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{{Short description|Indian actor, theatre personality}}
{{Indian name|Dattatreya|Harihar Gundurao}}
{{redirect|Dattanna|Indian politician|Bandaru Dattatreya}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[Wing commander (rank)|Wing Commander]]
| name = H. G. Dattatreya
| image = HGDattatreya.jpg
| caption = Dattatreya in 2013
| birth_name = Harihar Gundurao Dattatreya
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1942|04|20}}
| birth_place = [[Chitradurga]], [[Kingdom of Mysore]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = [[University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering|UVCE, Bangalore]]<br>[[Air Force Technical College, Bangalore|Air Force Technical College]]<br>[[Indian Institute of Science]]
| occupation = Actor
| relatives = [[H. G. Somashekar Rao]] (brother)
| website = 
| allegiance = [[India]]
| branch = {{Air force|India}}
| service_years = 1965–1986
| rank = [[File: British_RAF_OF-4.svg|30px]] Wing Commander
}}
'''Harihar Gundurao Dattatreya''' (born 20 April 1942), popularly known as '''Dattanna''', is an Indian actor who has appeared in more than 204 films and several [[Play (theatre)|play]]s. Alongside his career as an actor, he served in the [[Indian Air Force]] as an Aeronautical Engineer for over 20 years and also occupied academic positions with [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]] (HAL). He is best known for his work in [[Cinema of Karnataka|Kannada cinema]], in which he appears in mostly supporting roles. In a film career of almost three decades, he has won two [[National Film Award – Special Jury Award (Feature Film)|National Film Award – Special Jury Awards]], one [[National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor]] and two [[Karnataka State Film Awards]]. He is known for his performances in ''[[Munnudi]]'' (2000), ''[[Bettada Jeeva]]'' (2011) and ''[[Bharath Stores]]'' (2012). In 2022, he was awarded the [[Rajyotsava Prashasti]] by the [[Government of Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Karnataka: Isro ex-chief K Sivan, Daiva Nartaka among 67 Rajyotsava awardees |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/karnataka-isro-ex-chief-k-sivan-daiva-nartaka-among-67-rajyotsava-awardees/articleshow/95189234.cms |access-date=13 May 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=31 October 2022}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Dattatreya was born in 1942 in [[Chitradurga]], in the erstwhile [[Kingdom of Mysore]] (now in [[Karnataka]], India) to Harihar Gundurao and Venkamma.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dattatreya H G|url=http://www.geni.com/people/Dattatreya-H-G/6000000011173612419|website=Geni|access-date=5 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005064723/http://www.geni.com/people/Dattatreya-H-G/6000000011173612419|archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref> He has six siblings; brothers Venkatesh, who was a physicist at the [[Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur]]; Suryanarayana Rao, is a professor of English in [[University of Mysore]]; and [[H. G. Somashekar Rao]], a writer and an occasional actor. Dattatreya completed his education in Chitradurga.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dattanna on Flashback|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/dattanna-on-flashback-kannada-news-119673.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924170922/http://www.indiaglitz.com/dattanna-on-flashback-kannada-news-119673.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|access-date=6 August 2015|work=indiaglitz.com|date=27 November 2014}}</ref> He secured the first rank in his matriculation exams in 1958, and second rank on completion of his [[pre-university course]] in 1959. He graduated with a [[Bachelor of Electrical Engineering|degree in electrical engineering]] from [[University of Visvesvaraya College of Engineering]] (UVCE), [[Bangalore]], in 1964. In 1978, he obtained a master's degree in electrical communication engineering from [[Indian Institute of Science]] (IISc), Bengaluru.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dattatreya H G|url=http://alumni.iisc.ernet.in/profile/view/dattatreya-h-g|website=Indian Institute of Science|publisher=IISc, Bangalore, Alumni Website|access-date=6 August 2015}}</ref>

