Sahaya Sheelan Shadrach (born 24 March 1966), known by his stage name Sadhu Kokila, is an Indian comedian, musician, actor, film director, producer, occasional screenwriter and lyricist who works in Kannada cinema. He began his career as a composer before taking to acting in films, appearing mostly in comic roles. He has directed ten Kannada films, the most notable one being Raktha Kanneeru (2003).
As a composer, he is a two-time recipient of the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director, for Rakshasa (2005) and Inthi Ninna Preethiya (2008). As an actor, he has received multiple nominations and awards in the category of Best Comedian in the SIIMA Awards.
Early life and career Sadhu Kokila was born as Sahaya Sheelan on 24 March 1966 into a Tamil Nadar Christian family of Natesh and Mangala in Bangalore in the Indian State of Mysore (now Karnataka). He was born to a family of musicians; his father was a violinist in the music band of Karnataka Police Department, while his mother and sister were playback singers. Sadhu Kokila's brother Layendra is also an actor and music director. Kokila studied in St. Joseph's Indian High School, Bangalore. He was given the stage name Sadhu Kokila by Upendra, the director of Sheelan's debut film Shhh!.
Kokila began his career as a musician after he was taken to musician Kasturi Shankar by his brother.
Personal life Kokila married Saleena in 1993. They have two children.
Filmography
Kannada films Year Film Role Notes1993Shhh! "Kung Fu" Kannan Cameo appearance1995 Om Shankar Operation Antha Drummer 1996 Shreemathi Kalyana Anuraga Spandana 1997O Mallige MustafaNee Mudida Mallige Jackie Chan Ganga Yamuna Central Jail 1998 Sorry Hello YamaChitraguptaYamalokadalli Veerappan Yaare Neenu Cheluve Goonda Matthu Police 1999Tarikere Erimele A. K. 47 Sadhu Bombat Halva Channappa Channegowda Singlike Gowda Mr. X Khalanayaka Aaha 2000Kiladi Ekangi Thief Ticket Tickets Thimmaraya Preethsu Thappenilla O Nanna Nalle Mundaithe Oora Habba Jee Boomba 2001Vaalee Vicky Jipuna Nanna Ganda Vikram Usire Rusthum Rashtrageethe Premakke Sai Maduve Aagona Baa Jodi Bava Bamaida 2002Law and Order Mutthu Kodanda Rama Chandu Thimma Prema Khaidi Nagarahavu Vishwanath Sharma Ninne Preethisuve Dhruva Dhumm Naanu Naane Thavarige Baa Thangi 2003Laali Haadu Thippeswamy Neenandre Ishta Mandi Neenilde Nanu Illa Kane Gopi Raktha Kanneeru Kantha's uncle Also directorMani Thayi Illada Thabbali Mane Magalu Gokarna Kiccha Nanhendthi Maduve 2004Rowdy Aliya SP Jayasimha Saagari Y2K Mellusire Savigaana Rama Krishna RangannaMaurya Kalasipalya Jacky Santhosha Doctor Kanchana Ganga Omkara Durgi Nimma Preethiya Huduga 2005Anna Thangi "Chimpanzee" Gowramma A photographer Rakshasa Also directorNammanna Journalist Sakha Sakhi Swamy Auto Shankar Thunta Ayya 2006Mandya SubramanyaHubballi Aishwarya SP Menshina Koy Suntaragaali "Machine" Raja "MBBS" Also directorMata Film DirectorNeelakanta Nage Habba Odahuttidavalu Jackpot Thavarina Siri 2007 Parodi Sixer Anatharu Film director Also director, screenwriter and composerAmrutha Vaani Snehana Preethina Hetthare Hennanne Herabeku Prarambha Ugadi Masti 2008Meravanige Mast Maja Maadi Bond DK Kaamannana Makkalu Huliraya PUC Nee Tata Naa Birla Sangama Paramesha Panwala Kodagana Koli Nungittha Arjun 2009Lift Kodla Bogananda