| Avinash Yelandur | |
| Birth Name: | Yelandur Narayan Ravindra |
| Birth Date: | 22 December 1959 |
| Birth Place: | Yelandur, Mysore State, India |
| Children: | 1 |
| Nationality: | Indian |
| Alma Mater: | University of Mysore |
Yelandur Narayan Ravindra (born 22 December 1959),[1] known mononymously by his stage name Avinash, is an Indian actor who appears predominantly in Kannada and Tamil films. He has been working in films for more than three decades and has acted in over 200 films. Known for his authentic portrayal of complex characters and versatility, Avinash is one of the most sought actors in the supporting category. He is one of the few actors to enjoy both critical and commercial success.
Avinash was born in the town of Yelandur in Mysore district (now in Chamarajanagar district), in the Mysore State (now Karnataka), to Indira and B. K. Narayana Rao, a lawyer. After completing his education at Mysore's Hardwicke High School, Avinash went on to attend University of Mysore, where he obtained his master's degree in English literature.[2] Drawn to theatre and cinema from a young age, he had an active theater life at Mysore and later at Bangalore. During the time, he taught English at the National Institute of Engineering, Mysore, and later at the MES college in Bangalore.[3]
His first job after his M.Phil. was that of an English lecturer in National Institute of Engineering, Mysore. He continued to teach at MES College Bangalore as one of the most popular lecturers of the college. However, soon his passion for theatre took him abroad to train in acting at Mermaid Theatre, London.[4] On returning home, he worked in Kannada theatre as part of the renowned B Jayashree's troupe "Spandana" and with the Shankar Nag as part of his "Sanketh" for many years.
Films were a natural choice for Avinash after his debut in G. V. Iyer's "Madhvacharya" based on the life and times of the twelfth-century enlightened master as the protagonist Saint Madhva, a film that won several national and state awards. His debut in mainstream cinema however, was with Shivarajkumar's Samyuktha, which went in to become a hit with audiences, ushering him into the world of South Indian cinema. Since then, he has since acted in over 400 films in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and English in a career spanning nearly three decades. He has worked with over two hundred directors such as K. Balachander, Girish Kasaravalli, T. N. Seetharam, A. R. Murugadoss, Puri Jagannadh, P. Vasu, Vetrimaaran, siva,Suseenthiran, Suri, Prashanth Neel, Gautham Vasudev Menon and T. S. Nagabharana.
Avinash's most memorable acting roles to date are in Girish Kasarvalli's National award-winning Dweepa, where he played the protagonist opposite actress Soundarya, T. S. Nagabharana's National award-winning Chinnari Muththa, Chiguridha Kanasu and Singarrevva, and T. N. Seetaram's National Award-winning Mathadana. P. Vasu's hit series Apthamitra, Chandramukhi and Aptharakshaka were high points in his career and have fetched him several national, state smf popular awards. 5Ters, an experimental (computer graphics) children's film in Hindi gave him the opportunity of playing good and evil characters and he considers the film to be a high point of his career.
Apart from his diverse repertoire, he has had the privilege of playing major roles alongside doyens such as Rajkumar, Rajnikanth, Mammooty, Vishnuvardhan, stars such as Nagarjun, Venkatesh, NandhamuriBalakrishna, Shivarajkumar, Vijay, Vikram, Ajith, and also contemporary stars like Puneeth Rajkumar, Kiccha sudeep, Yash, Surya, Karthi, Arya, Siddharth, Mahesh Babu, Udhay Kiran, Prithviraj Sukumaran and several of the younger stars of South Indian Cinema.
Avinash married Malavika, who was his co-star in the soap opera Mayamruga, in 2001.[3] They have a son, Gaalav.
