Sugurappa Doddanna (born 11 November 1949) is an Indian actor in the Kannada film industry and former politician. As an actor, he has appeared in more than 800 films. He started his career as a theatre actor. During this time, he entered the Kannada film industry as a character actor. Doddanna became noted for playing comedic characters.
Early life Doddanna was born on 11 November 1949 in Arasikere, a town in the Hassan district of the erstwhile Mysore State (now Karnataka), to Nanjamma and Sugurappa. The youngest son in the family, Doddanna belongs to the Lingayat community. He was named after his grandfather, Kadle Doddappa. Doddanna spent his formative years in Santhepete near Arasikere. He completed his middle school and high school in Arasikere. He had two older brothers: Basavaraj and Rachanna.
Career Doddanna's career as an actor took off after he appeared as a girl in a play titled Civil Marriage. He soon joined the Vighneshwara Kala Sangha, an amateur theatre group based in the Hassan district, alongwith his brothers. He recalled, "We performed across the state and acted in some of the finest plays. This gave me confidence and strengthened my resolve to become an actor." In 1968, he joined the Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant (VISL), then named Mysore Iron Works, as a welder. With his friends there, he formed the Gandharva Ranga, a theatre group, that regularly travelled to watch plays directed by B. V. Karanth, Girish Karnad and Chandrashekhara Kambara. During this time, he was offered his first film role by director S. Siddalingaiah in Koodi Balidare Swarga Sukha (1981). However, he continued with the VISL till 1988.
Doddanna would go on to portray negative-shaded characters, politicians, policemen and other character archetypes throughout the 1980s and the following decades. He also became noted for playing comedic roles. He appeared in films such as Ajeya (1985), Sangliyana (1988), Anjada Gandu (1988), Shiva Mecchida Kannappa (1988) and C.B.I. Shankar (1989). His role as the grandfather of Malashri's character in Belli Modagalu (1992) received praise. Doddanna also appeared in Tamil films such as Jai (2004) and Ainthaam Padai (2009).
As politician Doddanna joined the Janata Party in 2004, ahead of the general election. He contested to the Lok Sabha from Shimoga, and eventually lost of Sarekoppa Bangarappa. He later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, and subsequently its breakaway faction Karnataka Janata Paksha, in 2012. However, he was denied ticket to contest the 2013 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election from Turuvekere.
Partial filmography Films All films are in Kannada unless otherwise noted. + List of Doddanna Kannada film credits Year Title Role Notes 1981 Koodi Balidare Swarga Sukha Yediyuru Siddhalingeshwara1982Parajitha1983Kranthiyogi BasavannaMaduvarasa1984Onde RakthaKaliyugaHuli Hejje1985Veeradhi VeeraThayiya HoneMavano AliyanoThayi KanasuPapannaMasanada Hoovu Ajeya Bi-lingual film (Kannada, Tamil)1986Ratha SapthamiSrikantaiahPrema Gange Namma Oora Devathe 1987Shruthi SeridaagaDr. Jeena DasSangramaOndu Muttina KathePhysicianNyayakke ShiksheKarunamayiKurukshetra1988 Shiva Mecchida Kannappa Doddayya Sangliyana Kalle Gowda Sambhavami Yuge YugeRanadheeraLawyerNava BharathaMatru Devo Bhava Maha Dasohi Sharana Basava Jana NayakaNugeerappaDharma PathniDaadaBrahma Vishnu Maheshwara Anjada Gandu Gopala 1989 Deva Anjana Gandu Thayigobba Tharle Maga RudraRaja YuvarajaPoli HudugaParashuramM. K. NayakNarasimhaRudrappaKindari JogiJockeyIndrajithIdu SaadhyaConstable SannamaniHrudaya GeetheHongkongnalli Agent AmarGajapathi Garvabhanga C.B.I. Shankar SI Galappa Doddamani Avane Nanna GandaParandhamaiah's son Adrushta Rekhe 1990Nambidre Nambi Bitre BidiSwarna SamsaraJudgeCameo appearanceShivashankarYogiRudra Thandava Rani Maharani RanabheriRamarajyadalli RakshasaruKalinga Rao Prathap Bhairava Poli KittyNigooda RahasyaNenne Nanna JeevaMathe Hadilu KotheChallenge GopalakrishnaBhale ChathuraSantosh's fatherBaare Nanna Muddina Rani Ashoka Chakra Home Minister Ranganath AbhimanyuAaveshaCI S. Mrutyunjaya Thrinethra Rajendra Prasad 1991Sathya SandeshaShivayogi AkkamahadeviVaralaga BeteSundara KandaSri Nanjudeshwara MahimeSP BhairaviShivarajShanti KrantiRollcall RamakrishnaSripathiReadymade Ganda Shivanaga Ranachandi Ramachaari Astrologer Guest Appearance Nanagoo Hendthi BekuKollur RajaKitturina HuliKaliyuga BheemaKalla MallaKadanaHosamane Aliya Hatyakanda Gandanige Takka HendatiElukoti Marthanda BhairaviCentral RowdyAranyadalli AbhimanyuAnantha Rakshaka Putta Hendthi 1992VajrayudhaBharjari GanduPrajegalu