Sampath Kumar (18 September 1950 – 30 December 2009) popularly known as Dr. Vishnuvardhan (Kannada: ಡಾ. ವಿಷ್ಣುವರ್ಧನ್), was a prominent Indian film actor. He was more than just an actor in Karnataka and was called The Phoenix of Indian Cinema and The angry young man of Kannada cinema. He has acted in Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil films. He acted in over 220 movies in total that includes 200 Kannada movies, 5 Hindi movies, 5 Telugu movies, 3 Malayalam movies and 6 Tamil movies. He had acquired the demi-god status and was worshiped by the audience and has huge fan following.
He was very instrumental in shaping the Kannada identity. He adopted the name Vishnuvardhan at the insistence of Puttanna Kanagal, who directed his maiden film, Naagarahaavu that gave him the recognition of the 'angry young man of Kannada cinema'. He proved to be extremely versatile by playing variety of roles, be it the character of an Action Star or The Romantic Hero, Comedy roles or the serious ones, name it and he has done it all. He could handle all the roles with great ease. He was a Martial Art expert and in an interview to The Hindu, he had said that it was the era of Bruce Lee and it was only Kamal Haasan and himself who had learnt Martial Arts in his generation.
A poll conducted in Karnataka by the very popular English News Channel CNN-IBN in 2008 revealed that 'Dr.Vishnuvardhan was the most popular star, the Kannada Film Industry has ever seen' and this was in the 36th year of Vishnu's career in the industry which proved that he rubbed shoulders with the new generation actors and still was considered as an actor who had no competition whatsoever. The poll also revealed that Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi and Mohanlal were the most popular stars of the Tamil, Telugu and the Malayalam film industries respectively.
| No. | Movie | Director | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Vamshavraksha | Girish Karnad | 1972 |
| 2. | Nagarahavu | Puttannn Kanagal | 1972 |
| 3. | Seethe Alla Savithri | Jayalakshmi | 1973 |
| 4. | Mane Belagida Sose | Shrikanth | 1973 |
| 5. | Gandhada Gudi | Vijay | 1973 |
| 6. | Bhoothayana Maga Ayyu | Siddalingaiah | 1974 |
| 7. | Professor HucchuRaya | A.R.Vittal | 1974 |
| 8. | Anna Athige | A.R.Vittal | 1974 |
| 9. | Devaragudi | R.Ramamurthy | 1975 |
| 10. | Koodi Balona | A.R.Vittal | 1975 |
| 11. | Kalla Kulla | K.S.R.Das | 1975 |
| 12. | Bhagya Jyothi | K.S.L.Swamy | 1975 |
| 13. | Nagakanye | S.V.Rajendrasingh Babu | 1975 |
| 14. | Onde Roop Eradu Guna | A.M.Samiullah | 1975 |
| 15. | Devaru Kotta Vara | R.Ramamurthy | 1976 |
| 16. | Hosilu Mettida Hennu | V.T.Thyagarajan | 1976 |
| 17. | Makkala Bhagya | K.S.L.Swamy | 1976 |
| 18. | Bhangarada Gudi | K.S.R.Das | 1976 |
