Vishnuvardhan Memorial: Kiccha Sudeep made big decision

Vishnuvardhan Memorial: Following the overnight demolition of a structure at the unofficial memorial for late Kannada superstar Vishnuvardhan in Bengaluru, actor Kiccha Sudeep has made big decision. Kiccha purchased a half-acre plot of land to build a new memorial.

The new memorial, to be called the “Vishnuvardhan Darshan Centre,” will be located near Kengeri in Bengaluru. The foundation stone is set to be laid on September 18, which marks Vishnuvardhan’s birth anniversary.

This move comes after the original memorial at Abhiman Studio, where Vishnuvardhan was cremated, was demolished due to a long-running land dispute. The demolition caused outrage among fans and the film industry, with Sudeep and other actors publicly condemning the act.

Sudeep, a devoted fan of Vishnuvardhan, had previously expressed his willingness to personally fund and rebuild a memorial, stating that he and “lakhs of fans” would come forward to help. The new centre is planned to feature a 25-foot statue of the actor, a library, and a photo gallery.

Known to his fans as “Sahasa Simha” (The Valorous Lion) and “Dada,” the legendary Kannada actor Vishnuvardhan had a prolific career spanning over four decades. He is considered one of the most versatile and celebrated actors in South Indian cinema.

Born Sampath Kumar in Mysore, he later adopted the screen name Vishnuvardhan at the suggestion of director Puttanna Kanagal. He made his debut in the 1972 national award-winning film Vamsha Vriksha, directed by Girish Karnad.

His breakthrough role came later that same year in Kanagal’s Naagarahaavu, where he played the rebellious student Ramachari. This role earned him the title of the “angry young man of Kannada cinema” and his first Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor.

Vishnuvardhan starred in over 220 films, predominantly in Kannada cinema, but also in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Malayalam. His collaboration with director Puttanna Kanagal was highly successful, as seen in films like Hombisilu (1978), which earned him another state award.

The 1982 film Sahasa Simha cemented his status as a superstar and earned him the title “Sahasa Simha.” He was known for his versatility, excelling in various genres including action, romance, comedy, and family dramas.

Some of his most celebrated and commercially successful films include Bandhana (1984), Suprabhatha (1988), Muthina Haara (1990), Halunda Tavaru (1994), Yajamana (2000), and Apthamitra (2004). He often performed his own stunts and was an accomplished martial artist.

Vishnuvardhan also ventured into playback singing for many of his films and released devotional albums. Vishnuvardhan was a highly-awarded actor, with numerous Filmfare and Karnataka State Film Awards for Best Actor throughout his career.

He was honored with an honorary doctorate by Bangalore University in 2005. He was posthumously awarded the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor for his final film, Aptharakshaka (2010), which was released after his death.

The Karnataka government has named its annual lifetime achievement award for film personalities after him, now called the “Karnataka State Dr. Vishnuvardhana Award.”