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{{Short description|Indian actor, singer and composer}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Chowdasandra Honnappa Bhagavathar
| image = Honnappa Bhagavathar 1948.jpg
| caption = Honnappa Bhagvathar in 1948
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1915|01|14}}
| birth_place = Chowdasandra, [[Nelamangala]], [[Bangalore]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1992|10|02|1915|01|14}}
| death_place = [[Karnataka]], India
| othername =
| occupation = Actor, singer, producer, musician, stage artist
| parents =
| children = 7
| years_active = 1935–1992
}}
'''Honappa Bhagavatar''', also known as '''C. Honnappa Bhagavathar''' (born Honappa, 14 January 1915 – 2 October 1992, {{lang-kn|ಹೊನ್ನಪ್ಪ ಭಾಗವತರು}}, was an Indian theatre artist, film actor, producer, musician and singer.<ref name=autohonnappa>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2009/05/01/stories/2009050150401600.htm |title=Sri Murugan Movie 1944 |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-date=17 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717073034/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2009/05/01/stories/2009050150401600.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=2009-05-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was best known as a singer and as one of the pioneers of [[Kannada cinema]]. He was also active in [[Tamil cinema]]. His son Bharath Bhagavathar was also an actor who worked in Kannada films and serials.

==Early life==
He was born in 1915 at Chowdasandra, [[Nelamangala]] to Chikkalingappa and Kallamma. He weaved for a living. At age 5 he lost his father and grew up listening to his mother's [[Bhajan]]s and music. He moved to Bangalore for work, learn classical music, accidentally he met his guru Sambandha Murthy Bhagavathar (Hari katha vidwan in three south Indian languages & also classical musician) in a relative's marriage function and became his disciple for learning classical music. He first became a pupil of his relative Murthy, then a pupil of [[Pump organ|harmonium]] player Arunachalappa.

Honappa staged a play in Salem and at the same time [[M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar]], who was a rising star in Tamil cinema, recommended Honnappa to director [[Ellis R. Duncan]] for a supporting role in his film ''[[Ambikapathy (1937 film)|Ambikapathi]]''. Honnappa's play was a success and he was honoured with the title "Bhagavathar" and was from then on credited as Honnappa Bhagavathar.<ref name=honnappa13>[[:kn:ಹೊನ್ನಪ್ಪ ಭಾಗವತರ್|Honnappa Bhagavathar Kannada]]</ref>

==Career==
[[Image:HonnappaBhagavathar.JPG|thumb|left|Honnappa Bhagvathar in ''[[Mahakavi Kalidasa]]'' (1955)]]
Honnappa Bhagavathar acted in many [[Tamil language|Tamil]] films. Based now in Bangalore, Honnappa Bhagavathar replaced [[M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar]] in the 1946 movie ''[[Sri Murugan]]'', acting alongside [[MGR]]. Both Honnappa and [[U. R. Jeevarathinam|Jeevaratnam]] sang in the movie, with music scored by [[S. M. Subbaiah Naidu]].<ref name=autohonnappa /> Honnappa founded a production company named Lalithakaala Films. It produced films in Kannada and Tamil. In 1955, his film ''Mahakavi Kaalidasa'' was the first in the Kannada language. He produced ''[[Uzhavukkum Thozhilukkum Vandhanai Seivom]]'', a Tamil-language film that was released in 1959.

He made his Kannada acting debut in the movie ''Subadra''.<ref>[http://www.supergoodmovies.com/7225/sandalwood/fascinating-facts-of-kannada-film-history-news-details Fascinating Facts of Kannada Film Industry] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129054816/http://www.supergoodmovies.com/7225/sandalwood/fascinating-facts-of-kannada-film-history-news-details |date=29 November 2014 }}</ref> Honnappa is known for bringing actresses like [[B. Saroja Devi]] into the industry.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.supergoodmovies.com/8509/sandalwood/dr-b-saroja-devi-a-model-actress-exclusives-details |title=Saroja Devi Talks |access-date=31 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113060341/http://www.supergoodmovies.com/8509/sandalwood/dr-b-saroja-devi-a-model-actress-exclusives-details |archive-date=13 November 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the film ''Valmiki'', Honnappa replaced [[M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar]] as [[Valmiki]], the sinner-turned-sage. Honnappa became a star after [[M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar]]'s temporary exit, playing the lead role in many Tamil movies and later in Kannada. He played the bandit-turned-sage.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article69891.ece |title=Valmiki 1946 |access-date=31 October 2011 |archive-date=20 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020135949/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article69891.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1960, Bhagavathar started the music school "Nadabrahma Sangeetha Vidyalaya". He became a member of the Kannada Film Advisory Board and worked as a member of Karnataka Sangeeta Nruthya Academy.<ref name=honnappa13 />