| 19. | Bhayasade Bhanda Bhagya | R.Ramamurthy | 1977 |
| 20. | Sose Thanda Soubhagya | A.V.Sheshgiri Rao | 1977 |
| 21. | Nagarahole | S.V.Rajendrasingh Babu | 1977 |
| 22. | Chinna Ninna Muddaduve | A.M.Samiullah | 1977 |
| 23. | Shrimanthana Magalu | A.V.Sheshgiri Rao | 1977 |
| 24 | Sahodara Savaal | K.S.R.Das | 1977 |
| 25. | Shani Prabhava | Rathnakar-Madhu | 1977 |
| 26. | Galate Samsara | C.V.Rajendran | 1977 |
| 27. | Kittu Puttu | C.V.Rajendran | 1977 |
| 28. | Hombisilyu | Geetapriya | 1978 |
| 29. | Sandharbha | Gaurisundar | 1978 |
| 30. | Kiladi Kittu | S.V.Rajendrasingh Babu | 1978 |
| 31. | Vamshajyothi | A.Bhimsingh | 1978 |
| 32. | Muie Ge Muie | Y.R.Swamy | 1978 |
| 33. | Siritanakke Savaal | T.R.Ramanna | 1978 |
| 34. | Prathima | T.R.Ramanna | 1978 |
| 35. | Nanna Prayaschita | Ugranarasimha | 1978 |
| 36. | Sneha Sedu | V.Madhusudhan Rao | 1978 |
| 37. | Kiladi Jodi | S.V.Rajendrasingh Babu | 1978 |
| 38. | Vasanth Lakshmi | A.V.Sheshgiri Rao | 1978 |
| 39. | Amarnath | Manimurugan | 1978 |
| 40. | Bhale Huduga | T.R.Ramanna | 1978 |
| 41. | Madhura Sangama | T.P.Venugopal | 1978 |
| 42. | Singaporalli Raja Kulla | C.V.Rajendran | 1978 |
| 43. | Asadhya Aliya | Bhargava | 1979 |
| 44. | Vijay Vikram | V.Somashekar | 1979 |
| 45. | Naniruvude Ninagagi | A.V.Sheshgiri Rao | 1979 |
| 46. | Manini | K.S.Sethumanadhavan | 1979 |
| 47. | Nentaro Gantu Kallaro | A.V.Sheshgiri Rao | 1979 |
| 48. | Nanna Rosha Nooru Varusha | Joesimon | 1980 |
| 49. | Rama Parushurama | Vijay | 1980 |
| 50. | Kalinga | V.Somashekar | 1980 |
| 51. | Hanthakana Sanchu | B.Kishan | 1980 |
| 52. | Makkala Sainya | Lakshmi | 1980 |
| 53. | Biligiriya Banadalli | Siddalingaiah | 1980 |
| 54. | Simhajodi | Joesimon | 1980 |
| 55. | Rahasya Rathri | M.S.Kumar | 1980 |
| 56. | Bhangaradha Jinke | Nagabharana | 1980 |
| 57. | Driver Hanumanthu | K.S.L.Swamy | 1980 |
| 58. | Mane Mane Kathe | Rajachandra | 1981 |
| 59. | Naaga kala Bhairava | Tiptur Raghu | 1981 |
| 60. | Mahaprachandaru | Joesimon | 1981 |
| 61. | Guru Sishyaru | Bhargava | 1981 |
| 62. | Snehitara Savaal | K.S.R.Das | 1981 |
| 63. | Avala Hejje | Bhargava | 1981 |
| 64. | Preetisi Nodu | Geetapriya | 1981 |
| 65. | Pedda Gedda | Bhargava | 1982 |
| 66. | Sahasa Simha | Joesimon | 1982 |
| 67. | Karmika kallanalla | K.S.R.Das | 1982 |
| 68. | Oorige Upakari | Joesimon | 1982 |
| 69. | Jimmi Gallu | K.S.L.Swamy | 1982 |
| 70. | Suvarna Sethuve | Geetapriya | 1982 |
| 71. | Onde Guri | Bhargava | 1982 |
| 72. | Kallu Veene Nudiyithu | Tiptur Raghu | 1982 |
| 73. | Sididedda Sahodara | Joesimon | 1983 |
| 74. | Muthaide Bhagya | Chandrashekar Sharma | 1983 |
| 75. | Gandharva Giri | Dhananjaya | 1983 |
| 76. | Gandugali Rama | Bhargava | 1983 |
| 77. | Chinnadantha Maga | K.S.R.Das | 1983 |
| 78. | Simha Garjane | S.V.Chandrashekar | 1983 |