Swamy Devaru Kotta Thangi Tabbali Dubai Babu Raam SantoshVayuputra Savaari Male Barali Manju Irali Devru Rajani Bhagyada Balegaara Seena Hatrick Hodi Maga Kannadada Kiran Bedi Yodha Circus 2010Porki Sadhu Preethiya Theru Deadly-2 Prithvi Tirupathi Kari Chirathe Shourya Jimson Mr. Theertha Also directorHoo Aithalakkadi Hendtheer Darbar Zamana Aithalakkadi Veera Ullasa Utsaha Jothegara O Manase Hara Super Chaddi brother Huduga Hudugi Thipparalli Tharlegalu 2011 Olave Mandara Kannadiga in Gara Kool: Sakkath Hot Maga Sadhu Nanda Johny Mera Naam Preethi Mera Kaam Dr. Halappa Manasology Aata Football coach Achchu Mechchu Shakthi Sogasugara Bodyguard Kalla Malla Sulla 90 Police Story 3 Also directorHudugaru Murali Meets Meera Sanju Weds Geetha Rama Rama Raghurama Aaptha Kanteerava 2012 Ko Ko Toofan Romeo Pandu Breaking News Roland Richard Louis Jaanu Mr. 420 SI Kashinath Lucky Sadhu Snehitaru Gokula Krishna Yaare Koogadali Shishupala SIIMA Award for Best Comedian (Kannada) Samsaradalli Golmal Rambo Modala Minchu Lady Boss Narasimha Parijatha 2013 Victory Sadhu Gowda Bhajarangi Dilwala Googly Musthafa Nominated, SIIMA Award for Best Comedian Sweety Nanna Jodi Loosegalu Auto Raja Myna Beggar in train Chandra Andy Roberts Bilingual film Ninnindale Lucky Election Bachchan Jewellery store staff Aane Pataaki Chinnadappa Madarangi Devarane Bangari Khatarnak Chaddi Dosth Khadim Shravani Subramanya Govinda Agamya Ambara Brindavana Silk Sakkath Hot Bidalare Endu Ninna Nam Duniya Nam Style Bulbul Chathrigalu Saar Chathrigalu Parari 2014 Maanikya Veeraprathapa Simha Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari Manche Gowda IIFA Award for Best Comedian (Kannada)Nominated, SIIMA Award for Best Comedian (Kannada) Chandralekha Brahma Sadhu Gajakesari Chuncha Drishya restaurant customer Cameo appearance Love Is Poison Power Kidney Kamangi Savaari 2 Tirupathi Express Indrajala Nanu Hemanth Avalu Sevanthi Ambareesha Namaste Madam Super Ranga Also directorParamashiva Panganama Rose Jai Lalitha Agraja Rangan Style Love Show Saval Kalyanamasthu Navarangi Nage Bomb 2015 Ond Chance Kodi Mythri Ranna Bhaskar Buguri Linga Aatagara Sadhu Maharaj Mr. Airavata Bahubali 1st Rank Raju Shani Kapoor Cigarette Rathaavara Ramleela Vamshodharaka Mana Mecchida Bangaru Ganga 7 (Seven) A 2nd Hand Lover Luv U Alia RX Soori Male Bullet Basya Vajrakaya Mrugashira Rebel KRishna Raja Rajendra Siddhartha Khushi Khushiyagi 2016 Kathe Chitrakathe Nirdeshana Puttanna Maduveya Mamatheya Kareyole Mast Mohabbat Viraat Shivalinga Bill Gates Bhale Jodi Gautham (drunkard software engineer) Also director, composerU the End A Supari Surya Jai Maruthi 800 KalberkeChakravyuha Sadhu Style King Sadhu Brahma Vishnu Maheshwara Jaggu Dada Sorcerer Jigarthanda Acting teacher Lakshmana Zoom M. Janakiram "MJ" Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – KannadaBhujanga Deal Raja Kotigobba 2 Bus passenger Bilingual film Crazy Boy Drama teacher Happy Birthday Mungaru Male 2 Nandini's uncle Nominated, SIIMA Award for Best ComedianMandya to Mumbai Sundaranga Jaana Naanu Mattu Varalakshmi Nagarahavu Jaguar Golisoda Apoorva Kala Bhairava Jessie Ricky 2017 Lee Hai Raajakumara Anthony Gonsales Real Police Bangara s/o Bangarada Manushya Dandupalya 2 Bharjari Loveguru Chamak Mahanubhavaru Mufti Model Upendra