Dorai–Bhagavan were an Indian filmmaking duo consisting of directors B. Dorai Raj (died 2000) and S. K. Bhagavan (5 July 1933 – 20 February 2023),[1] active mainly in Kannada cinema. The duo directed twenty seven films together, most of which starred Rajkumar and were highly successful at box-office. Fourteen of them were based on Kannada novels.[2][3] Bhagavan was the principal of Adarsha Film Institute, Bangalore.

Dorai–Bhagavan
OccupationFilm directors
Years active1961–2023

Film career

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Srinivasa Krishna Iyengar Bhagavan was born on 5 July 1933.[4][5] He completed his schooling in Bangalore High school. At a young age, he was acting on stage dramas with Hirannaiah Mithra Mandali. He started his film career as an assistant to Kanagal Prabhakar Shastri in 1956 through the film Bhagyodaya. He then went on to direct his debut movie Sandhya Raga in 1966 though officially its direction was credited to A.C. Narasimha Murthy. However, next year, he was credited as the co-director of Rajadurgada Rahasya (1967) alongside A.C. Narasimha Murthy. His official directorial debut happened when he co-directed Jedara Bale (1968) with Dorai Raj under the name Dorai–Bhagavan thus becoming the first directors to make James Bond-style movies in Kannada.[6]

The duo then directed films like Kasturi Nivasa, Eradu Kanasu, Bayalu Daari, Gaali Maathu, Chandanada Gombe, Hosa Belaku, Benkiya Bale, Jeevana Chaitra and more Bond-style movies such as Goa dalli C.I.D 999, Operation Jackpot Nalli C.I.D 999 and Operation Diamond Racket. Apart from Rajkumar, the duo directed many movies with Anant Nag and Lakshmi, most of which were based on novels. After the death of Dorai Raj, Bhagavan ceased directing for many years – their last film was Baalondu Chaduranga in 1996. In 2019, he made his comeback at the age of 85 with Aduva Gombe, which marks 50th film of his direction.[7]

Awards

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Bhagavan was the principal of Adarsha Film Institute.[8]

Filmography

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Dorai–Bhagavan directed a number of films. Apart from directing movies, Bhagavan also acted in films including Bhagyodaya, Rowdy Ranganna, Vasantha Geetha, Shravana Bantu, Sootradhaara, Haalu Jenu, Jeevana Chaithra and Bangalore Mail. He mostly worked with music director duo Rajan–Nagendra and G. K. Venkatesh for most of his films.

Note*: This is a partial filmography. You can expand it.

Key
†. Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Film Actors Notes
1956 Bhagyodaya Udaykumar Assistant to Kanagal Prabhakar Shastri
1966 Sandhya Raga Dr.Rajkumar, Bharati Uncredited [9]
1966 Mantralaya Mahatme Dr.Rajkumar, Kalpana, Jayanthi Production and direction department
1967 Rajadurgada Rahasya Dr.Rajkumar, Bharati Bhagavan only (co-director with A.C. Narasimha Murthy)
1968 Jedara Bale Dr Rajkumar, Udaykumar James Bond-style movie 1
1968 Goa Dalli CID 999 Dr Rajkumar, Lakshmi James Bond-style movie 2 (debut of Lakshmi)
1969 Operation Jackpot Nalli C.I.D 999 Dr. Rajkumar, Rekha, Surekha James Bond-style movie 3
1971 Kasturi Nivasa Dr Rajkumar, Aarati, Jayanthi, Raja Shankar
1971 Pratidwani Dr Rajkumar, Rajesh, Aarati
1974 Eradu Kanasu Dr Rajkumar, Kalpana, Manjula Novel by Vani
1976 Bayalu Daari Anant Nag, Kalpana, Ashok, Jayalaxmi, Padma Kumta Novel by Bharatisuta
1977 Giri Kanye Dr Rajkumar, Jayamala Novel by Bharatisuta
1978 Operation Diamond Racket Dr Rajkumar, Padmapriya James Bond-style movie 4
1979 Chandanada Gombe Anant Nag, Lakshmi, Lokesh Novel by Ta Ra Su
1979 Nanobba Kalla Dr Rajkumar, Lakshmi, Kanchana
1980 Vasantha Geetha Dr Rajkumar, Gayatri, Puneet
1981 Gaali Maathu Lakshmi, Jai Jagadish, Kokila Mohan, Hema Chaudhry Novel by Ta Ra Su
1981 Muniyana Madari Shankar Nag, Jai Jagadish, Kokila Mohan, Jayamala Novel by Ashwatha
1982 Hosa Belaku Dr Rajkumar, Sarita, Mamata Rao, Srinivas Murthy Novel by Vani
1983 Benkiya Bale Anant Nag, Lakshmi Novel by Ta Ra Su
1984 Samayada Gombe Dr Rajkumar, Srinath, Roopadevi, Menaka, Kanchana Novel by Chitralekha
1984 Yarivanu Dr. Rajkumar, Srinath, Roopadevi, B. Saroja devi, Puneet, Hema Chaudhry
1985 Bidugadeya Bedi Anant Nag, Lakshmi Novel by Ta Ra Su
1985 Sedina Hakki Anant Nag, Lakshmi, Prabhakar, Rajeev, Jayamalini Novel by T.K Rama Rao
1986 Hennina Koogu Sarita, Sridhar Novel by Geetha Nagabhushana (Hasi maamsa mattu haddugalu)
1987 Vijayothsava Kumar Bangarappa, Sudharani, Kanchana
1989 Gagana Anant Nag, Srinath, Khushboo, Mahalakshmi, Vanita Vasu Novel by N.Pankaja
1991 Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare Vishnuvardhan, Srinath, Rupini, Vinaya Prasad, Rajani, Chandrika, Anjali Only movie with Vishnuvardhan
1992 Jeevana Chaitra Dr Rajkumar, Madhavi, Sudharani Novel by Vishalakshi Dakshinamurthy (Vyapti-Praapti)
1993 Mangalya Bandhana Ananth Nag, Malashri, Moon Moon Sen Bhagavan only
1994 Odahuttidavaru Dr Rajkumar, Madhavi, Ambareesh, Srishanti, Umashree, Vajramuni Last movie with Raj Kumar
1995 Baalondu Chaduranga Lakshmi, Ramesh, Sai Kumar, Sudharani, S.P. Balasubramanyam, Srishanti
2019 Aduva Gombe Anant Nag, Sanchari Vijay

[10] Bhagavan only

References

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  1. ^ "Kannada film director SK Bhagavan passes away in Bengaluru at 89". India TV News. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  2. ^ "S.K Bhagavan, Interview with Our Karnataka team". Our Karnataka. Archived from the original on 24 July 2003. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
  3. ^ "S.K Bhagavan Interview with Supergoodmovies". Supergoodmovies. Archived from the original on 29 April 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
  4. ^ "Belli hejje, India Glitz". India Glitz. Archived from the original on 15 November 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
  5. ^ S., Sridevi (21 February 2023). "Veteran Sandalwood director SK Bhagavan no more". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Veteran filmmaker S. K. Bhagavan, who directed many Rajkumar-starrers, passes away". The Hindu. 20 February 2023.
  7. ^ "BHAGAVAN'S 50TH FILM CARRIES FRIEND DORAIRAJ".
  8. ^ About us Adarsha Film Institute [dead link]
  9. ^ "Bhagavan's 50th film carries friend Dorairaj". Bangalore Mirror.
  10. ^ "S K Bhagwan returns to direction". The Times of India. 22 July 2017.
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