| 79. | Prachanda Kulla | P.S.Prakash | 1983 |
| 80. | Rudranaga | Manimurugan | 1984 |
| 81. | Khaidi | K.S.R.Das | 1984 |
| 82. | Benki Birugali | Tiptur Raghu | 1984 |
| 83. | Indina Ramayana | Rajachandra | 1984 |
| 84. | Bhandana | S.V.Rajendrasingh Babu | 1984 |
| 85. | Huli Hejje | K.S.L.Swamy | 1984 |
| 86. | Chanakya | V.Somashekar | 1984 |
| 87. | Aaradhane | Deepakjalraj | 1984 |
| 88. | Madhuve Madu Tamashe Nodu | Sathya | 1984 |
| 89. | karthavya | K.S.R.Das | 1985 |
| 90. | Mahapurusha | Joesimon | 1985 |
| 91. | Veeradhi Veera | Vijay | 1985 |
| 92. | Nee Bareda Kadambari | Dwarkish | 1985 |
| 93. | Mareyada Manikya | Vijay | 1985 |
| 94. | Nanna Prathigne | K.S.R.Das | 1985 |
| 95. | Jeevana Chakra | Bhargava | 1982 |
| 96. | Nee Thanda Kanike | Dwarkish | 1985 |
| 97. | Karna | Bhargava | 1986 |
| 98. | Kathanayaka | P.Vasu | 1986 |
| 99. | EE Jeeva Ninagagi | V.Somashekar | 1986 |
| 100. | Sathya Jyothi | K.Rangarajan | 1986 |
| 101. | Krishna Nee Begane Baro | Bhargava | 1986 |
| 102. | Malyamarutha | Ravi | 1986 |
| 103. | Premaloka | Ravichandran | 1987 |
| 104. | Saubhagyalakshmi | Bhargava | 1987 |
| 105. | Karunamayi | Bhargava | 1987 |
| 106. | Jayasimha | P.Vasu | 1987 |
| 107. | Aaseya Bhale | Rajkishore | 1987 |
| 108. | Jeevana Jyothi | P.Vasu | 1987 |
| 109. | Shubhamilana | Bhargava | 1987 |
| 110. | Sathyam Shivam Sundaram | K.S.R.Das | 1987 |
| 111. | December31 | Manobala | 1988 |
| 112. | Olavina Aasare | K.V.Jayaram | 1988 |
| 113. | Nammora Raja | Bhargava | 1988 |
| 114. | Jananayaka | Bhargava | 1988 |
| 115. | Suprabhatha | Dinesh Babu | 1988 |
| 116. | Krishna Rukmini | Bhargava | 1988 |
| 117. | Dada | P.Vasu | 1988 |
| 118. | Mithileya Seetheyaru | K.S.L.Swamy | 1988 |
| 119. | Ondhagi Bhaalu | K.S.R.Das | 1989 |
| 120. | Hrudhaya Geethe | Bhargava | 1989 |
| 121. | Rudra | K.S.R.Das | 1989 |
| 122. | Deva | Vijay | 1989 |
| 123. | Doctor Krishna | Paniramachandra | 1989 |
| 124. | ShivaShankar | Bhargava | 1990 |
| 125. | Mutthina Hara | S.V.RajendraSingh Babu | 1990 |
| 126. | Mathe Hadithu Kogile | Bhargava | 1990 |
| 127. | Lion Jagapathirao | Saiprakash | 1991 |
| 128. | Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare | Dhore-Bhagwan | 1991 |
| 129. | Jagadeka Veera | Bhargava | 1991 |
| 130. | Police Mathu Dada | Thulsi-Shyam | 1991 |
| 131. | Rajadhi Raja | Bhargava | 1992 |
| 132. | Ravivarma | Joesimon | 1992 |
| 133. | Harikeya Kuri | K.S.L.Swamy | 1992 |
| 134. | Nanna Shatru | Bhargava | 1992 |
| 135. | Sangarsha | Sunil Kumar Desai | 1993 |
| 136. | Vyshakada Dinagalu | Katte Ramachandra | 1993 |
| 137. | Naanendu Nimmavane | Paniramachandra | 1993 |
| 138. | Rayaru Bhandaru Mavana Manege | Dwarkish | 1993 |
| 139. | Vishnu Vijaya | Keshu | 1993 |
| 140. | ManiKantana Mahime | K.Shankar | 1993 |