== Career ==

=== In Indian Air Force ===
After graduating in 1964, Dattatreya joined the [[Indian Air Force]], as a Commissioned Officer in its technical branch. He subsequently trained at [[Air Force Technical College, Bangalore|Air Force Technical College]], Bangalore, and while studying his post graduation at IISc, Bangalore, he received a certificate on completion of a project on Management and Advance Technologies, in 1984.<ref>{{cite web|title=CASES WHERE UNDERTAKING / PAN / BANK / ADDRESS DETAILS NOT RECEIVED|url=http://indianairforce.nic.in/pdf/ADD_NOT_DATA_1986_TO_1995.pdf|website=Indian Air Force|publisher=indianairforce.nic.in|access-date=6 August 2015}}</ref> He served the IAF for over 20 years, before retiring as a [[Wing Commander (rank)|Wing Commander]]. Upon retirement, he served in the Management Academy of [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]] (HAL), the Staff Training College, as its Deputy General Manager and Principal.<ref name="dh1">{{cite web|title=Sandesha awards on Feb 24|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/feb162005/d33.asp|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=16 February 2005|access-date=28 June 2015|archive-date=1 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701044857/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/feb162005/d33.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== As actor ===
[[File:The Director of the Kannada film “Bettada Jeeva”, P Sheshadri addressing a press conference during the 42nd International Film Festival of India (IFFI-2011), in Panaji, Goa. The Actor of the Kannada film “Bettada Jeeva”.jpg|thumb|right|[[P. Sheshadri]] (middle) and Dattatreya (right) addressing a press conference during the 42nd [[International Film Festival of India]], in Panaji, Goa]]
Dattatreya began acting in plays in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and while studying engineering in college at UVCE.<ref>{{cite web|title=When old friends meet again|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/when-old-friends-meet-again/article1031439.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=4 January 2011|access-date=28 June 2015}}</ref> His first appearance in a Kannada film came in [[T. S. Nagabharana]]'s ''[[Aasphota]]'' (1988), which earned him the [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor]].<ref name="dh1"/> Since then, he went on to appear in several films that have won multiple awards such as ''[[Kraurya]]'' (1996) and ''[[Munnudi]]'' (2000). His performance in the latter film earned him the [[National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor]] and the [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/48th_nff_2001.pdf|title=48th National Film Awards|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=28 June 2015|pages=44–45}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Mussanje' bags best film award|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2001/05/29/stories/0429210c.htm|access-date=25 April 2017|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=29 May 2001}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Dattatreya's performances in ''[[Mouni (2003 film)|Mouni]]'' (2003) won him a [[National Film Award – Special Jury Award (Feature Film)|National Film Award – Special Jury Award]] at the 51st National Film Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/51st_nff_2004.pdf|title=51st National Film Awards|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]|access-date=28 June 2015}}</ref> In the 2012 released film ''[[Bharath Stores]]'', his role as Govinda Shetty, a Grocery shop owner hit hard when the Union Government increases [[foreign direct investment]] in the retail sector, won widespread critical acclaim. He won his second National Special Jury Award at the [[60th National Film Awards]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=60th National Film Awards Announced|url=http://pib.nic.in/archieve/others/2013/mar/d2013031801.pdf|publisher=Press Information Bureau (PIB), India|access-date=28 June 2015}}</ref> He was also awarded the Best Actor at the International Film Festival in Fiji in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Fiji_July_2014.pdf|title=India – Fiji Relations|publisher=[[Ministry of External Affairs (India)]]|access-date=28 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Dhwani, Desai|title=Dattanna bags Best Actor award at international film festival|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/Dattanna-bags-Best-Actor-award-atinternational-film-festival/articleshow/23159789.cms|publisher=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|newspaper=The Times of India|date=27 September 2013|access-date=28 June 2015}}</ref>

