Acting
Dr. Rajkumar
Kannada, Telugu cinema · 210 credits
Born
24 April 1929
Died
12 April 2006 (aged 76)
Birthplace
Gajanur, Madras Residency
Also known as Singanalluru Puttaswamayya Muthuraju · Annavru · Bangarada Manushya · Gaana Gandharva · Kannada Kanteerava · Nata Saarvabhouma
**Singanalluru Puttaswamaiah Muthuraj** (born 24 April 1929, died 12 April 2006), universally known by his stage name **Dr. Rajkumar**, was an Indian actor and playback singer who became the foundational pillar and a towering cultural icon of Kannada cinema. Regarded as one of the greatest and most versatile actors in the history of Indian cinema, he achieved a legendary matinée idol status among the Kannada diaspora, affectionately earning titles such as *Nata Saarvabhouma* (Emperor of Actors), *Bangarada Manushya* (Man of Gold), *Gaana Gandharva* (Celestial singer), and simply *Annavru* (Elder Brother). Born in Doddagajanur, a settlement in the Madras Presidency, into a family of impoverished theatre artists, he was named Muthuraj after the Hindu deity Hanuman. He began his acting career at a young age, performing as a drama artist with the renowned Gubbi Drama Company. His extensive theater background laid the foundation for his immaculate diction and extraordinary range of performances. Rajkumar transitioned to the silver screen with his first adult role in *Sri Srinivasa Kalyana* (1952), but his major breakthrough came two years later when he debuted as a lead actor in the 1954 classic *Bedara Kannappa*. The film was a massive success, famously addressing social discrimination, and launched him into unprecedented stardom. Over the next five decades, he starred in over 200 films, notably portraying the highest number of historical, mythological, and devotional characters in Indian cinema. He also broke new ground in *Jedara Bale* (1968), becoming the first actor in India to enact a full-fledged James Bond style spy role and sparking a new espionage genre in the industry. His cinematic dominance and mass appeal led to numerous incredible records. He is the first actor to have 39 of his movies remade 63 times across 9 different languages by 34 actors. Furthermore, his performance in the landmark film *Bangaarada Manushya* was included in Forbes' list of "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema." Beyond acting, Rajkumar was an exceptional classical and playback singer, making him the only lead actor in Indian cinema to win the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer. His monumental contributions to Indian art and culture were recognized with the Padma Bhushan in 1983 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1995. Upon his passing in 2006, The New York Times described him as one of India's most popular movie stars.
Known for
Filmography
Shabdavedhi
as Sandeep
Hagalu Vesha
Playback Singer
Odahuttidavaru
as Ramanna
Akasmika
as Narasimha Murthy
ಜೀವನ ಚೈತ್ರ
1992
Jeevana Chaithra
as Vishwanathaiah
Modada Mareyalli
Playback Singer
ದೇವತಾ ಮನುಷ್ಯ
1988
Devatha Manushya
as Krishna Murthy
ಶೃತಿ ಸೇರಿದಾಗ
1987
Shruthi Seridaga
as Dr. G. N. Murthy
Guri
as Kaliprasad
Anuraaga Aralithu
as Shankar
Jwalamukhi
as Jayasimha
Ade Kannu
as Jagannath Rao & Gopi
Apoorva Sangama
as Gopi Krishna / Santhosh
Samayada Gombe
as Gurumurthy
Shravana Banthu
as Raghu/Kumar/Peter
ಯಾರಿವನು?
