10.0
10.0
Gandhada Gudi
1973
as Anand
Vishnuvardhan
N/A
CommunityBiographyvia wikipedia
Sampath Kumar (18 September 1950 – 30 December 2009), known by his stage name Vishnuvardhan, was an Indian actor who worked predominantly in Kannada cinema besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam language films. Vishnuvardhan has a prolific career spanning over four decades, during which he has acted in more than 220 films. A popular cultural icon of Karnataka, and holds the status of a matinée idol among the Kannada diaspora. He is popularly called as Sahasa Simha, Dada and The Angry Young Man of Kannada Cinema. Vishnuvardhan's contributions to Kannada cinema have been praised by his contemporaries in the Indian film industry. The Government of Karnataka honoured him with the highest civilian awards of Karnataka State, the Karnataka Ratna Award in 2025, Rajyothsava Prashasthi in 1990 and the Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 for his contributions to Kannada cinema. He was called The Phoenix of Indian Cinema. In 2008, a poll conducted by CNN-IBN listed Vishnuvardhan as the most popular star in the Kannada film industry. Vishnuvardhan made his acting and on-screen debut at age 21 in B. V. Karanth and Girish Karnad's Vamsha Vriksha in 1971. In 1972, he attained stardom after starring in Puttanna Kanagal's Naagarahaavu . By the late-1970s, he established himself as a bankable leading actor after starring several successful films throughout the 70's; the crime drama Sahasa Simha released in 1982 catapulted him into superstardom in Karnataka. He predominantly works in Kannada films, but he has also appeared in some of Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films. Some of his best known non-Kannada films include the Tamil mythological Sri Raghavendrar (1985) and the Malayalam crime thriller Kauravar (1992). He was also the story writer of the 1997 film Ganesha I Love You directed by Phani Ramachandra.
Filmography (148 movies)
10.0
10.0
Nagarahavu
2016
as King Nagaraja (created with CGI)
10.0
10.0
Singaporenalli Raja Kulla
1978
as Raja
10.0
10.0
Kalla Kulla
1975
as Mahesh aka Kalla
9.5
9.5
Boothayyana Maga Ayyu
1974
as Gulla
9.0
9.0
Kittu Puttu
1977
as Kittu
9.0
9.0
Kotigobba
2001
as Nanjunda
9.0
9.0
Bangarada Gudi
1976
as Vijay
8.2
8.2
Apthamitra
2004
8.0
8.0
Kiladi Jodi
1978
as George
8.0
8.0
Asadhya Aliya
1979
as Ashok
8.0
8.0
Sahodarara Savaal
1977
as Kiran
8.0
8.0
Muyyige Muyyi
1978
as Sanjay
7.0
7.0
Lion Jagapathi Rao
1991
Screenplay
7.0
7.0
Vasantha Lakshmi
1978
as Chandru
7.0
7.0
Hombisilu
1978
as Dr. Nataraj
6.8
6.8
Kauravar
1992
as Haridas I.P.S.