== Partial filmography ==
*''Note: All films are in Kannada, unless otherwise noted.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="text-align:center;"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|rowspan="2"|1988 || ''Udbhav'' || ||Hindi film
|-
| ''[[Aasphota]]'' || ||
|-
| 1989|| ''Madhuri'' || ||
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Santha Shishunala Sharifa]]'' || Imam Sab||
|-
| rowspan="2"|1992 || ''[[Mysore Mallige (film)|Mysore Mallige]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Harakeya Kuri]]'' || Danappa||
|-
| 1993 ||''[[Chinnari Mutha]]''|| Daada||
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Kotreshi Kanasu]]'' || ||
|-
| 1995 || ''Lady Police'' || ||
|-
| 1996 || ''[[Kraurya]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan="3" |1997 || ''Ganga Yamuna'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Ulta Palta (1997 film)|Ulta Palta]]'' || Police inspector||
|-
| ''[[America! America!!]]'' || Srinivas||
|-
| rowspan="2"|1998 ||''[[Andaman (1998 film)|Andaman]]'' || [[Lieutenant Governor]]||
|-
| ''[[Hoomale]]'' || Santosh's uncle||
|-
| rowspan="3"|1999 ||''Maha Edabidangi'' || ||
|-
| ''Chaithrada Chiguru'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Prema Prema Prema]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|2000 || ''[[Thiladaanam]]''|| Subbayya||Telugu film
|-
| ''[[Munnudi]]'' || Hasanabba ||
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2001 || ''[[Mussanje]]'' || Seshanna||
|-
| ''Chandana Chiguru'' || ||
|-
| 2002 ||''[[Atithi (2002 film)|Atithi]]'' || Doctor||
|-
| rowspan="2"|2003 ||''[[Don (2003 film)|Don]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Mouni (film)|Mouni]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan="3"|2004 || ''[[Yahoo (film)|Yahoo]]'' || Haladi Nagappa's ghost ||
|-
| ''[[Dharma (2004 film)|Dharma]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Joke Falls]]'' || Raghavendra Joshi||
|-
| rowspan="4"|2005 || ''[[Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (film)|Dr. B. R. Ambedkar]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Beru (film)|Beru]]'' || Venkateshaiah||
|-
| ''[[Siddhu (film)|Siddhu]]'' || Siddu's teacher||
|-
| ''[[Rama Shama Bhama]]'' || Rangaswamy||
|-
| rowspan="3"|2006 || ''[[Thutturi]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Miss California (film)|Miss California]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Uppi Dada M.B.B.S.]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan="5"|2007 || ''[[SMS 6260]]'' || Dattanna ||
|-
| ''Masanada Makkalu'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Sathyavan Savithri]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Kaada Beladingalu]]'' || Chandranna||
|-
| ''Atheetham'' || ||
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Hani Hani (film)|Hani Hani]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan="4"|2009 || ''[[Anu (film)|Anu]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Maleyali Jotheyali]]'' || Col. Thammayya ||
|-
| ''Kurunadu'' || ||
|-
| ''Daatu'' || ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|2010 || ''Anishchitha'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Cheluveye Ninne Nodalu]]'' || Gopala Gowda ||
|-
| rowspan="4" |2011 || ''[[Johny Mera Naam Preethi Mera Kaam]]'' || Priya's grandfather||
|-
| ''[[Bettada Jeeva]]'' || Gopalaiah ||
|-
| ''[[Allide Nammane Illi Bande Summane]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Paramathma (film)|Paramathma]]'' || Appanna ||
|-
| 2012 || ''[[Dashamukha]]'' || ||
|-
| 2013 || ''[[Bharath Stores]]'' || Govinda Shetty ||
|-
| rowspan="5"|2014 || ''[[December-1]]'' || [[Chief Minister (India)|Chief Minister]]||
|-
| ''Matthe Satyagraha'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Bahaddur]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Baanaadi]]'' || Kishore's grandfather||
|-
| ''[[Haggada Kone]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan="3" |2015 || ''Male Nilluvavarege'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Endendigu]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Vidaaya]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan="9"|2016 || ''[[Parapancha]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu]]'' || ||
|-
| ''Home Stay'' || ||
|-
| ''Jigarthanda'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Run Antony]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Santheyalli Nintha Kabira]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Happy Birthday (2016 Indian film)|Happy Birthday]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Neer Dose]]'' || Dattatreya||
|-
| ''[[Doddmane Hudga]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan="8"|2017 || ''Srinivasa Kalyana'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Jilebi (2017 film)|Jilebi]]'' || ||
|-
| ''Prathima'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Raajakumara]]'' || Mohammad Rafi||
|-
| ''Tab'' || ||
|-
| ''[[April Na Himabindu]]'' || Srikanta ||
|-
| ''[[Kempiruve]]'' || Venkatesh Murthy||
|-
| ''Hombanna'' || ||
|-
| rowspan="7"|2018 || ''[[Churikatte]]'' || Adi's grandfather||
|-
| ''[[Kannadakkaagi Ondannu Otti]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Double Engine (2018 film)|Double Engine]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Loudspeaker (2018 film)|Loudspeaker]]'' || ||
|-
| ''Amrutha Ghalige'' || ||
|-
| ''Ajja'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Ananthu vs Nusrath]]'' || Zulfikar Ali Khan||
|-
| rowspan="4"|2019 || ''[[Mission Mangal]]'' || Ananth Iyengar
|Hindi film
|-
| ''[[Premier Padmini (film)|Premier Padmini]]'' || Vinayak's neighbour||
|-
| ''[[Sarvajanikarige Suvarnavakasha]]'' || Devraj||
|-
| ''[[Brahmachari (2019 film)|Brahmachari]]'' || Dr. Ramdev||
|-
| 2020 || ''[[Act 1978]]'' || Venkatachalaiah ||
|-
| rowspan="3"|2021 || ''[[SriKrishna@gmail.com]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Rider (2021 film)|Rider]]'' || Principal ||
|-
| ''Nan Hesaru Kishora Yel Pass Yentu'' || ||
|-
| rowspan="3"|2022 || ''Four Walls & Two Nighties '' || Mavayya ||
|-
| ''[[Selfie Mummy Googl Daddy]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Totapuri: Chapter 1]]'' || Imaam Saheb||
|-
| rowspan="4"|2023 || ''[[Raghavendra Stores]]'' || Gunda Bhat ||
|-
| ''Jersey Number 10'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Totapuri: Chapter 2]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Bad Manners (2023 film)|Bad Manners]]'' || ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|2024 || ''[[My Hero (2024 film)|My Hero]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Murphy (film)|Murphy]]'' || Richard||
|-
| rowspan="1"|2026 || ''Elra Kaaleliyatte Kaala'' || ||
|}

