Udaykumar

Bommasandra Srinivasaiah Suryanarayana Murthy (16 March 1933 – 26 December 1985), known professionally as Udaykumar, was an Indian actor, writer, and film producer who worked primarily in Kannada cinema. Along with Rajkumar and Kalyan Kumar, he was part of the trio known as the Kumarathrayaru ("the three Kumars") of Kannada cinema. In addition to acting, he wrote several stage dramas and books.

Uday Kumar appeared in a wide variety of roles and collaborated with many notable actors of his era. In the early part of his career, he was cast in heroic roles, but he later became known for portraying complex antagonists, particularly in historical and mythological films, where he was frequently cast opposite Rajkumar’s protagonist roles.

Uday Kumar was born into a Brahmin family, with sources differing on his birth date—some citing 5 March 1933 and others 16 March 1933. He was the second of four children and the only son of B. S. Srinivasaiah and Sharadamma. The family's ancestral roots trace back to Andhra Pradesh but they had settled in ⁣⁣Karnataka approximately two centuries prior to his birth.

He received his primary education in the villages of Helaine and Muthanallur near Sarjapura in Bangalore district and later completed his secondary education in Anekal. During his school years, he actively participated in cultural events and competitions.

After an unsuccessful attempt at the matriculation examination, Uday Kumar married Kamalamma at the age of 20. He subsequently worked as a physical education teacher at a school in Anekal. On the advice of a friend, he relocated to Bangalore, where he joined the theatre troupe of Gubbi Veeranna, marking the beginning of his acting career.

In 1954, while working on the script for Bhagyodaya (1956), screenwriter Kanagal Prabhakar Shastry was seeking a lead actor for the film. At the time, Uday Kumar was performing as Buddha in a stage production in Mandya with Gubbi Veeranna’s theater troupe. S. K. Bhagavan, Shastry’s assistant, observed the performance and offered Uday Kumar a screen test. Following the test, he was cast in the lead role. Shastry also gave him the screen name "Uday Kumar," inspired by the film's title and the production company, Udaya Productions.

Known by the nickname "Gandugali," Uday Kumar acted in 193 films, including 171 in Kannada, 15 in Telugu, six in Tamil, and one in Hindi. He received several regional awards, particularly for his contributions to Kannada cinema.

Beyond his work in film, Uday Kumar was involved in Kannada cultural and linguistic movements. He supported the unification of Kannadigas and collaborated with individuals such as Ma Ramamurthy, A. N. Krishna Rao (Aa. Na. Kru), Thirumale Shriranga Tatacharya, Ta. Su. Shama Rao, Ha. Ma. Nayak, and Ta. Ra. Su. to promote the Kannada language and culture through speeches, writings, and public events.

He founded Udaya Kalanikethana, a training institute for theater and film acting, with the aim of promoting performing arts. He also supported professional theater groups across Karnataka, and beginning in 1960, regularly dedicated one week each month to stage performances.

In 2005, on the occasion of what would have been his 73rd birthday, a charitable trust named Pavanasutha Kesari Kalaa Shalaa was established during a commemorative cultural event titled Udaya-73 Ondu Savinenapu in Anekal, his birthplace.^{[citation needed]} The trust, founded by Vikram Udaykumar, runs social and cultural initiatives, including P. S. M. School and Kalaashaala—a cultural school offering training in classical music and performing arts such as Bharatanatyam. Its activities also include rural arts education and organizing state-level theater competitions.

• Karnataka State Film Awards:
  • 1967-68 – Won – Best Supporting Actor – Chakra Theertha
  • 1977-78 – Won – Best Supporting Actor – Hemavathi