Dwarakish, the complete entertainer

Kannada cinema’s veteran cinematographer BS Basavaraj and National Award-winning director, KM Chaitanya, share their experiences with the late actor Dwarakish

Though the name Bungle Shama Rao Dwarakanath, might not ring a bell to many, the name Dwarakish will have Kannada film aficionados nodding and smiling in recognition. Dwarakish, who passed away on April 16, 2024, at the age of 81 was not just an actor, but a director, producer and a comedian too with a career spanning over five decades in Kannada cinema.

With a smile that lit up the screen, Dwarakish was serious about cinema entertaining people with the stories and characters he created. The actor started his innings in cinema with a cameo in his uncle, Hunasur Krishnamoorty’s film, Veera Sankalpa in 1964 and has acted in many Kannada films since. He had a knack of making fun of himself on screen with digs about his height in films such as Kittu Puttu, Singaporinalli Raja Kulla, and Kalla Kulla.

He often worked in tandem with the late comedians Balakrishna and Narasimharaju. The trio would keep us in splits with their antics in films such as Guru Shishyaru. If he tickled your funny bones with his comedy, we have also seen him as the unconventionally stylish hero, wooing a Chinese girl in Singaporinalli Raja Kulla.

When not acting, Dwarakish was busy producing hit films including Mayor Muttanna, Bhagyavantaru, Nyaya Ellide, Manku Thimma or Nee Barada Kadambari. Some of his top films have featured the late Dr Vishnuvardhan and Dr Rajkumar in the lead.

A man with a Midas touch, the films Dwarakish produced, whether original stories or remakes like Aaptamitra (remake of the Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu), Nee Barada Kadambari ( a remake of Pyaar Jhukta Nahi) or Indina Ramayana (remake of the Tamil film Oorukku Upadesam) they were all commercially successful.

Dwarakish had highs and lows professionally. He faced heavy financial losses with films such as Africadalli Sheela. Dwarakish took time off from making films to bounce back. He was not deterred from making or acting in films, irrespective of the results they yielded.

Veteran cinematographer BS Basavaraj, winner of the Nandi Lifetime Achievement Award, mentored by the legendary VK Murthy and National Award-winning director, KM Chaitanya who worked with Dwarakish for more than a decade, share their work experiences with the legendary actor.