# Dwarakish

Bungle Shama Rao Dwarakanath (19 August 1942 – 16 April 2024), known by his stage name Dwarakish (/ˈdwɑːrkɪʃ/ DWAR-kish), was an Indian actor, comedian and filmmaker who predominantly worked in Kannada cinema in addition to few Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films. Starting his career as a supporting actor in Veera Sankalpa (1964) and co-producer for the film Mamatheya Madilu in 1966, Dwarakish went on to work over five decades in cinema. He debuted as a director with the film Nee Bareda Kadambari (1985).
Fondly remembered as "Karnatakada Kulla" (lit. 'Dwarf of Karnataka'), Dwarakish produced over 50 films under his home production called "Dwarakish Chitra". Mayor Muthanna (1969) was the first film to be produced under his banner. He is referred to be the "First showman of Kannada cinema" for his daring and lavish experiments and his films were known for grand sets, songs and exotic locations.

## Early life

Dwarakish was born on 19 August 1942. He grew up in Ittigegud, Mysore. He received his primary education in Sharada Vilas and Banumaiah's school, and he graduated from CPC Polytechnic with a Diploma in Automobile Engineering. After completing his education, Dwarakish and his brother started an automotive spare-parts business called "Bharath Auto Spares" in Gandhi Square, Mysore. He was strongly attracted to acting and often asked his maternal uncle, a famous cinema director Hunusur Krishnamurthy, to give him a chance to act in movies. In 1963, he decided to quit business and start acting in movies. He was rechristened as Dwarakish by director C. V. Shivashankar.

## Film career

Dwarkish started his film journey by doing a small role, that of a prince in the film "Veera Sankalpa" directed by his uncle Hunasur Krishnamoorty. Later he did small roles in Maduve Madi Nodu and Satya Harischandra films. Then in 1966, Dwarakish co-produced the movie Mamatheya Bandhana with two others under the banner of Thunga Pictures. In 1969, his first independent production Mayor Muthanna starring Dr. Rajkumar and Bharathi in the lead roles was a box office success. After Mayor Muthanna, Dwarakish gave a series of box office successes to Kannada cinema, one after the other for the next two decades.

### Director

From the year 1985, Dwarakish started directing movies; his first movie as a director was Nee Bareda Kadambari. He went on to direct movies for other producers. Behind the camera, Dwarakish was successful. As a director, he created movies such as Dance Raja Dance, Nee Bareda Kadambari, Shruthi, Shruthi Haakidha Hejje, Rayaru Bandaru Mavana Manege and Kilaadigalu.
Dwarakish Chitra faced problems after the failure of some movies. With huge losses from box office failures, Dwarakish was written off by his own colleagues and the entire film industry. Despite failures, Dwarakish did not despair. He continued to make movies introducing new faces to Kannada cinema.
As a producer, he introduced many new people to the cinema. Not only actors and actresses—he gave opportunities to new directors and other technicians. They all consider him to be their "Godfather". The support of these people, and his unwavering dedication to cinema, gave Dwarakish his long-awaited moment of success. Dwarakish produced Apthamitra in the year 2004. Apthamitra was a magnificent success.

### Actor

Dwarakish was the first Kannada producer to introduce Kishore Kumar to the Kannada film Industry, and the song Aadu Aata Aadu became extremely popular.

## Death

Dwarakish died from cardiac arrest in Bengaluru, on 16 April 2024, at the age of 81.

## Records and awards

Produced First Kannada movie to be shot outside India. Apthamitra created records in Kannada Cinema. It was the first Kannada movie to celebrate screening for one year in two theatres, at Santosh in Bangalore and at Ranajith in Mysore and was the first Kannada movie to successfully complete one year of screening with four shows daily.
Dwarakish received an NTR Award.

