Dr. Rajkumar
Known for: Acting
**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.
Filmography
Film
Hosa Belaku
Ravi
1982
Film
Anna Thangi
1958
Film
Kantheredu Nodu
Gopanna
1961
Film
Bhookailasa
Ravana
1958
Film
Shabdavedhi
Sandeep
2000
Film
Goadalli C.I.D 999
Prakash (C.I.D 999)
1968
Film
Raja Nanna Raja
Raja
1976
Film
Haalu Jenu
Ranga
1982
Film
Margadarshi
Srikanth
1969
Film
Mayura
Mayura
1975
Film
Nanda Gokula
1972
Film
Samayada Gombe
Gurumurthy
1984
Film
Kula Gourava
Raghunatha Rao / Ravi 'Chandrashekharaiah' / Shankar
1971
Film
Babruvahana
Arjuna / Babruvahana
1977
Film
Bhagyavantha
Cameo
1981
Film
Sri Krishnadevaraya
Krishnadevaraya
1970
Film
Amma
Sridhar
1968
Film
Kiladi Ranga
1966
Film
Chalisuva Modagalu
Mohan
1982
Film
Saaku Magalu
Raghuram
1963
Film
Vidhi Vilasa
1962
Film
Bangaarada Manushya
Rajeeva
1972
Film
Navakoti Narayana
Purandaradasa
1964
Film
Devara Makkalu
Ranga
1970
Film
Akasmika
Narasimha Murthy
1993
Eradu Nakshatragalu
Vijaya
1983
Film
Daari Thappida Maga
Prakash 'Prashanth' / Prasad
1975
Film
Guri
Kaliprasad
1986
Film
Gandhada Gudi Part 2
1994
Film
Devaru Kotta Thangi
1973
Film
Gange Gowri
Lord Shiva
1967
Film
Thayi Devaru
1971
Film
Bengaluru Mail
Shyamsundar
1968
Film
Jeevana Tharanga
1963
Film
Naga Pooja
1965
Film
Bhaktha Kanakadasa
Kanakadasa
1960
Film
Mohini Bhasmasura
1966
Film
Kaviratna Kalidasa
Kalidasa
1983
Kittur Chennamma
Raja Mallasarja
1961
Film
Gandhada Gudi
Kumar
1973
Film
Bhale Jodi
Suresh / Ramesh
1970
Film
Bhale Huchcha
Gopi
1972
Film
Anuraaga Aralithu
Shankar
1986
Film
Odahuttidavaru
Ramanna
1994
Mahasathi Arundhati
1968
Film
Hannele Chiguridaga
1968
Film
Rajasekhara
1967
Film
Bangarada Panjara
Beera
1974
Film
Operation Jackpotnalli C.I.D 999
Prakash
1969
Film
Manthralaya Mahathme
Raghavendra swamy
1966
Film
Kasturi Nivasa
Ravi Varma
1971
Film
Naa Ninna Mareyalare
Anand
1976
Film
Chandrahasa
1965
Film
Rani Honnamma
Veeranna
1960
Film
Premada Kanike
Manohar
1976
Film
Aasha Sundari
Gunasheela
1960
Film
Simha Swapna
1968
Film
Bhakta Cheta
Cheta
1961
Film
Santha Thukaram
Tukaram
1963
Film
Bhagya Devathe
1968
Film
Bhakta Prahlada
Hiranyakashipu
1983
Film
Shiva Mecchida Kannappa
Lord Shiva
1988
Film
Ide Mahasudina
1965
Film
Muriyada Mane
1964
Jeevana Chaithra
Vishwanathaiah
1992
Film
Sodari
Kailasanath
1955
Film
Hari Bhakta
Hari/Pundarika
1956
Film
Kranthiveera
Vijay
1972
Film
Sanaadi Appanna
Appanna
1977
Film
Sathi Sukanya
1967
Film
Gaali Gopura
1962
Film
Mayor Muthanna
Mutthanna
1969
Film
Bidugade
Shekhar
1973
Film
Huliya Halina Mevu
Chengumani
1979
Shruthi Seridaga
Dr. G. N. Murthy
1987
Film
Nadina Bhagya
Balu
1970
Film
Madhu Malathi
1966
Film
Mahasathi Anasuya
1965
Film
Keralida Simha
Shankar
1981
Film
Shravana Banthu
Raghu/Kumar/Peter
1984
Film
Sarvagna Murthy
1965
Film
Eradu Kanasu
Ramu
1974
Film
Mannina Maga
Raju
1968
Film
Sipayi Ramu
Ramu alias Ram Singh
1972
Film
Chikkamma
Sundar
1969
Film
Namma Samsara
1971
Film
Sathi Savithri
1965
Film
Mooruvare Vajragalu
Narada / Krishna
1973
Film
Trimurthy
Sridhar/Vijay/Shekhar/Sheshagiri
1975
Film
Maduve Madi Nodu
Vasu
1965
Film
Paropakari
Mohan/Ramanna
1970
Film
Prathidhwani
Ashok
1971
Film
Sathi Nalayini
1957
Film
Shankar Guru
'Jairaj' Rajashekhar/ Shankar / Guru
1978
Film
Vasantha Geetha
Vasantha
1980
Film
Nata Sarvabhouma
Himself
1968
Film
Sampatthige Savaal
Veerabhadra
1974
Film
Vaatsalya
1965
Film
Gandondu Hennaru
Anand Rao
1969
Film
Baala Bandhana
1971
Film
Manasiddare Marga
1967
Film
Jagajyothi Basveshwara
King Bijjala
1959
Film
Swarnagowri
1962
Film
Kamana Billu
Suryanarayana "Soorappa"
1983
Film
Mr. Rajkumar