6.7
6.7
Aptharakshaka
2010
as Dr. Vijay
6.3
6.3
Bandhana
1984
as Dr. Harish
6.1
6.1
Naagarahaavu
1972
as Ramachari
6.0
6.0
Sahasa Simha
1982
as Prathap
6.0
6.0
Simhadriya Simha
2002
as Narasimha Gowda and Chikka
6.0
6.0
Amarnath
1978
as Guest Appearance
5.7
5.7
Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige
2007
as Hoovaiah
5.5
5.5
Viduthalai
1986
as Amar
5.5
5.5
Sri Raghavendrar
1985
as Sri Yogenthra Tirtha
4.7
4.7
Zaalim
1994
as Inspector Mohan
2.5
2.5
Ashaant
1993
as Vishnu
2.0
2.0
Ee Bandhana
2007
as Harish Raj
1.0
1.0
Rahasya Rathri
1980
Harakeya Kuri
TBA
Karnataka Suputhra
1996
Habba
1999
as Vishnu
Malla
2004
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Deva
1989
Neenello Nanalle
2006
Diggajaru
2001
as Wodeya
Bellary Naga
2009
Makkala Sainya
1980
Kadamba
2004
as Madhukeshawara Kadamba
Manikantana Mahime
1993
Nanendu Nimmavane
1993
Halunda Tavaru
1994
Suryavamsha
1999
as Sathyamurthy/Kanakamurthy (Dual Role)
Karmika Kallanalla
1982
Kotreshi Kanasu
1994
Mathe Hadithu Kogile
1990
as Anand
Nee Bareda Kadambari
1985
Mane Mane Kathe
1981
Raayaru Bandaru Maavana Manege
TBA
as Vishnu
Kiladigalu
1994
Nishyabdha
1998
as Major Vishwanath
Snehithara Saval
1981
Appaji
1996
Daada
1988
as Daada
Dhani
1996
Soorappa
2000
as Soorappa
Simha Gharjane
1983
Krishna Rukmini
1988
Jimmy Gallu
1982
Hrudaya Geethe
1989
Jagadeka Veera
1991
Bhagya Jyothi
1975
Avala Hejje
1981
Huli Hejje
1984
Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare
1991
Khaidi
1984
Bangarada Jinke
1980
Veerappa Nayaka
1999
Vijay Vikram
1979
Jayasimha
1987
Karna
1986
Maduve Maadu Thamashe Nodu
1984
as Ganesha
Sirivantha
2006
Mojugara Sogasugara
1995
Laali
1997
Thumbida Mane
1995
Kunthi Puthra
1994
Samrat
1994
Mahakshathriya
1994
Parva
2002
Jameendarru
2002
Raja Narasimha
2003
Hrudayavantha
2003
Premotsava
1999
Deepavali
2000
Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda
1997
Janani Janmabhoomi
1997
Mangala Suthra
1997
Baalina Jyothi
1996
Jeevanadi
1996
Hello Daddy
1996
Himapatha
1995
Karulina Kudi
1995
Bangarada Kalasha
1995
Time Bomb
1994
Vishnu Vijaya
1993
Inspector Dhanush
1991
Simhada Guri
1998
Hendithghelthini
1998
Ravi Varma
1992
Sangharsha
1993
Police Papanna
1984
as Guest Appearance
Nee Thanda Kanike
1985
Maha Prachandaru
1981
Jeevana Jyothi
1987
Seetheyalla Savithri
1973
Naga Kanye
1975
School Master
2010
Namyajamanru
2009
Driver Hanumanthu
1980
Sneha Sedu
1978
Sirithanakke Saval
1978
Nagarahole
1977
Onde Roopa Eradu Guna
1975
Hosilu Mettida Hennu
1976
Chinna Ninna Muddaduve
1977
Kalinga
1980
as Prabhakar/ Ranga
Nammoora Raja
1988
Ganeshana Maduve
1990
as Self
Ithu Manjukaalam
1993
as Pauli
Belliyappa Bangarappa
1992
Eetti
1985
Ekadanta
2007
Vishnu Sena
2005
Varsha
2005
Nan Hendthi Chennagiddale
2000
Yaare Neenu Cheluve
1998
Sahukara
2004
as Sahukara Raja Mahendra Varma
Okkadu Chaalu
2000
Pedda Gedda
1982
Prachanda Kulla
1984
Krishna Nee Begane Baaro
1986
Benki Birugali
1984
as Vishnu
Jana Nayaka
1988
Police Matthu Dada
1991
Sowbhagya Lakshmi
1987
as Shyam / Chandru
Kiladi Kittu
1978
as Kittu
Vamsha Vriksha
1971
as credited as "Kumar"
Marudhanayagam
TBA
as Wajid Khan
Alaigal
1973
as Inspector Raju
Onde Guri
1983
Jyeshta
2004
Yajamana
2000
as Shankar/Ganesha (Dual Role)
Shivashankar
1990
as Shivu / Shankar
Nishkarsha
1993
as Ajay Kumar
Suprabhatha
1988
as Vijay Kumar
Muthina Haara
1990
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