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 plays. 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 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 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.
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. 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. 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 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.
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, 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. He served the IAF for over 20 years, before retiring as a 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.
As actor
Dattatreya began acting in plays in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and while studying engineering in college at UVCE. 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. 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.
Dattatreya's performances in Mouni (2003) won him a National Film Award – Special Jury Award at the 51st National Film Awards. 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. He was also awarded the Best Actor at the International Film Festival in Fiji in 2013.
Partial filmography Note: All films are in Kannada, unless otherwise noted.
Year Title RoleNotes1988 Udbhav Hindi film Aasphota 1989 Madhuri 1990 Santha Shishunala Sharifa Imam Sab1992 Mysore Mallige Harakeya Kuri Danappa 1993 Chinnari Mutha Daada 1994 Kotreshi Kanasu 1995 Lady Police 1996 Kraurya 1997 Ganga Yamuna Ulta Palta Police inspector America! America!! Srinivas1998 Andaman Lieutenant Governor Hoomale Santosh's uncle1999 Maha Edabidangi Chaithrada Chiguru Prema Prema Prema 2000 Thiladaanam SubbayyaTelugu film Munnudi Hasanabba 2001 Mussanje Seshanna Chandana Chiguru 2002 Atithi Doctor2003 Don Mouni 2004 Yahoo Haladi Nagappa's ghost Dharma Joke Falls Raghavendra Joshi2005 Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Beru Venkateshaiah Siddhu Siddu's teacher Rama Shama Bhama Rangaswamy2006 Thutturi Miss California Uppi Dada M.B.B.S. 2007 SMS 6260 Dattanna Masanada Makkalu Sathyavan Savithri Kaada Beladingalu Chandranna Atheetham 2008 Hani Hani 2009 Anu Maleyali Jotheyali Col. Thammayya Kurunadu Daatu 2010 Anishchitha Cheluveye Ninne Nodalu Gopala Gowda 2011 Johny Mera Naam Preethi Mera Kaam Priya's grandfather Bettada Jeeva Gopalaiah Allide Nammane Illi Bande Summane Paramathma Appanna 2012 Dashamukha 2013 Bharath Stores Govinda Shetty 2014 December-1 Chief Minister Matthe Satyagraha Bahaddur Baanaadi Kishore's grandfather Haggada Kone 2015 Male Nilluvavarege Endendigu Vidaaya 2016 Parapancha Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu Home Stay Jigarthanda Run Antony Santheyalli Nintha Kabira Happy Birthday Neer Dose Dattatreya Doddmane Hudga 2017 Srinivasa Kalyana Jilebi Prathima Raajakumara Mohammad Rafi Tab April Na Himabindu Srikanta Kempiruve Venkatesh Murthy Hombanna 2018 Churikatte Adi's grandfather Kannadakkaagi Ondannu Otti Double Engine Loudspeaker Amrutha Ghalige Ajja Ananthu vs Nusrath Zulfikar Ali Khan2019 Mission Mangal Ananth IyengarHindi film Premier Padmini Vinayak's neighbour Sarvajanikarige Suvarnavakasha Devraj Brahmachari Dr. Ramdev 2020 Act 1978 Venkatachalaiah 2021 [email protected] Rider Principal Nan Hesaru Kishora Yel Pass Yentu 2022 Four Walls & Two Nighties Mavayya Selfie Mummy Googl Daddy Totapuri: Chapter 1 Imaam Saheb2023 Raghavendra Stores Gunda Bhat Jersey Number 10 Totapuri: Chapter 2 Bad Manners 2024 My Hero Murphy Richard Yathabhava2026 Elra Kaaleliyatte Kaala
Web series 2018 - Joshelay
Awards and nominations 1987–88: Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor: Aasphota 2000 : National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor: Munnudi 2000: Film Fans Association Award for Best Supporting Actor: Munnudi 2000–01: Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor : Munnudi 2003 : National Film Award – Special Jury Award: Mouni 2011: Nominated : Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kannada: Bettada Jeeva 2012 : 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
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