Vishnuvardhan
Biography
Sampath Kumar (18 September 1950 – 30 December 2009), known by his stage name Vishnuvardhan, was an Indian actor who worked predominantly in Kannada cinema besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam language films. Vishnuvardhan has a prolific career spanning over four decades, during which he has acted in more than 220 films. A popular cultural icon of Karnataka, and holds the status of a matinée idol among the Kannada diaspora. He is popularly called as Sahasa Simha, Dada and The Angry Young Man of Kannada Cinema. Vishnuvardhan's contributions to Kannada cinema have been praised by his contemporaries in the Indian film industry. The Government of Karnataka honoured him with the highest civilian awards of Karnataka State, the Karnataka Ratna Award in 2025, Rajyothsava Prashasthi in 1990 and the Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 for his contributions to Kannada cinema. He was called The Phoenix of Indian Cinema. In 2008, a poll conducted by CNN-IBN listed Vishnuvardhan as the most popular star in the Kannada film industry.
Known For
Malgudi Days
1987
Naniruvude Ninagagi
1979
Rama Parushurama
1980
Mutthaide Bhagya
1983
Bangarada Jinke
1980
0Marudhanayagam
Ee Bandhana
2007
Kiladi Kittu
1978
0School Master
2010
Sathya Jyothi
1986
0Nishyabdha
1998
Aptharakshaka
2010
Filmography
Malgudi Days
as Venkat / Venkat Rao · 1987
Naniruvude Ninagagi
as Vijay · 1979
Rama Parushurama
· 1980
Mutthaide Bhagya
· 1983
Bangarada Jinke
· 1980
Marudhanayagam
as Wajid Khan
Ee Bandhana
as Harish Raj · 2007
Kiladi Kittu
as Kittu · 1978
School Master
· 2010
Sathya Jyothi
as Ravi Varma · 1986
Nishyabdha
as Major Vishwanath · 1998
Aptharakshaka
as Dr. Vijay · 2010
Varsha
· 2005
Galaate Samsaara
as Vasudev Rao · 1977
Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare
· 1991
Aaradhane
as Rajesh · 1984
Vamsha Jyothi
as Mahesh · 1978
Dhani
· 1996
Bandhana
as Dr. Harish · 1984
Zaalim
as Inspector Mohan · 1994
Sirivantha
· 2006
Hrudaya Geethe
· 1989
Gandharva Giri
· 1983
Deva
· 1989
Sneha Sedu
· 1978
Sirithanakke Saval
· 1978
Raayaru Bandaru Maavana Manege
as Vishnu · 1993
Makkala Sainya
· 1980
Ganeshana Maduve
as Self · 1990
Jimmy Gallu
· 1982
Soorappa
as Soorappa · 2000
Naagarahaavu
as Ramachari · 1972
Muthina Haara
· 1990
Neenello Nanalle
· 2006
Halunda Tavaru
· 1994
Hosilu Mettida Hennu
· 1976
Ashaant
as Vishnu · 1993
Apthamitra
· 2004
Driver Hanumanthu
· 1980
Onde Roopa Eradu Guna
· 1975
Suprabhatha
as Vijay Kumar · 1988
Muyyige Muyyi
as Sanjay · 1978
Nee Thanda Kanike
· 1985
Kauravar
as Haridas I.P.S. · 1992
Yajamana
as Shankar/Ganesha (Dual Role) · 2000
Jeevanadi
· 1996
Karna
· 1986
Boothayyana Maga Ayyu
as Gulla · 1974
Viduthalai
as Amar · 1986
Ekadanta
· 2007
Sahukara
as Sahukara Raja Mahendra Varma · 2004
Hombisilu
as Dr. Nataraj · 1978
Yaare Neenu Cheluve
· 1998
