T.R. Narasimharaju

Born on July 24 1923, T.R.Narasimharaju was an Indian Kannada actor specializing in roles that required ample comic timing. He has acted in more than 250 Kannada movies between 1954 and 1979. He had the talent, necessary looks and voice needed for a comedian. A successful Kannada film of that period always had the recipe of four main things: the hero, the heroine, a villain, and an equally illustrious role of a comedian. Narasimharaju was the default choice for the comedian's role in many a movie. Narasimharaju was the son of a police constable Ramaraju, from Tiptur. Venkata Lakshmi Amma was his mother's name. His stage debut happened when he was just 4 years old. The poverty prevailing in the house made his uncle Lakshmipathiraju take the young lad to the 'Chandramouleshwara Drama Company' run by Shri C.B. Mallappa who happened to be touring Tiptur during that period. After some time, Narasimharaju left that company and formed his own troupe and enacted his roles from his now previous performances - Gora-Kumbara, and Harishchandra. He soon joined "Edathorey Drama Company" after his troupe sustained losses. He took on the garb of a lady in the mythological 'Vishwamithra', 'Rama', 'Ravana', and 'Bharatha' among others. He spent the first 27 years of his acting career in professional drama companies. He donned different roles in the plays of different companies like "Shri Chandramouleshwara Nataka Sabha", "Hirannaiah Mitra Mandali", "Bharatha Lalitha Kala Sangha", "Gunda Joisara Company" of Belur, and Gubbi "Channabasaveshwara Nataka Company". He did not neglect these drama companies even after becoming hugely popular as a film actor. He made his film debut in 1954 when he acted in the film Bedara Kannappa alongside Dr. Rajkumar in the role of the son of the temple priest. Both were colleagues from the time they were in Gubbi Veeranna's drama company. Narasimharaju took inspiration from Charlie Chaplin. He had somewhat slightly protruding upper jaw teeth, which gave him a comic appearance. He made full use of his natural abilities. Though known for his humor and kindness, Narasmimharaju unfortunately spent his last days mourning the death of his son in an accident. He died on the 11th of July, 1979 at around 4.30 a.m. due to severe heart attack. After his death, an annual cine award, the 'Narasimharaju Prashasti' was established in his memory. He was the busiest actor in the Kannada Film Industry. Even stalwarts like Rajkumar used to wait for his call-sheet and adjusted to his dates accordingly. He was a family man and knew what he had to do for his family. He intelligently invested his earnings into building houses in the then Madras city and Bangalore. Infact, he was the first Kannada actor to own a house in Madras, even before the matinée idol Rajkumar.