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Trishula | Damodar Rao | |
| 1986 | 27 Mavalli Circle | P. R. Arunkumar | |
| Madhvacharya | Young Madhvacharya | ||
| 1987 | Aapadbandhava | ||
| Athiratha Maharatha | |||
| Ravana Rajya | |||
| Bandhamuktha | Prabhakar's friend | ||
| Sangrama | |||
| Agni Parva | |||
| 1988 | Samyuktha | Gopal Rao | |
| Krishna Mecchida Radhe | |||
| Daada | Vishnu's friend | ||
| Mathru Vathsalya | Shekhar | ||
| 1989 | Ondagi Balu | Thyagaraj | |
| Tarka | Cowry | ||
| Yuddha Kaanda | Dr. Hegde | ||
| Onti Salaga | Ramesh | ||
| Deva | |||
| Inspector Vikram | Rao | ||
| C.B.I. Shankar | Vikram | ||
| 1990 | Ashwamedha | Muthanna | |
| Kiladi Thatha | |||
| Mathsara | Somashekhar | ||
| Poli Kitty | |||
| Rudra Thandava | |||
| S. P. Sangliyana Part 2 | Imposter of CBI officer | ||
| Swarna Samsara | |||
| Utkarsha | Mahendra | ||
| 1991 | Hathya Kanda | Prasad | |
| 1992 | Mannina Doni | Pradeep | |
| Sangya Balya | Veeranna Setty | ||
| 1993 | Chinnari Mutha | Saawanth | |
| Aakasmika | Rijji | ||
| 1994 | Nishkarsha | Ramakrishna | |
| Lockup Death | Police Inspector | ||
| Kiladigalu | Chikkaraja | ||
| 1996 | Huliya | Madagi | |
| 1997 | CBI Durga | ||
| 1998 | Karnataka Police | Captain | |
| 1999 | Om Namah Shivaya | ||
| Drona | JD | ||
| Idu Entha Premavayya | Arun's brother | ||
| Hrudaya Hrudaya | |||
| Nannaseya Hoove | |||
| 2000 | Yajamana | Devaraj | |
| 2001 | Shaapa | Psychiatrist | |
| Huchcha | Kiccha's brother | ||
| Vishalakshammana Ganda | |||
| Mathadana | Puttathammayya | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor | |
| Kotigobba | Keshava | ||
| 2002 | Appu | Rajashekhar | |
| Ninagagi | Dr. Subramanya | ||
| Karmugilu | Shankar | ||
| Balarama | Landlord | ||
| Dweepa | Ganapa | ||
| 2003 | Don | Ramaswamy Iyengar | |
| Singaaravva | Saragam Desai | ||
| Daasa | |||
| Chigurida Kanasu | Shanubhog | ||
| Mani | |||
| Thayi Illada Thabbali | Nanjappa | ||
| Raja Narasimha | |||
| Khushi | Durga Prasad | ||
| 2004 | Apthamitra | Acharya Ramachandra Shastri | |
| Durgi | |||
| Kalasipalya | Seetharam | ||
| Veera Kannadiga | Vishwa | ||
| 2005 | Valmiki | Deshpande | |
| Sirichandana | |||
| Aakash | Dayanand | ||
| Deadly Soma | |||
| Siddu | |||
| Sye | Sivaji | ||
| Aadi | Udayachandar | ||
| Amrithadhare | Puru's Father | ||
| News | Umesh | ||
| Swamy | Desai | ||
| Green Signal | |||
| 2006 | Mandya | Bhoopayya | |
| Chellata | Chandrasekhar | ||
| Cyanide | |||
| Gandugali Kumararama | |||
| Sirivantha | Mastan Bhai | ||
| Tananam Tananam | Gowda | ||
| Kallarali Hoovagi | Parashuramappa | ||
| Shree | |||
| 2007 | Hudugaata | S. K. Ananth Rao | |
| Gunavantha | |||
| 2008 | Manasugula Mathu Madhura | ||
| Bombaat | Ananthakrishnan | ||
| Baa Bega Chandamama | Poonacha | ||
| Chikkamagaloora Chikka Mallige | |||
| 2009 | Kabaddi | ||
| Bellary Naga | Vishwanath Gowda | ||
| 2010 | Police Quarters | Vishwanna | |
| School Master | |||
| Porki | Satya Narayan Murthy | ||
| Aptharakshaka | Acharya Ramachandra Shastri | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kannada | |
| Prithvi | Narasimha Nayak | ||
| Preethi Hangama | Geetha's boss | ||
| 2011 | Karthik | ||
| Hudugaru | Paramashiva Murthy | ||
| Paramathma | Srinivas | ||
| Putra | Narasimha | ||
| 2012 | Shakti | ||
| Anna Bond | Major Chandrakanth | ||
| Romeo | |||
| 2013 | Sandalwood Sa Re Ga Ma | ||
| CID Eesha | |||
| Jataayu | |||
| Victory | DCP Rajendra | ||
| Kaddipudi | ACP Vijaya Prasad | ||
| Madarangi | Deepu's father | ||
| 2014 | Angaaraka | ||
| Ninnindale | Lakshmi Venkatesh | ||
| Ugramm | Shivarudra Lingaiah | ||
| Shivajinagara | Dayanand | ||
| Kalyanamasthu | |||