| 141. | Nishkarsha | Sunilkumar Desai | 1994 |
| 142. | Time Bomb | Joesimon | 1994 |
| 143. | Kunthi Putra | Vijay | 1994 |
| 144. | Samrat | Naganna | 1994 |
| 145. | Mahakshatriya | S.V.RajendraSingh Babu | 1994 |
| 146. | Halunda Thavaru | D.RajendraBabu | 1995 |
| 147. | Kiladigalu | Dwarkish | 1995 |
| 148. | Kona Edaithe | Bharavi | 1995 |
| 149. | Yamakinkara | Prabahakar | 1995 |
| 150. | Mojugara Sogusugara | Vijay | 1996 |
| 151. | Deerga Sumangali | D.RajendraBabu | 1995 |
| 152. | Bangarada kalasa | Bhargava | 1995 |
| 153. | Thumbida Mane | Umesh | 1995 |
| 154. | Karulinakudi | V.P.Sarathy | 1995 |
| 155. | Himapatha | S.V.RajendraSingh Babu | 1995 |
| 156. | Appaji | D.Rajendra Babu | 1996 |
| 157. | Hello Dady | Naganna | 1996 |
| 158. | Karnataka Suputhra | Vijay | 1996 |
| 159. | Dhani | Balajisingh Babu | 1996 |
| 160. | Jeevanadhi | D.RajendraBabu | 1996 |
| 161. | Balina Jyothi | Dwarkish | 1996 |
| 162. | Mangalasoothra | Balajisingh Babu | 1997 |
| 163. | Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda | Umesh | 1997 |
| 164. | Shruthi Hakida Hejje | Dwarkish | 1997 |
| 165. | Janani Janma Bhoomi | Bhargava | 1997 |
| 166. | Laali | Dinesh Babu | 1997 |
| 167. | Nishabdha | Dinesh Babu | 1998 |
| 168. | Yaare Neenu Cheluve | D.Rajendra Babu | 1998 |
| 169. | Simhada Guri | M.Narayan Rao | 1998 |
| 170. | Hendithge Helthini | Dinesh Babu | 1998 |
| 171. | Veerappa Nayaka | S.Narayan | 1999 |
| 172. | Habba | D.Rajendra Babu | 1999 |
| 173. | Suryavamsha | S.Narayan | 1999 |
| 174. | Premotsava | Dinesh Babu | 1999 |
| 175. | Soorappa | Naganna | 2000 |
| 176. | Deepavali | Dinesh Babu | 2000 |
| 177. | Nanna Hendthi Chennagiddale. | Dinesh Babu | 2000 |
| 178. | Yajamana. | Seshadri & Radha Bharathi | 2000 |
| 179. | Diggajaru. | D.Rajendra Babu | 2001 |
| 180. | Kotigobba. | Naganna | 2001 |
| 181. | Parva. | Sunil Kumar Desai | 2002 |
| 182. | Jamindarru. | S.Narayan | 2002 |
| 183. | Simhadriya Simha. | S.Narayan | 2002 |
| 184. | Raja Narasimha. | Muthyalu Subaiah | 2003 |
| 185. | Hrudayavantha. | P.Vasu | 2003 |
| 186. | Kadamba. | Suresh Krishna | 2004 |
| 187. | Apthamitra. | P.Vasu | 2004 |
| 188. | Sahukara. | Om Prakash | 2004 |
| 189. | Jyeshta. | Suresh Krishna | 2004 |
| 190. | Varsha. | S.Narayan. | 2005 |
| 191. | Vishnu Sena. | Naganna. | 2005 |
| 192. | Nenello Nanalle. | Dinesh Baboo. | 2006 |
| 193. | Sirivantha. | S.Narayan. | 2006 |
| 194. | Ekadantha. | Sachin | 2007 |
| 195. | Mathad Mathadu Mallige. | Nagathihalli Chandrashekar | 2007 |
| 196. | Ee Bandhana. | Vijaylakshmi Singh | 2007 |
| 197. | Nam Yajamanaru. | Nagabharana | 2009 |
| 198. | Master. | Dinesh Baboo | 2010(Released after Ballary Naga) |
| 199. | Ballary Naga. | Dinesh Baboo | 2009 |
| 200. | Aptarakshaka - Last Movie. | P.Vasu | 2010 |
Source: Wikipedia
