ''Sakshatkara'' (1971)...Naganna * ''Bangaarada Manushya'' (1972)...Keshava * ''Naagarahaavu'' (1972)...Laxmu * ''Kulla Agent 000'' (1972) * ''Kranti Veera'' (1972) * ''Bhale Huchcha'' (1972)...Giri * ''Bidugade'' (1973)...Gopal * ''Mooroovare Vajragalu'' (1973)...Duryodhana * ''Bangaarada Panjara'' (1973) * ''Bhakta Kumbara'' (1974)...Krishna * ''Upasane'' (1974)...Neelakantaiah * ''Sampathige Saval'' (1974)...Siddappa * ''Sri Srinivasa Kalyana'' (1974)...Bhrigu * ''Mayura'' (1975)...Vishnugopa * ''Daari Tappida Maga'' (1975) * ''Kalla Kulla'' (1975) * ''Premada Kanike'' (1976)...Chandru * ''Bangarada Gudi'' (1976) * ''Bahaddur Gandu'' (1976)...Crown Prince * ''Baduku Bangaaravayithu'' (1976) * ''Badavara Bandhu'' (1976)...Gopinatha * ''Aparadhi'' (1976) * ''Babruvahana'' (1977)...Vrishaketu * ''Srimanthana Magalu'' (1977) * ''Sose Tanda Soubhagya'' (1977)...Karigowda * ''Giri Kanye'' (1977)...Keshava * ''Galate Samsara'' (1977) * ''Shankar Guru'' (1978)...Premakumar * ''Vasantha Lakshmi'' (1978) * ''Sneha Sedu'' (1978) * ''Siritanakke Savaal'' (1978) * ''Operation Diamond Racket'' (1978) * ''Muyyige Muyyi'' (1978)...Gopal * ''Madhura Sangama'' (1978)...Vasu * ''Kiladi Kittu'' (1978) * ''Kiladi Jodi'' (1978) * ''Pakka Kalla'' (1979) * ''Balina Guri'' (1979) * ''Huliya Haalina Mevu'' (1979)...Bhima * ''Nanobba Kalla'' (1979)...Bhaskar * ''Maria My Darling'' (1980)...Raja * ''Kaalinga'' (1980)...'Lion' Dayanand * ''Ravichandra'' (1980)...Banjo * ''Point Parimala'' (1980) * ''Pattanakke Banda Pathniyaru'' (1980)...Mangesh Bhai * ''Bhoomige Banda Bhagavantha'' (1981)...Guruji * ''Jivakke Jiva'' (1981) * ''Antha'' (1981)...Ajab Singh * ''Bhaari Bharjari Bete'' (1981)...Daanu * ''Garuda Rekhe'' (1982) * ''Oorige Upakari'' (1982) * ''Karmika Kallanalla'' (1982) * ''Jimmy Gallu'' (1982) * ''Sahasa Simha'' (1982)...Shankarlal/Dheerajlal * ''Nanna Devaru'' (1982) * ''Khadeema Kallaru'' (1982) * ''Thirugu Baana'' (1983) * ''Onde Guri'' (1983) * ''Chandi Chamundi'' (1983)...Diwakar * ''Chakravyuha'' (1983)...Bhupathi * ''Benkiya Bale'' (1983) * ''Hasida Hebbuli'' (1983) * ''Geluvu Nannade''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geluvu Nannade (1983) Kannada movie: Cast & Crew |url=https://chiloka.com/movie/geluvu-nannade-1983 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=chiloka.com}}</ref> (1983)...Dharma Das * ''Nagabekamma Nagabeku'' (1983) * ''Muthaide Bhagya'' (1983) * ''Taaliya Bhaagya'' (1984) * ''Premigala Saval'' (1984)...Jagdish * ''Vigneshwarana Vahana''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vigneshwarana Vahana |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/vigneshwarana-vahana/cast/2030415222/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}</ref> (1984)...Inspector Shankar * ''Madhuve Madu Tamashe Nodu'' (1984)...Rahim * ''Huliyada Kala''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Huliyada Kala on Moviebuff.com |url=https://www.moviebuff.com/huliyada-kala |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Moviebuff.com}}</ref> (1984)...Jailer Mariyappa * ''Gandu Bherunda'' (1984)...Mark Abraham * ''Gajendra'' (1984) * ''Chanakya'' (1984) * ''Apoorva Sangama'' (1984)...Dhanraj / Rao Bahadur Saheb * ''Prema Sakshi'' (1984) * ''Male Banthu Male'' (1984) * ''Thaliya Bhagya'' (1984)...Parameshwaraiah * ''Kalinga Sarpa'' (1984)...Subramanya * ''Veeradhi Veera'' (1985) * ''Vajra Mushti''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vajra Mushti (1985) Kannada movie: Cast & Crew |url=https://chiloka.com/movie/vajra-mushti-1985 |access-date=2026-03-21 |website=chiloka.com}}</ref> (1985)...Dharmaraj * ''Thayi Mamathe'' (1985) * ''Nanna Prathigne'' (1985) * ''Kumkuma Thanda Saubhagya'' (1985) * ''Maruthi Mahime'' (1985) * ''Chaduranga'' (1985)...Bheemaraju * ''Katha Nayaka'' (1986) * ''Bettada Thayi'' (1986) * ''Brahmastra'' (1986)...Jaisimha * ''Bete'' (1986) * ''Preethi'' (1986)...Rajashekhar * ''Satkaara'' (1986) * ''Sathyam Shivam Sundaram'' (1987)...Mahabala Rao * ''Athiratha Maharatha'' (1987) ...Vikramraj * ''Jayasimha'' (1987) * ''Digvijaya'' (1987) * ''Asha'' (1987) * ''Thaliya Aane'' (1987) * ''Lorry Driver'' (1987)...Nagendra * ''Sangliyana'' (1988)...Nagappa * ''Nee Nanna Daiva''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nee Nanna Daiva (1988) Kannada movie: Cast & Crew |url=https://chiloka.com/movie/nee-nanna-daiva-1988 |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=chiloka.com}}</ref> (1988)...Vasu Rao * ''Vijaya Khadga''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vijaya Khadga (1988) Kannada movie: Cast & Crew |url=https://chiloka.com/movie/vijaya-khadga-1988 |access-date=2026-03-22 |website=chiloka.com}}</ref> (1988)...Balwanth * ''Thaayi Karulu'' (1988) * ''Yuga Purusha'' (1989)...Anthony D'Costa * ''Rudra'' (1989) * ''C.B.I. Shankar'' (1989)...Narayana Gowda * ''Onti Salaga'' (1989)...Rudraiah * ''Hongkongnalli Agent Amar'' (1989) * ''Ranabheri'' (1990)...Chalapathi Rao "Kalinga" * ''Raja Kempu Roja'' (1990) * ''Khiladi Tata'' (1990) * ''Prathap'' (1990)...Mamgya * ''Police Matthu Dada'' (1991)...Nageshwar Rao * ''Kaliyuga Bheema'' (1991)...Baladeva Raj * ''Durgashtami'' (1991) * ''Gowri Kalyana'' (1991) * ''Purushotthama'' (1992) * ''Rajadhi Raja'' (1992) * ''Mysore Jaana'' (1992)...Mohan Raj * ''Halli Krishna Delhi Radha'' (1992) * ''Sahasi'' (1992) * ''Hosa Kalla Hale Kulla'' (1992) * ''Kanasina Rani'' (1992) * ''Mannina Doni'' (1992)...Bernard / Ramayya{{efn|name=two names|He played one character with two names.}} * ''Aakasmika'' (1993)...Vyasaraya * ''Sri Devi Mookambika'' (1993) * ''Rayaru Bandaru Mavana Manege'' (1993)...police officer * ''Mahendra Varma'' (1993)...Major D'Souza * ''Jana Mecchida Maga'' (1993) * ''Kollura Sri Mookambika'' (1993)...Mookasura * ''Bhagavan Sri Saibaba'' (1993)...Nana Chandorkar * ''Jailor Jagannath''as Mohanrja<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jailor Jagannath |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/jailor-jagannath/cast/2030235818/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}</ref> (1993)...Mohan Raj * ''Lockup Death'' (1994)...Venkataramayya * ''Odahuttidavaru'' (1994) * ''Bhairava'' (1994) * ''Prem Path'' (1994) * ''Musuku'' (1994) * ''Mister Mahesh Kumar'' (1994)...Rao Bahadur Raja Rao * ''Karnataka Suputra''(1996) * ''Circle Inspector'' (1996)...K. Soma Shekar * ''Swathi'' (1994) * ''Paalegara'' (1996) as Venkatappa Nayaka * ''Simhada Mari'' (1997)...Bhupathi * ''Daayaadi'' (1998) {{div col end|3}}

==Awards== ;Karnataka State Film Awards * 1982–83: Best Supporting Actor — Bettale Seve * 2005: Lifetime Contribution to Kannada Cinema Award

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== <references/>

==External links== * {{IMDb name|id=1127791}} * {{cite news |last1=Ganesh |first1=K. R. |title=This diamond is forever |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/this-diamond-is-forever/article3216897.ece |website=The Hindu |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141123192402/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/this-diamond-is-forever/article3216897.ece |archive-date=23 November 2014 |language=en-IN |date=20 January 2006}} {{authority control}}

Category:1944 births Category:2006 deaths Category:Indian male film actors Category:Male actors in Kannada cinema Category:Male actors from Bengaluru Category:Indian male stage actors Category:Male actors in Kannada theatre Category:20th-century Indian male actors Category:21st-century Indian male actors Category:Karnataka State Film Award winners