| Ragini IPS | Hiremath | ||
| Huchudugaru | |||
| Maryade | |||
| Veera Pulikeshi | |||
| Maanikya | |||
| Hara | |||
| Jasmine.5 | |||
| Aakramana | |||
| Power | |||
| 2015 | Mrugashira | ||
| Vajrakaya | Viraj's adoptive father | ||
| Preethiyinda | Amar Kumar Pandey | ||
| Lodde | |||
| Mr. Airavata | Police Commissioner | ||
| Goolihatti | |||
| Dove | |||
| 7 | |||
| Ring Road Suma | |||
| Bettanagere | |||
| Alone | |||
| 2016 | Khanana | ||
| Jaguar | College Principal | ||
| Kotigobba 2 | Landlord | ||
| 2017 | Hebbuli | ACP Prathap | |
| Raajakumara | Jagadeesh | ||
| Rogue | |||
| Dandupalya 2 | Police Officer | ||
| 2018 | Prema Baraha | Ram | |
| Idam Premam Jeevanam | |||
| Ambi Ning Vayassaytho | Nandini's father | ||
| Gultoo | Inspector Avinash | ||
| Vaasu Naan Pakka Commercial | |||
| Victory 2 | DCP Rajendra | ||
| Orange | Huli Veeraiah | ||
| 2019 | Natasaarvabhowma | Avinash | |
| Dasharatha | |||
| Akhaada | Only dubbed versions released[6] | ||
| Pailwaan | Rukumini's father | ||
| Katha Sangama | |||
| 2020 | Arishadvarga | Manjunath Bhat | |
| Shivarjuna | Rayappa | ||
| Law | Nandini's father | ||
| Act 1978 | Chief Minister of Karnataka | ||
| 2021 | Roberrt | Omkar Shukla | |
| Yuvarathnaa | Jayapal | ||
| Mugilpete | |||
| 2022 | James | Army officer | |
| Home Minister | Renuka's father | ||
| Shiva 143 | Narasimha | ||
| 2023 | Love Birds | ||
| Vidhi (Article) 370 | |||
| 19.20.21 | |||
| Mariguddada Gaddadharigalu | |||
| Suraari | |||
| Siren | Police Commissioner Ashok Kumar | ||
| Yadha Yadha Hi | Avinash Bhat | ||
| Iravan | Dr Satya Murthy | ||
| Aparoopa | |||
| David | |||
| Sheela | |||
| Sapta Saagaradaache Ello – Side A | Shankare Gowda | ||
| Kaatera | Shanubogha | ||
| Vaamana | |||
| 2024 | Juni | Partha's father | |
| Abbabba | Gopal Reddy |
| Year | Film | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Thirumalai | Ashok | |
| 2005 | Chandramukhi | Ramachandra Acharya | |
| 2006 | Paramasivan | DGP Rajasekar | |
| Vattaram | Karuppusamy | ||
| Poi | Valluvanar | ||
| 2007 | Madurai Veeran | Vishvanathan | |
| 2008 | Velli Thirai | Reddy | |
| Aegan | John's friend | ||
| 2010 | Kanagavel Kaaka | Vel's Father | |
| Siddhu +2 | Pavithra's father | ||
| 2011 | Siruthai | Bavuji | |
| 7aum Arivu | Pallava King | ||
| Rajapattai | Chidambaram | ||
| 2013 | Udhayam NH4 | Avinash Gowda | |
| 2014 | Meaghaman | Avinash Bhote | |
| 2014 | Veeram | Aavudayappan | |
| 2015 | Yennai Arindhaal | Hemanika's father | |
| Sandamarutham | |||
| Killadi | Eshwarapadian SP | ||
| Vedalam | Rahul's assistant | ||
| 2016 | Gethu | Craig's boss | |
| Moondraam Ullaga Por | Subramaniam | ||
| 2018 | Sollividava | Ram | |
| 2019 | Neeya 2 | Ananda Siddhar | |
| 2020 | College Kumar | Kaliyamurthy | |
| 2022 | Sardar | Victor (Chetta) | |
| Connect | Father Alex | ||
| 2023 | Theedhum Soodhum Endhan Mugavari |
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Golmaal | Abdullah |
| 2007 | Lakshmi Kalyanam | Chalamaiah |
| 2009 | Aa Okkadu | Swamy |
| 2010 | Nagavalli | Acharya Ramachandra Siddhanthi |
| 2012 | Daruvu | Shantaram |
| Damarukam | Kaapaalika's chief | |
| 2016 | Jaguar | College Principal |
| 2017 | Rogue | |
| Raju Gari Gadhi 2 | Priest | |
| 2020 | College Kumar | |
| 2021 | Akhanda | Akhanda's father |
| 2023 | Tantiram | Adhiban |
| Year | Film | Role | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Jungle Boy | Sanjay | English |
| 2011 | Doubles | Louie | |
| 5ters: Castle of Dark Master | Hindi | ||
Avinash is the founder member of Sneha Loka, a club to promote sporting activity among the film fraternity. He is also a former member of the executive committee of the Kannada Film Artists Association.