## Filmography
### As director and producer

| Year | Film | Credited as | Credited as | Language | Notes |
| Year | Film | Director | Producer | Language | Notes |
| 1966 | Mamatheya Bandhana | N | Y | Kannada | Joint Producer |
| 1969 | Mayor Muthanna | N | Y | Kannada | Producer; Remade as Chairman Chalamayya |
| 1972 | Kulla Agent 000 | N | Y | Kannada | Based on Danish movie Operation Love Birds |
| 1973 | Cowboy Kulla | N | Y | Kannada | |
| 1977 | Bhagyavantharu | N | Y | Kannada | Remake - Dheerga Sumangali - Tamil |
| 1977 | Kittu Puttu | N | Y | Kannada | Remake - Anubavi Raja Anubavi - Tamil |
| 1978 | Singaporenalli Raja Kulla | N | Y | Kannada | First Kannada movie shot in Singapore |
| 1979 | Preethi Madu Thamashe Nodu | N | Y | Kannada | Remake - Kadhalikka Neramillai - Tamil |
| 1980 | Kulla Kulli | N | Y | Kannada | |
| 1980 | Manku Thimma | N | Y | Kannada | Remake - Sattekalapu Satteya - Telugu |
| 1981 | Guru Shishyaru | N | Y | Kannada | Remake - Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha - Telugu |
| 1981 | Mane Mane Kathe | N | Y | Kannada | Remake - Ramayanamlo Pidakala Veta - Telugu |
| 1982 | Pedda Gedda | N | Y | Kannada | |
| 1982 | Adrushtavantha | N | Y | Kannada | Remake - Evariki Vaare Yamuna Theere - Telugu |
| 1982 | Nyaya Ellide | N | Y | Kannada | Remake - Sattam Oru Iruttarai - Tamil |
| 1983 | Gedda Maga | N | Y | Kannada | Remake - Moondru Mugam - Tamil |
| 1983 | Ananda Bhairavi | N | Y | Kannada | |
| 1983 | Adutha Varisu | N | Y | Tamil | Remake - Raja Jani - Hindi |
| 1984 | Prachanda Kulla | N | Y | Kannada | |
| 1984 | Police Papanna | N | Y | Kannada | |
| 1984 | Indina Ramayana | N | Y | Kannada | Remake - Oorukku Upadesam - Tamil |
| 1984 | Gangvaa | N | Y | Hindi | Remake - Malaiyoor Mambattiyan - Tamil |
| 1985 | Nee Bareda Kadambari | Y | Y | Kannada | Remake - Pyaar Jhukta Nahin - Hindi |
| 1985 | Nee Thanda Kanike | Y | Y | Kannada | Remake - Arthur - English |
| 1985 | Madhuve Madu Tamashe Nodu | N | Y | Kannada | Remake - Dowry Kalyanam - Tamil |
| 1985 | Brahma Gantu | N | Y | Kannada | Remake - Gopurangal Saivathillai - Tamil |
| 1986 | Naan Adimai Illai | Y | Y | Tamil | Remake - Pyaar Jhukta Nahin - Hindi |
| 1986 | Africadalli Sheela | Y | Y | Kannada | |
| 1987 | Kizhakku Africavil Sheela | Y | Y | Tamil | Remake - Africadalli Sheela - Kannada |
| 1987 | Sheela | N | Y | Hindi | Remake - Africadalli Sheela - Kannada |
| 1987 | Dance Raja Dance | Y | Y | Kannada | |
| 1987 | Onde Goodina Hakkigalu | N | Y | Kannada | Remake - Samsaram Adhu Minsaram - Tamil |
| 1987 | Ravana Rajya | N | Y | Kannada | Remake - Ankush - Hindi |
| 1988 | Ganda Mane Makkalu | N | Y | Kannada | Remake - Veedu Manaivi Makkal - Tamil |
| 1989 | Jai Karnataka | Y | Y | Kannada | Remake - Mr. India - Hindi |
| 1989 | Krishna Nee Kunidaga | Y | Y | Kannada | |
| 1990 | Shruthi | Y | Y | Kannada | Remake - Pudhu Vasantham - Tamil |
| 1991 | Gowri Kalyana | Y | Y | Kannada | Remake - Thooral Ninnu Pochu - Tamil |
| 1992 | Hosa Kalla Hale Kulla | Y | Y | Kannada | |
| 1993 | Rayaru Bandaru Mavana Manege | Y | N | Kannada | Remake - Chithram - Malayalam |
| 1994 | Rasika | Y | N | Kannada | Remake - Senthamizh Paattu - Tamil |
| 1994 | Kiladigalu | Y | N | Kannada | |
| 1995 | Kidnap | Y | Y | Kannada | |
| 1995 | Giddu Dada | Y | N | Kannada | Based on Victoria No. 203 - Hindi |
| 1996 | Hrudaya Kallaru | Y | Y | Kannada | |
| 1997 | Shruthi Hakida Hejje | Y | N | Kannada | |
| 2001 | Majnu | Y | Y | Kannada | Remake - Love Today - Tamil |
| 2004 | Apthamitra | N | Y | Kannada | Remake - Manichitrathazhu - Malayalam |
| 2011 | Vishnuvardhana | N | Y | Kannada | Reported to be based on Handphone |
| 2012 | Chaarulatha | N | Y | Kannada, Tamil | Remake - Thai horror film - Alone |
| 2015 | Aatagara | N | Y | Kannada | Based on Agatha Christie's mystery novel And Then There Were None |
| 2017 | Chowka | N | Y | Kannada | Nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Film – Kannada at the 65th Filmfare Awards South |
| 2018 | Amma I Love You | N | Y | Kannada | Remake - Tamil - Pichaikkaran |
| 2019 | Aayushmanbhava | N | Y | Kannada | |