Prabhugalu Kranti Gandhi Belli Kalungura Solillada Saradara Diwan ShivanagaShakthi YukthiPutta HendthiPolice LockupPolice FileObbaringintha Obbaru Mysore Jaana Hanumanthappa GharshaneChithralekha Belli Modagalu Belli Kalungura Aatma Bandahna Alli Ramachari Illi Brahmachari 1993 Navibbaru Namagibbaru Muddina MaavaMidida Hrudayagalu Kollura Sri Mookambika Kempaiah IPS Kalyana Rekhe Jailor Jagannath Halappa Bhimappa Bellulli Gadibidi Ganda Mohana's father Bombat Huduga Alimayya Karulina Koogu 1994 Yarigu Helbedi Doddanna Vijaya Kankana Police commissioner Chakravarthy Mutthanna Makkala Sakshi Lockup Death Lawyer Kapinipathi Karulina KooduIndrana Gedda NarendraHongiranaHettha KaruluHalunda TavaruGopi Kalyana Gold Medal Bhatti Bhaira CurfewBhairavaApoorva Samsara 1995 Mojugara Sogasugara Chiranjeevi Rajegowda Gadibidi Aliya 1996 Appaji Home Minister Thavarina Thottilu Thimmayya Shiva Sainya Mallayya Hetthavaru Urlinganna Circle Inspector Doddaiah Jeevanadhi Ravishankar Shastry Aadithya Yeluru Venkata Ramana 1997 Ganga Yamuna Bhanda Alla Bahadur Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda Shankarappa 1998 Yaare Neenu Cheluve Megha Bantu Megha Hello Yama Yama Also playback singer Preethsod Thappa Puttaswamy 1999 Bombat Halva Chandrodaya Sunil Kumar's boss Naanu Nanna Hendthiru Sriram's father Tuvvi Tuvvi Tuvvi Aaha Nanna Maduveyanthe Lakshmipathi Suryavamsha Dodda Kanakamurthy's uncle 2000 Galate Aliyandru Nan Hendthi Chennagidale Man on donkey Cameo appearance Dandanayaka Kadlimatti Station Master Ticket Tickets Doddanna 2001 Halappa Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu Veerappa Kanasugara Premakke Sai Kalla Police Halu Sakkare Govindaiah 2002 Sri Krishna Sandhana Neela Megha Shyama Doddarasikere Doddanna Jamindaarru Dakota Express Ugranarasimha Kambalahalli Super Police Thavarige Baa Thangi Doddanna 2003 Laali Haadu Pakka Chukka Meena's father Neenandre Ishta Vishwa's brother-in-law Bangalore Bundh Mane Magalu Kasu Iddone Basu Raktha Kanneeru Chandra Chakori Gajendrappa Love Passagali Chikkanna Ondagona Baa Re Swalpa Bartheera 2004 Jai College principal Tamil film Rowdy Aliya Malini Devi's brother Hasige Iddashtu Kalu Chachu Durgi Rama Krishna Shankrappa Maurya Broker Trin Trin Mahadevaiah 2005 Maharaja Naganna Vishnu Sena Gangadharaiah Gowramma Shankaranna Auto Shankar Nanna Love Madthiya Anna Thangi Doddanna Sakha Sakhi 2006 Shri Constable Mata Yama Cameo appearance Gopi Hatavadi Sevanthi Sevanthi Ajay Home Minister Thavarina Siri Gandugali Kumara Rama Aishwarya Srikanthe Gowda Sirivantha Kondaiah Ravi Shastri Savira Mettilu Tenali RamaDevi 2007 Thayiya Madilu Pallakki Vishwanath Amrutha Vaani Sneha Parva Snehana Preetina Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige Kaala 2008MandakiniGanesha Matthe BandaNee Tata Naa Birla Kaamannana Makkalu Kaamanna Akasha Gange Bandhu Balaga Devanna Jnana Jyothi Sri Siddaganga2009 Chickpete Sachagalu Veera Madakari Home Minister Chellidaru Sampigeya Ainthaam Padai Dhanushkodi Tamil film Bhagyada Balegaara Rajani Pandu Male Bille Raam Dodda Mallayya 2010 Krishna Nee Late Aagi Baaro Bombat Car Priya's grandfather Tharangini Mr. Theertha Theertha's maternal uncle Preethi Andre Ishtena 2011 Rama Rama Raghurama Uyyale Sanju Weds Geetha Prison guard Hori 90 Sogasugara Maryade Ramanna 2012 Tsunami Bheema Theeradalli Chandappa Katari Veera Surasundarangi Chitragupta Dandupalya Advocate Bhat Modala Minchu Gokula Krishna Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Venkata Rao Dakota Picture Lachchanna 2013 Brindavana 2014 Agraja Savaari 2 Panganama Gowda Power Mallesh Super Ranga Minister Neenade Naa 2015 Shivam Goolihatti Doddanna 2016 Kathe Chitrakathe Nirdeshana Puttanna Film producer CBI Sathya Sa 2018 Kanoorayana Aatagadharaa Siva Jangayya Telugu film Ambi Ning Vayassaytho Guest appearance 2019 Kaddu Mucchi 2021 Rajatantra Home minister Kotigobba 3 Police officer Cameo 2024 Karataka Damanaka Villager Santhosha Sangeetha 2026 Raktha Kashmira Urabba
Television + List of Doddanna television credits Year Title Role Notes 2016 Weekend with Ramesh Guest 2017 Bharjari Comedy Judge 2021 Raja Rani Guest Finale episode 2022 Bombat Bhojana Guest 2022–2024 Kendasampige Keshav Prasad
Awards
Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor - 1998-99 Winner for Tuvvi Tuvvi Tuvvi South Indian International Movie Awards - 2012 Nominated—SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Katari Veera Surasundarangi Filmfare Awards South - 2019 Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu for Aatagadharaa Siva 6th Arsikere Taluk Kannada Sahithya Sammelana President - 2016
References
External links