==Partial filmography<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://movies.bolysite.com/actor/honnappa-bhagavathar.html |title=Honnappa Bhagavatar Filmography |access-date=29 October 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711070951/http://movies.bolysite.com/actor/honnappa-bhagavathar.html |archive-date=11 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jointscene.com/php/search-pagination-movie.php?search_by_artist=6159 |title=Honnappa Bhagavathar Filmography in Tamil |access-date=31 October 2011 |archive-date=2 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302230235/http://www.jointscene.com/php/search-pagination-movie.php?search_by_artist=6159 |url-status=live }}</ref>==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!No
!Film
!Year
!class="unsortable" | Director
!class="unsortable" | Language
!class="unsortable" | Co-star
!class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1
|''Krishnakumar''
|1941
|[[S. D. S. Yogi]]
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]
|T. S. Rajalakshmi
|Lead Actor
|-
|2
|''[[Subhadra (film)|Subhadra]]''
|1941
|[[P. Pullaiah]]
|[[Kannada language|Kannada]]
|[[Gubbi Veeranna]], J. Jayamma
|
|-
|3
|''Sathi Suganya''
|1942
|[[T. R. Sundaram]] & P. V. Chari
|Tamil
|[[T. R. Rajakumari]]
|Lead Actor
|-
|4
|''[[Arundhathi (1943 film)|Arundhathi]]''
|1943
|M. L. Tandan & [[T. R. Sundaram]]
|Tamil
|[[U. R. Jeevarathinam]]
|Lead Actor
|-
|5
|''Devakanya''
|1943
|[[R. Padmanaban]]
|Tamil
|[[U. R. Jeevarathinam]]
|Lead Actor
|-
|6
|''[[Prabhavathi]]''
|1944
|[[T. R. Raghunath]]
|Tamil
|[[T. R. Rajakumari]]
|Lead Actor
|-
|7
|''Rajarajeshwari''
|1944
|M. L. Tandon & [[T. R. Sundaram]]
|Tamil
|[[K. L. V. Vasantha]]
|Lead Actor
|-
|8
|''[[Burma Rani]]''
|1945
|[[T. R. Sundaram]]
|Tamil
|[[K. L. V. Vasantha]]
|
|-
|9
|''[[Hemareddy Mallamma]]''
|1945
|G. R. Rao & S. Soundararajan
|Kannada
|[[Gubbi Veeranna]], B. Jayamma
|
|-
|10
|''Bhakta Kalathi''
|1945
|[[R. Padmanaban]]
|Tamil
|[[K. Thavamani Devi]]
|Lead Actor
|-
|11
|''Subhathra''
|1946
|[[T. R. Sundaram]]
|Tamil
|[[K. L. V. Vasantha]]
|
|-
|12
|''[[Sri Murugan]]''
|1946
|M. Soma Sundaram & V. S. Narayanan
|Tamil
|[[MGR]] as support,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1468367/ |title=Sri Murugan IMdB |access-date=21 July 2018 |archive-date=10 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210213820/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1468367/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[U. R. Jeevarathinam]], K. Malathi
|Lead Actor
|-
|13
|''[[Valmiki (1946 film)|Valmiki]]''
|1946
|[[Sundar Rao Nadkarni|Sundarao Nadkarni]]
|Tamil
|[[U. R. Jeevarathinam]], [[N. C. Vasanthakokilam]], [[T. R. Rajakumari]]
|Lead Actor
|-
|14
|''Subathra''
|1946
|[[T. R. Sundaram]]
|Tamil
|K. L. V. Vasantha
|Lead Actor
|-
|15
|''Kundalakesi''
|1947
|Boman D. Irani
|Tamil
|[[N. C. Vasanthakokilam]]
|Lead Actor
|-
|16
|''[[Bhaktha Jana]]''
|1948
|[[P. Pullaiah]]
|Tamil
|[[Chittor V. Nagaiah]], [[P. Santha Kumari]]
|
|-
|17
|''[[Gokuladasi]]''
|1948
|[[K. Subramaniam]]
|Tamil
|[[M. V. Rajamma]]
|
|-
|18
|''[[Bhakta Kumbara (film)|Bhakta Kumbara]]''
|1948
|Boman D. Irani
|Kannada
|[[Pandaribai]]
|Lead Actor & Producer
|-
|19
|''Deva Manohari''
|1949
|A. T. Krishnaswamy
|Tamil
|[[Bhanumathi Ramakrishna|P. Bhanumathi]]
|Lead Actor
|-
|20
|''[[Gunasagari|Sathya Sodhanai]]''
|1953
|H. L. N. Simha
|Tamil
|[[Pandaribai]]
|Lead Actor
|-
|21
|''[[Gunasagari]]''
|1953
|H. L. N. Simha
|Kannada
|[[Pandaribai]]
|Lead Actor
|-
|22
|''[[Mahakavi Kalidasa]]''
|1955
|[[K. R. Seetharama Sastry]]
|Kannada
|[[B. Saroja Devi]] (Introduced)
|Actor, Producer & Music Director
|-
|23
|''[[Aashadaboothi]]''
|1955
|[[D. Shankar Singh]]
|Kannada
|[[B. Saroja Devi]]
|
|-
|24
|''[[Pancharathna]]''
|1956
|K. Vembu
|Kannada
|[[Udaya Kumar (actor)|Udaya Kumar]], T. N. Balakrishna
|Actor & Music Director
|-
|25
|''[[Jagajyothi Basveshwara]]''
|1959
|T. V. Singh Thagore
|Kannada
|[[Rajkumar (actor)|Rajkumar]], [[B. Saroja Devi]]
|
|-
|26
|''[[Uzhavukkum Thozhilukkum Vandhanai Seivom]]''
|1959
|[[M. A. Thirumugam]]
|Tamil
|[[Prem Nazir]], [[E. V. Saroja]]
|Producer, With [[M. Karunanidhi]] in a Role
|-
|27
|''[[Katari Veera]]''
|1966
|[[Y. R. Swamy]]
|Kannada
|[[Udaya Kumar (actor)|Udaya Kumar]]
|
|-
|28
|''Sadananda''
|1979
|Ananth Hiregowder
|Kannada
|
|Actor & Producer
|}

