Honnappa Bhagavathar

He was born in 1915 at Chowdasandra, Nelamangala to Chikkalingappa and Kallamma. He weaved for a living. At age 5 he lost his father and grew up listening to his mother's Bhajans and music. He moved to Bangalore for work, learned classical music, then accidentally he met his guru Sambandha Murthy Bhagavathar (Hari katha vidwan in three south Indian languages & also classical musician) in a relative's marriage function and became his disciple for learning classical music. He first became a pupil of his relative Murthy, then a pupil of harmonium player Arunachalappa.

Honappa staged a play in Salem and at the same time M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, who was a rising star in Tamil cinema, recommended Bhagvathar to director Ellis R. Duncan for a supporting role in his film Ambikapathi. Bhagvathar play was a success and he was honoured with the title "Bhagavathar" and was from then on credited as Honnappa Bhagavathar.Honnappa Bhagavathar Kannada

Bhagavathar acted in many Tamil films. Based now in Bangalore, Bhagavathar replaced M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar in the 1946 movie Sri Murugan, acting alongside MGR. Both Bhagvathar and Jeevaratnam sang in the movie, with music scored by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu. Bhagvathar founded a production company named Lalithakaala Films. It produced films in Kannada and Tamil. In 1955, his film Mahakavi Kaalidasa was the first in the Kannada language. He produced Uzhavukkum Thozhilukkum Vandhanai Seivom, a Tamil-language film that was released in 1959.

He made his Kannada acting debut in the FILM Subadra.[http://www.supergoodmovies.com/7225/sandalwood/fascinating-facts-of-kannada-film-history-news-details Fascinating Facts of Kannada Film Industry] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129054816/http://www.supergoodmovies.com/7225/sandalwood/fascinating-facts-of-kannada-film-history-news-details |date=29 November 2014 }} Bhagvathar is known for bringing actresses like B. Saroja Devi into the industry.{{Cite web |url=http://www.supergoodmovies.com/8509/sandalwood/dr-b-saroja-devi-a-model-actress-exclusives-details |title=Saroja Devi Talks |access-date=31 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113060341/http://www.supergoodmovies.com/8509/sandalwood/dr-b-saroja-devi-a-model-actress-exclusives-details |archive-date=13 November 2011 |url-status=dead }} In the film Valmiki, Bhagvathar replaced M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar as Valmiki, the sinner-turned-sage. Bhagvathar became a star after M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar's temporary exit, playing the lead role in many Tamil movies and later in Kannada. He played the bandit-turned-sage.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article69891.ece |title=Valmiki 1946 |website=The Hindu |access-date=31 October 2011 |archive-date=20 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020135949/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article69891.ece |url-status=live }} He also played the lead role in Mahakavi Kalidasa, which is regarded as a classic in Kannada cinema. At the 3rd National Film Awards, the film won the award for Best Feature Film in Kannada.{{cite book | last1=Gokulsing | first1=K. Moti | last2=Dissanayake | first2=Wimal | title=Routledge Handbook of Indian Cinemas. | publisher=Taylor and Francis | publication-place=Hoboken | date=2013 | isbn=978-1-136-77284-9 | oclc=843198277}}.

In 1960, Bhagavathar started the music school "Nadabrahma Sangeetha Vidyalaya". He became a member of the Kannada Film Advisory Board and worked as a member of Karnataka Sangeeta Nruthya Academy.

File:JagajyothibasaveshwaraDVD.jpg, while Rajkumar acted as a supporting cast in the film.]]

• Mahakavi Kalidasa and Jagajyothi Basveshwara received National Awards in 1955 and 1959 respectively.
• In 1956, the Madras Sina Pyans Associations awarded him 'Best Actor'.
• In 1976, he was conferred the title "Gana Kalabhushana".
• In 1978, Scholars of Mysore state conferred the title 'Gaanakalaa Gandharva' on him.
• In 1986, he was awarded the 'Rajyothsava Award'.
• In 1990, he was awarded the 'Sangeet Natak Academy Award' by the President of India.
• In 1991, the Center for Music Drama Academy awarded him for his contribution to music. Also awarded for his stage music in this year.

{{reflist|2}}

• {{IMDb name|1201989}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090506215652/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2009/05/01/stories/2009050150401600.htm News Article]
• [https://archive.today/20130218033342/http://popcorn.oneindia.in/artist/19329/1/honnappa-bhagavathar.html Fan site]
• {{youTube|Tk8QytTQ_Fw|A documentary on the life of Honnappa Bhagavathar}}

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Category:Male actors in Kannada cinema

Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema

Category:Kannada film score composers

Category:Tamil film score composers

Category:Indian male stage actors

Category:Film producers from Bengaluru

Category:1915 births

Category:1992 deaths

Category:20th-century Indian composers

Category:Male actors from Bengaluru

Category:Musicians from Bengaluru

Category:Indian male film actors

Category:20th-century Indian male actors