Matte Baa Atmananda 2018 Kanaka Sanjeeva Preethiya Raayabhari O Premave Johnny Johnny Yes Papa Dr. Halappa Huccha 2 Seizer Double Engine Ayogya Bhairathi Gundkal Snehave Preethi Victory 2 Sadhu Gowda Nominated—SIIMA Award for Best Comedian – Kannada Sur Sur Batthi Thayige Thakka Maga Trainer of camp Tharakasura Looty Orange Kodanda 2019 Amar Amar's uncle Anushka Inspector Ajith Kumar IPS Natasaarvabhowma Namadev Yajamana Captain SIIMA Award For Best Comedian – Kannada Londonalli Lambodhara Sadhu Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya Gara Adyaksha in America Jimmy Carter Bharaate Radha's uncle Mane MaratakkideRaghava2020Mayabazar 2016Pataki Pandu Drona2021 Yuvarathnaa Dr. Kokila Raman Ranam Mugilpete Sakath Sadhu Drishya 2 Dubai returned man Arjun Gowda2022 James Santhosh's assistant Home Minister Trikona Mata Triple Riding Garuda 2023 Love Birds Kranti Kranti's aide Sreemanta 2024 Just Pass Night Curfew Sadhu Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi Karki Nanu BA, LLB UI Joker 2025 Flirt Mafia Ugra Prathap
Other language films Years Film Role Language Notes 2001Raa 'Triple X' Ranjith Kumar, Sridhar's friend Telugu Dual role 2014 Chandra Andy Roberts Tamil Bilingual films 2016 Mudinja Ivana Pudi Bus passenger 2023 Kick Judge Golmaal
As director Years Film Notes 2003 Raktha Kanneeru 2005 Rakshasa 2006 Suntaragaali 2007 Anatharu 2008 Gange Baare Thunge Baare 2009 Devru 2010 Mr. Theertha Shourya 2011 Police Story 3 Co-director 2014 Super Ranga 2016 Bhale Jodi
Discography As composer Year Film Notes 1993 Shhh! 1994 Curfew Asha Jyoti Gandugali 1995 Mangalya Sakshi Savyasachi Ohhoo Mother India Priya O... Priya Bal Nan Maga Betegara Aata Hudugata Thavaru Beegaru Nighatha Nishchithartha Kavya Shiva Emergency 1996 Ibbara Naduve Muddina Aata Gajanura Gandu DhaniShrimathi KalyanaSimhadri 1997 DhairyaJackie Chan 1998 Hello Yama Karnataka Police Yamalokadalli Veerappan 1999 No 1 2000 Ticket Tickets Kiladi Swalpa Adjust Madkolli 2001 Jipuna Nanna Ganda 2002 Majestic H2O Kitty 2003 Laali Haadu Raktha Kanneeru Daasa 2004 Rowdy Aliya Guest composer Darshan Y2K 2005 Rakshasa Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director Masala Deadly Soma Sakha Sakhi 2006 Suntaragaali Thangigagi 2008 Inthi Ninna Preethiya Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director 2009 Devru Jaaji Mallige 2010 Aithalakkadi Hendtheer Darbar Shourya 2011 Aata Sanju Weds Geetha Background score only Police Story 3 Background score only 2012 Edegarike Also playback singer for song "Neenondu Mugiyada Mouna"Udaya Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer 2013 Myna Background score only Tony Khatarnak 2015 Rathavara 2016 Bhale Jodi Golisoda Background score only Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu Masti Gudi 2017 Uppi Rupee 2018 Rajasimha Background score only
Awards and nominations Karnataka State Film Awards 2004–05: Best Music Director: Rakshasa 2007–08: Best Music Director: Inthi Ninna Preethiya
South Indian International Movie Awards 2011: Best Comedian: Hudugaru 2012: Best Comedian: Yaare Koogadali
IIFA Utsavam 2016: Best Performance In A Comic Role: Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari
South Indian International Movie Awards 2019: Best Comedian: Yajamana
References
External links
Personal website