==Awards==
* ''[[Mahakavi Kalidasa]]'' and ''[[Jagajyothi Basveshwara]]'' received National Awards in 1955 and 1959 respectively.
* In 1956, the Madras Sina Pyans Associations awarded him 'Best Actor'.
* In 1976, he was conferred the title "Gana Kalabhushana".
* In 1978, Scholars of [[Mysore]] state conferred the title 'Gaanakalaa Gandharva' on him.
* In 1986, he was awarded the 'Rajyothsava Award'.<ref name=honnappa13 />
* In 1990, he was awarded the 'Sangeet Natak Academy Award' by the President of India.
* In 1991, the Center for Music Drama Academy awarded him for his contribution to music. Also awarded for his stage music in this year.

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|1201989}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090506215652/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2009/05/01/stories/2009050150401600.htm News Article]
* [https://archive.today/20130218033342/http://popcorn.oneindia.in/artist/19329/1/honnappa-bhagavathar.html Fan site]
* {{youtube|Tk8QytTQ_Fw|A documentary on the life of Honnappa Bhagavathar}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhagavatar, Honnappa}}
[[Category:Male actors in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Kannada film score composers]]
[[Category:Tamil film score composers]]
[[Category:Indian male stage actors]]
[[Category:Film producers from Bangalore]]
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:1997 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian composers]]
[[Category:Male actors from Bangalore]]
[[Category:Musicians from Bangalore]]
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]

Honnappa Bhagavathar - Revision history

Delinker at 12:35, 31 July 2023