Nagarahavu
as King Nagaraja (created with CGI) · 2016
Shubha Milana
· 1987
Nanendu Nimmavane
· 1993
Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda
· 1997
Nishkarsha
as Ajay Kumar · 1993
Parva
· 2002
Nagarahole
· 1977
Kadamba
as Madhukeshawara Kadamba · 2004
Ravi Varma
· 1992
Jyeshta
· 2004
Laali
· 1997
Maha Prachandaru
· 1981
Pedda Gedda
· 1982
Asadhya Aliya
as Ashok · 1979
Nammoora Raja
· 1988
Onde Guri
· 1983
Vamsha Vriksha
as credited as "Kumar" · 1971
Krishna Nee Begane Baaro
· 1986
Krishna Rukmini
· 1988
Sahodarara Savaal
as Kiran · 1977
Vijay Vikram
· 1979
Amarnath
as Guest Appearance · 1978
Ithu Manjukaalam
as Pauli · 1993
Chinna Ninna Muddaduve
· 1977
Bellary Naga
· 2009
Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige
as Hoovaiah · 2007
Sahasa Simha
as Prathap · 1982
Simhada Guri
· 1998
Namyajamanru
· 2009
Mathe Hadithu Kogile
as Anand · 1990
Kiladigalu
· 1994
Kalla Kulla
as Mahesh'Kalla' · 1975
Bangarada Gudi
as Vijay · 1976
Nan Hendthi Chennagiddale
· 2000
Nee Bareda Kadambari
· 1985
Hello Daddy
· 1996
Kalinga
as Prabhakar/ Ranga · 1980
Vishnu Sena
· 2005
Maduve Maadu Thamashe Nodu
as Ganesha · 1984
Manikantana Mahime
· 1993
Veeradhi Veera
· 1985
Thumbida Mane
· 1995
Sri Raghavendrar
as Sri Yogenthra Tirtha · 1985
Seetheyalla Savithri
· 1973
Rahasya Rathri
· 1980
Himapatha
· 1995
Vishnu Vijaya
· 1993
Karmika Kallanalla
· 1982
Jana Nayaka
· 1988
Habba
as Vishnu · 1999
Inspector Dhanush
· 1991
Mane Mane Kathe
· 1981
Suryavamsha
as Sathyamurthy/Kanakamurthy (Dual Role) · 1999
Appaji
· 1996
Time Bomb
· 1994
Shivashankar
as Shivu / Shankar · 1990
Kotigobba
as Nanjunda · 2001
Eetti
· 1985
Raja Narasimha
· 2003
Avala Hejje
· 1981
Kittu Puttu
as Kittu · 1977
Mojugara Sogasugara
· 1995
Prachanda Kulla
· 1984
Police Matthu Dada
· 1991
Samrat
· 1994
Daada
as Daada · 1988
Lion Jagapathi Rao
· 1991
Kiladi Jodi
as George · 1978
Belliyappa Bangarappa
· 1992
Malla
as Self - Narrator (voice) · 2004
Mangala Suthra
· 1997
Bangarada Kalasha
· 1995
Jagadeka Veera
· 1991
Sowbhagya Lakshmi
as Shyam / Chandru · 1987
Okkadu Chaalu
· 2000
Hendithghelthini
· 1998
Jameendarru
· 2002
Simhadriya Simha
as Narasimha Gowda and Chikka · 2002
Huli Hejje
· 1984
Hrudayavantha
· 2003
Deepavali
· 2000
Snehithara Saval
· 1981
Vasantha Lakshmi
as Chandru · 1978
Harakeya Kuri
· 1992
Simha Gharjane
· 1983
Sangharsha
· 1993
Veerappa Nayaka
· 1999
Alaigal
as Inspector Raju · 1973
Baalina Jyothi
· 1996
Karulina Kudi
· 1995
Gandhada Gudi
as Anand · 1973
Naga Kanye
· 1975
Jayasimha
· 1987
Singaporenalli Raja Kulla
as Raja · 1978
Khaidi
· 1984
Mahakshathriya
· 1994
Jeevana Jyothi
· 1987
Premotsava
· 1999
Janani Janmabhoomi
· 1997
Diggajaru
as Wodeya · 2001
Kotreshi Kanasu
· 1994
Bhagya Jyothi
· 1975
Police Papanna
as Guest Appearance · 1984
Benki Birugali
as Vishnu · 1984
Kunthi Puthra
· 1994
Karnataka Suputhra
· 1996