M. V. Vasudeva Rao
M. V. Vasud
eva Rao | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Mudabidri Venkat Rao Vasudeva Rao c.1919 |
| Died | 22 March 2002(aged 82–83) Bangalore,India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Awards | National Film Award for Best Actor |
Mudabidri Venkat Rao Vasudeva Rao(c.1919 – 22 March 2002) was an Indian actor. He entered the film world as a child actor in 1928. He won theBest Actor Awardat the23rd National Film Awardsfor his role of Choma in theChomana Dudi(1975), a film based onShivarama Karanth's novel of the same name.[1]
Biography[edit]
Rao was one of six children of his school-teacher father, who struggled to make ends meet for his family. In 1928, as a nine-year-old, Rao, and two of his brothers, were sent toGubbi Veeranna's theatre company to help financially support the family. Rao performed child roles in plays such asShree Krishna Parijata,and often performed for the erstwhileMaharajaKrishna Raja Wadiyar IV,under whose patronage the company functioned, at theJaganmohan PalaceinMysore.Rao worked for the company despite many others leaving for cinema, and tutored future theatre and film personalities such asB. V. Karanth.[2]
Rao was offered the lead roleChomana Dudi(1975) byShivaram Karanth,which he accepted. Recalling his experience on the film in an interview forDeccan Heraldin 1999, he stated: "I would lock myself up in a room everyday and for hours together I would practice. Finally, I got a hang of my role."[2]Rao played adalitwaging a futile struggle to own a piece of land.[3]For his performance, he was awarded the National Film Award for Best Actor at the 23rd National Film Awards. Rao returned to stage acting, with infrequent film appearances, most notablyMrinal Sen'sOka Oori Katha(1977) andShyam Benegal'sKondura(1978) among others.[2]He would then go on appear in over 200 films, mostly in Kannada, and also inHindi,TeluguandTamillanguages. However, postChomana Dudi,he mostly played minor roles.[4]He died on 22 March 2002 inBangalore,aged 82. The Chief Minister of his home State ofKarnataka,S. M. Krishna,noted: "Sri Vasudeva Rao with his vast experience in professional theatre companies used to instil life into his roles. He had immortalised the fictitious" Choma "of Shivarama Karanth through his lively performance. In his death the Kannada film industry and the field of professional drama have lost a doyen."[3]
Selected filmography[edit]
- Chomana Dudi(1975)
- Oka Oori Katha(1977) (Telugu)
- Kondura(1978) (Hindi)
- Aparichita(1978)
- Kappu Kola(1980)...Shankar Rao
- Dharma Dari Thappithu(1982)...Narasayya
- Nayakan(1987) (Tamil)
- Ondagi Balu(1989)
- Bagh Bahadur(1989) (Bengali)
- Bombay(1995) (Tamil)
- Dweepa(2002)
References[edit]
- ^"Vasudeva Rao Dead".chitraloka.com. 22 March 2002.Archivedfrom the original on 17 December 2014.Retrieved5 December2014.
- ^abcGanesh, Deepa (18 July 1999)."The resonance lingers on".Deccan Herald. Archived fromthe originalon 2 October 1999.Retrieved11 September2023.
- ^ab"Chomana Dudi Vasudeva Rao is dead".Deccan Herald. 23 March 2002. Archived fromthe originalon 2 June 2002.Retrieved11 September2023.
- ^Rao, M. K. Bhaskar (14 April 2002)."A natural".Deccan Herald.Archived fromthe originalon 25 April 2002.Retrieved2 May2017.