=== Web series ===
* 2018 - ''[[Joshelay]]''

== Awards and nominations==
* 1987–88: [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor]]: ''[[Aasphota]]''
* [[48th National Film Awards|2000]] : [[National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor]]: ''[[Munnudi]]''
* 2000: Film Fans Association Award for Best Supporting Actor: ''[[Munnudi]]''<ref>{{cite news|title=The ones who made a mark|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2001/07/06/stories/0906022q.htm|access-date=2 October 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=6 July 2001}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
* 2000–01: [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor]] : ''[[Munnudi]]''
* [[51st National Film Awards|2003]] : [[National Film Award – Special Mention (Feature Film)|National Film Award – Special Jury Award]]: ''[[Mouni (2003 film)|Mouni]]''
* 2011: Nominated : [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kannada]]: ''[[Bettada Jeeva]]''
* [[60th National Film Awards|2012]] : [[National Film Award – Special Mention (Feature Film)|National Film Award – Special Jury Award]] : ''[[Bharath Stores]]''
* 2013: Best Actor Award at the Fiji International Film Festival for ''[[Bharath Stores]]''
* 2016: Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kannada for ''[[Neer Dose]]''
* 2016: Nominated, SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Kannada for ''[[Neer Dose]]''
* 2016: Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kannada for ''[[Kempirve]]''
* 2022: [[Rajyotsava Prashasti]]

{{commons category}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|id=1227718|name=H. G. Dattatreya}}

{{National Film Award Best Supporting Actor}}
{{National Film Award Special Mention feature film}}
{{Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dattatreya, H. G.}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Chitradurga]]
[[Category:Male actors in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:Indian male stage actors]]
[[Category:Indian Institute of Science alumni]]
[[Category:Male actors from Karnataka]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Best Supporting Actor National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Special Mention (feature film) National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Rajyotsava Award 2022]]
[[Category:Karnataka State Film Award winners]]

H. G. Dattatreya - Revision history

Joquim at 06:09, 25 April 2026