### As actor (Partial)

* Veera Sankalpa (1964)
* Maduve Madi Nodu (1965)
* Satya Harishchandra (1965)
* Sri Kanyaka Parameshwari Kathe (1966)
* Sri Purandara Dasaru (1967)
* Belli Moda (1967)
* Dhana Pishachi (1967)
* Lagna Pathrike (1967)
* Bhagyada Bagilu (1968)
* Adda Dari (1968)
* Manku Dinne (1968)
* Bedi Bandavalu (1968)
* Gandhinagara (1968)
* Jedara Bale (1968)
* Mayor Muthanna (1969)
* Mallammana Pavaada (1969)
* Arishina Kumkuma (1970)
* Baalu Belagithu (1970)
* Sidila Mari (1971)
* Sri Krishna Rukmini Satyabhama (1971)
* Bhale Adrushtavo Adrushta (1971)
* Thayi Devaru (1971)
* Nyayave Devaru (1971)
* Baala Bandana (1971)
* Sothu Geddavalu (1971)
* Nanda Gokula (1972)
* Janma Rahasya (1972)
* Kranti Veera (1972)
* Bangaarada Manushya (1972)
* Kulla Agent 000 (1972)
* CID 72 (1973)
* Devaru Kotta Thangi (1973)
* Professor Huchuraya (1974)
* Mahadeshwara Pooja Phala (1974)
* Maga Mommaga (1974)
* Anna Attige (1974)
* Bhakta Kumbara (1974)
* Kalla Kulla (1975)
* Makkala Bhagya (1976)
* Devara Duddu (1976)
* Bahaddur Gandu (1976)
* Pavana Ganga (1977)
* Sose Tanda Soubhagya (1977)
* Kittu Puttu (1977)
* Dhanalakshmi (1977)
* Bhagyavantharu (1977)
* Galate Samsara (1977)
* Shrimanthana Magalu (1977)
* Singaporenalli Raja Kulla (1978)
* Bhale Huduga (1978)
* Maathu Tappada Maga (1978)
* Madhura Sangama (1978)
* Bengaluru Bootha (1979)
* Asadhya Aliya (1979)
* Naniruvude Ninagagi (1979) as John and Vincent (Double Role)
* Mane Mane Kathe (1980)
* Haddina Kannu (1980)
* Auto Raja (1980)
* Simhada Mari Sainya (1981)
* Kula Puthra (1981)
* Avala Hejje (1981)
* Guru Shishyaru (1981)
* Garjane (1981)
* Pedda Gedda (1982)
* Karmika Kallanalla (1982)
* Jimmy Gallu (1982)
* Prema Mathsara (1982) as Ganesha
* Geluvu Nannade (1983) as Krishnamurthy aka Kittu
* Prachanda Kulla (1984)
* Madhuve Madu Tamashe Nodu (1984)
* Indina Ramayana (1984)
* Balondu Uyyale (1985)
* Nee Bareda Kadambari (1985)
* Nee Thanda Kanike (1985)
* Africadalli Sheela (1986)
* Dance Raja Dance (1987)
* Hendthi Helidare Kelabeku (1993)
* Server Somanna (1993)
* Muddina Maava (1993)
* Rayaru Bandaru Mavana Manege (1993)
* Mandyada Gandu (1994)
* Kiladigalu (1994)
* Rasika (1994)
* Yarige Beda Duddu (2001)
* Sri Manjunatha (2001)
* Khushi (2003)
* Shwetha Naagara (2004)
* Apthamitra (2004)
* Jothe Jotheyali (2006)
* Anjadiru (2009)
* Vishnuvardhana (2011)
* Maanikya (2014)
* Aatagara (2015)
* Chowka (2017)
* Mayanagari (2023)