1984
Yaarivanu
as Inspector Bhaskar
Bhakta Prahlada
as Hiranyakashipu
Kamana Billu
as Suryanarayana "Soorappa"
Kaviratna Kalidasa
as Kalidasa
Hosa Belaku
as Ravi
Nee Nanna Gellalare
as Srikanth
Keralida Simha
as Shankar
Bhagyavantha
as Cameo
Haavina Hede
as Muthanna
Vasantha Geetha
as Vasantha
Ravi Chandra
as Ravi / Chandra
Naanobba Kalla
as Gopi / DCP Chandrashekhar / Self
Huliya Halina Mevu
as Chengumani
Shankar Guru
as 'Jairaj' Rajashekhar/ Shankar / Guru
Babruvahana
as Arjuna / Babruvahana
Sanaadi Appanna
as Appanna
Olavu Geluvu
as Mohan
Girikanye
as Chenna
Bhaagyavantharu
as Kumar
Premada Kanike
as Manohar
Badavara Bandhu
as Ranga
Bahaddur Gandu
as Panju
Daari Thappida Maga
as Prakash 'Prashanth' / Prasad
Mayura
as Mayura
Trimurthy
as Sridhar/Vijay/Shekhar/Sheshagiri
Sampatthige Savaal
as Veerabhadra
Sri Srinivasa Kalyana
as Lord Venkateswara
Doorada Betta
as Shivu
Swayamvara
as Natraj
Gandhada Gudi
as Kumar
Mooruvare Vajragalu
as Narada / Krishna
Bidugade
as Shekhar
Hrudaya Sangama
as Jamindaar Rajanna / Kumar
Sipayi Ramu
as Ramu alias Ram Singh
Jaga Mecchida Maga
as Aditya
Bangaarada Manushya
as Rajeeva
Kasturi Nivasa
as Ravi Varma
Sakshathkara
as Mahesh
Prathidhwani
as Ashok
Kula Gourava
as Raghunatha Rao / Ravi 'Chandrashekharaiah' / Shankar
Kasidre Kailasa
as Gopinath
Nyayave Devaru
as Raghu
Sri Krishnadevaraya
as Krishnadevaraya
Karulina Kare
as Parameshi
Bhoopathi Ranga
as Bhaskar
Bhale Jodi
as Suresh / Ramesh
C.I.D. Rajanna
as Rajanna
Baalu Belagithu
as Shankar / Papanna
Paropakari
as Mohan/Ramanna
Hasiru Thorana
as Madhu
Mr. Rajkumar
as Kumar/Raj/Farooq Baba
Devara Makkalu
as Ranga
Mayor Muthanna
as Mutthanna
Choori Chikkanna
as Choori Chikkanna/Bhaskar
Uyyaale
as Krishna
Gandondu Hennaru
as Anand Rao
Margadarshi
as Srikanth
Bhale Raja
as Shivaraj/Raju
Mallamana Pavaada
as Chandrakantha
Punarjanma
as Chenna
Chikkamma
as Sundar
Goadalli C.I.D 999
as Prakash (C.I.D 999)
Jedara Bale
as Prakash
Bengaluru Mail
as Shyamsundar
Dhoomakethu
as Kumar
Gandhinagara
as Shekhar
Nata Sarvabhouma
as Himself
Amma
as Sridhar
Immadi Pulikeshi
as Immadi Pulikeshi
Gange Gowri
as Lord Shiva
Lagnapathrike
as Raghuram
Rajadurgada Rahasya
as Ramanna Nayaka / Somanna Nayaka
Beedi Basavanna
as Gopal Rao
Chakratheertha
as Damodar
Manthralaya Mahathme
as Raghavendra swamy
Sandhya Raaga
as Lakshmana
Emme Thammanna
as 'Emme' Thammanna / Murali
Sathya Harishchandra
as Raja Harishchandra
Naandi
as Murthy
Chandavalliya Thota
as Hanuma
Shivarathri Mahathme
as Vijaya, King of Simhapuri
Navakoti Narayana
as Purandaradasa
Prathigne
as Shankar
Veerakesari
as Narasimhanayaka
Mana Mecchida Madadi
as Srinath
Kanyarathna
as Raju
Sathi Shakthi
as Rakthaaksha / Viroopaaksha
Santha Thukaram
as Tukaram
Malli Maduve
as Ananda and Paramananda (Dual roles)
Saaku Magalu
as Raghuram
Bhoodana
as Dasanna
Kantheredu Nodu
as Gopanna
ಕಿತ್ತೂರು ಚೆನ್ನಮ್ಮ
1961
Kittur Chennamma
as Raja Mallasarja
Kaivara Mahathme
as Narayanappa
Nagarjuna
as Nagarjuna
Ranadheera Kanteerava
as Ranadheera Kanteerava, Producer
Bhaktha Kanakadasa
as Kanakadasa
Rani Honnamma
as Veeranna
Aasha Sundari
as Gunasheela
Dashavathara
as Hiranyakashipu / Ravana / Shishupala
Abba! Aa Hudugi
as Shankar
Jagajyothi Basveshwara
as King Bijjala
Mahishasura Mardini
as Mahishasura
Bhookailasa
as Ravana
Hari Bhakta
as Hari/Pundarika
Bhaktha Vijaya
as Santoba Pavar
Sodari
as Kailasanath
Bedara Kannappa
as Dinna/Kannappa
Sri Kaalahasthi Mahatyam
as Thinnayya / Kannappa