Kumar/Raj/Farooq Baba
1970
Film
Sathya Harishchandra
Raja Harishchandra
1965
Film
Mallamana Pavaada
Chandrakantha
1969
Film
Kasidre Kailasa
Gopinath
1971
Film
Badavara Bandhu
Ranga
1976
Film
Immadi Pulikeshi
Immadi Pulikeshi
1967
Film
Bhaagyavantharu
Kumar
1977
Film
Ondu Muttina Kathe
Aithu
1987
Film
Bahaddur Gandu
Panju
1976
Film
Bhaktha Kumbara
Gora
1974
Film
Annapoorna
1964
Film
Kalitharu Henne
1963
Film
Doorada Betta
Shivu
1973
Film
Girikanye
Chenna
1977
Film
Malli Maduve
Ananda and Paramananda (Dual roles)
1963
Film
Bhaagyada Baagilu
Raju
1968
Film
Tumbida Koda
1964
Film
Dharma Vijaya
1959
Film
Karuneye Kutumbada Kannu
Kumar
1962
Film
Sathi Shakthi
Rakthaaksha / Viroopaaksha
1963
Film
Rajadurgada Rahasya
Ramanna Nayaka / Somanna Nayaka
1967
Film
Bhale Raja
Shivaraj/Raju
1969
Film
Lagnapathrike
Raghuram
1967
Film
Manassakshi
1968
Film
Sri Shaila Mahathme
1961
Film
Nanna Thamma
1970
Film
Kulavadhu
1963
Film
Operation Diamond Racket
Prakash
1978
Film
Thoogudeepa
1966
Film
Sri Krishna Rukmini Sathyabhama
Krishna
1971
Film
Nagarjuna
Nagarjuna
1961
Film
Sri Rama Anjaneya Yuddha
1963
Film
Sri Srinivasa Kalyana
Lord Venkateswara
1974
Film
Sakshathkara
Mahesh
1971
Film
Katari Veera
1966
Film
Mahathma Kabir
1962
Film
Mahishasura Mardini
Mahishasura
1959
Film
Jedara Bale
Prakash
1968
Film
Thaayige Thakka Maga
Kumar
1978
Film
Abba! Aa Hudugi
Shankar
1959
Film
Kaivara Mahathme
Narayanappa
1961
Film
Bedara Kannappa
Dinna/Kannappa
1954
Film
Hasiru Thorana
Madhu
1970
Film
Nee Nanna Gellalare
Srikanth
1981
Film
Ranadheera Kanteerava
Ranadheera Kanteerava
1960
Film
Sri Kaalahasthi Mahatyam
Thinnayya / Kannappa
1954
Film
Hrudaya Sangama
Jamindaar Rajanna / Kumar
1972
Film
Rowdy Ranganna
1968
Film
Veerakesari
Narasimhanayaka
1963
Film
Olavu Geluvu
Mohan
1977
Film
Janma Rahasya
1972
Film
Nyayave Devaru
Raghu
1971
Film
Parashuram
1989
Film
Dhoomakethu
Kumar
1968
Film
Beedi Basavanna
Gopal Rao
1967
Film
Ravi Chandra
Ravi / Chandra
1980
Film
Mana Mecchida Madadi
Srinath
1963
Film
Valmiki
1963
Film
Uyyaale
Krishna
1969
Film
Thejaswini
1962
Film
Chandra Kumara
1963
Film
Emme Thammanna
'Emme' Thammanna / Murali
1966
Film
Jwalamukhi
Jayasimha
1985
Film
Sandhya Raaga
Lakshmana
1966
Film
Swayamvara
Natraj
1973
Film
Naanobba Kalla
Gopi / DCP Chandrashekhar / Self
1979
Film
Sarvamangala
1968
Film
Bhagyada Lakshmi Baaramma
1986
Film
Chakratheertha
Damodar
1967
Film
Dhruva Taare
Sagar
1985
Film
Punarjanma
Chenna
1969
Film
Baalu Belagithu
Shankar / Papanna
1970
Film
Shivagange Mahatme
1964
Film
Kanyarathna
Raju
1963
Film
Sri Kanyaka Parameshwari Kathe
1966
Film
Dashavathara
Hiranyakashipu / Ravana / Shishupala
1960
Film
Bhoodana
Dasanna
1962
Film
Rayara Sose
1957
Film
C.I.D. Rajanna
Rajanna
1970
Film
Karulina Kare
Parameshi
1970
Devasundari
1962
Film
Chandavalliya Thota
Hanuma
1964
Film
Bhoopathi Ranga
Bhaskar
1970
Film
Ohileshwara
1956
Film
Parvathi Kalyana
1967
Film
Ade Kannu
Jagannath Rao & Gopi
1985
Film
Haavina Hede
Muthanna
1981
Film
Jaga Mecchida Maga
Aditya
1972
Pathivratha
1965
Film
Shivarathri Mahathme
Vijaya, King of Simhapuri
1964
Film
Shree Krishna Gaarudi
1958
Film
Gowri
1963
Film
Bettada Huli
Raju
1965
Film
Devara Gedda Manava
1967
Film
Yaarivanu
Inspector Bhaskar
1984
Film
Apoorva Sangama
Gopi Krishna / Santhosh
1984
Film
Premamayi
1966
Nanda Deepa
Shankar
1963
Film
Bhaktha Vijaya
Santoba Pavar
1956
Devatha Manushya
Krishna Murthy
1988
Bangarada Hoovu
1967
Film
Gandhinagara
Shekhar
1968
Film
Naandi
Murthy
1964
Baala Naagamma
1966
Film
Choori Chikkanna
Choori Chikkanna/Bhaskar
1969
Film
Prathigne
Shankar
1964