Narasimharaju (Kannada Actor)

Narasimharaju (Kannada Actor) Biography

Narasimharaju (Kannada Actor), known by the title, Haasya Chakravarti, is widely regarded as the comedy stalwart of Kannada film industry. He was active between 1954 and 1979 and has acted in more than 250 Kannada films. An embodiment of comedy he was a complete comedian and a default choice of comedian for Kannada film industry in the 1960s and throughout 1970s. His natural acting, swagger, dialogue delivery, and his very personality evoked laughter has never been replicated by any other comedian in Kannada film industry later. The thespian left an indelible impression on the minds of the Kannada audience and left the world when he was only 55. A few days earlier he lost his son in an accident and was going through a bad time and died of severe heart attack on 11 July 1979.

His full name is Tiptur Ramaraju Narasimharaju, born on 24 July 1923 in Tiptur, Kingdom of Mysore of British India. His Ramaraju was a police constable of Tiptur. Narasimharaju’s debut as a stage actor happened at the age of 4, when poverty in the family prompted his uncle to take him to stage plays. Thus he became an actor of 'Chandra-moul-eshwara Theatre Company' run by C. B. Mallappa, which toured across the state. In those days mythological plays were staged most and young Narasimharaju played young Krishna, Prahlada, Markandeya etc. Though he left the troupe and started a theatre of his own, it was not profitable. Subsequently he wound up his troupe and joined Edathorey Drama Company, and many other drama companies where he spent around 30 years, mostly portraying mythological plays.

Bedara Kannappa in 1954 marked his film debut, where he played a temple priest. He worked with Rajkumar for his debut film, who was his colleague at Gubbi Veeranna's drama company. In the 1960s, it was difficult to imagine a Rajkumar film without Narasimharaju. Inspired by Charlie Chaplin he portrayed numerous comic characters on Kannada screen later. Though a comedian on silver screen he was a responsible family man who invested his money wisely. In fact, he was the first Kannada actor to own a house in Madras even before superstar Rajkumar.

Toogudeepa, Govadalli CID 999, Bhoopathi Ranga, Sri Krishnadevaraya, Ranadheera Kanteerava, Kittur Rani Chennamma, Vijayanagarada Veeraputra, Gaaligopura, Satya Harishchandra, Paatala Mohini, Devara Gedda Manava, Lagnapatrike Bangalore Mail, Love in Bangalore and Gandhada Gudi are among the memorable roles he played onscreen.

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Updated: February 03, 2016