Avinash Yelandur Explained

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.

Early life

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]

Career

Theatre

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

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.

Personal life

Avinash married Malavika, who was his co-star in the soap opera Mayamruga, in 2001.[3] They have a son, Gaalav.

Awards and recognition

  1. Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Mathadana (2000)
  2. Filmfare award for Best Supporting actor for Aptharakshaka[5]
  3. Jury's special mention for Dweepa, Singarevva
  4. South Indian cinematographers association award for Best Supporting actor for Matadana
  5. Film Fans' Association award for Best Supporting Actor for Matadana, Dweepa
  6. SIFA award for Best Supporting Actor for Aptarakshaka
  7. Udaya TV award for excellence in cinema
  8. Suvarna TV award for Prithvi
  9. Aryabhata Award for Best Actor for TV series Shikari
  10. Rajyotsava Award of the Karnataka State Govt
  11. Kempegowda Award of the BBMP

Partial filmography

Kannada films

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 SalagaRamesh
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
1994NishkarshaRamakrishna
Lockup DeathPolice Inspector
Kiladigalu Chikkaraja
1996HuliyaMadagi
1997CBI Durga
1998Karnataka Police Captain
1999Om Namah Shivaya
DronaJD
Idu Entha Premavayya Arun's brother
Hrudaya Hrudaya
Nannaseya Hoove
2000 Yajamana Devaraj
2001Shaapa Psychiatrist
Huchcha Kiccha's brother
Vishalakshammana Ganda
Mathadana Puttathammayya Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor
KotigobbaKeshava
2002Appu Rajashekhar
NinagagiDr. Subramanya
Karmugilu Shankar
Balarama Landlord
DweepaGanapa
2003Don Ramaswamy Iyengar
SingaaravvaSaragam Desai
Daasa
Chigurida KanasuShanubhog
Mani
Thayi Illada Thabbali Nanjappa
Raja Narasimha
KhushiDurga Prasad
2004ApthamitraAcharya 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
SwamyDesai
Green Signal
2006Mandya 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
HudugaruParamashiva Murthy
Paramathma Srinivas
Putra Narasimha
2012Shakti
Anna Bond Major Chandrakanth
Romeo
2013Sandalwood Sa Re Ga Ma
CID Eesha
Jataayu
Victory DCP Rajendra
Kaddipudi ACP Vijaya Prasad
Madarangi Deepu's father
2014Angaaraka
Ninnindale Lakshmi Venkatesh
Ugramm Shivarudra Lingaiah
Shivajinagara Dayanand
Kalyanamasthu
Ragini IPS Hiremath
Huchudugaru
Maryade
Veera Pulikeshi
Maanikya
Hara
Jasmine.5
Aakramana
Power
2015Mrugashira
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

Tamil films

Year Film Role
2003 ThirumalaiAshok
2005 Chandramukhi Ramachandra Acharya
2006 Paramasivan DGP Rajasekar
VattaramKaruppusamy
PoiValluvanar
2007 Madurai Veeran Vishvanathan
2008 Velli Thirai Reddy
Aegan John's friend
2010 Kanagavel Kaaka Vel's Father
Siddhu +2Pavithra's father
2011 Siruthai Bavuji
7aum Arivu Pallava King
Rajapattai Chidambaram
2013 Udhayam NH4 Avinash Gowda
2014MeaghamanAvinash Bhote
2014VeeramAavudayappan
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

Telugu films

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

Other language films

Year Film Role Language
1998 Jungle BoySanjay English
2011 Doubles Louie
5ters: Castle of Dark Master Hindi

Other activities

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.

Notes and References

  1. 22 April 2013 . Weekend with Ramesh - Season 5 / A Rare Actor from the Sandalwood Industry . kn . 22 August 2023 . 3:48 . Zee Kannada .
  2. News: Banking on immense talent. Deccan Herald. 8 July 2012. 17 February 2016. 5 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170305004830/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/262539/banking-immense-talent.html. live.
  3. News: From reel love to real love. The Times of India. 3 January 2001. 2 March 2014. 5 November 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121105181155/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/From-reel-love-to-real-love/articleshow/23854152.cms. live.
  4. News: A taste of Mollywood . . 22 March 2011 . 2016-02-17 . 24 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160224161320/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article459021.ece . dead .
  5. News: July 4, 2011 . Vedam wins big at Filmfare Awards (South) 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150811090835/http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/vedam-wins-big-at-filmfare-awards-2011/20110704.htm . 11 August 2015 . 6 February 2016 . Rediff.com.
  6. Web site: Edakku (2021) Vijay Sethupathi, Exclusive Worldwide | Tamil Dubbed Full Rowdy Action Movie | 4K FILM . YouTube . 2022-04-07.