| Dorai–Bhagavan | |
| Occupation: | Film directors |
| Years Active: | 1961–2023 |
Dorai–Bhagavan were an Indian filmmaking duo consisting of directors B. Dorai Raj (died 2000) and S. K. Bhagavan (5 July 1933 – 20 February 2023),[1] active mainly in Kannada cinema. The duo directed twenty seven films together, most of which starred Rajkumar and were highly successful at box-office. Fourteen of them were based on Kannada novels.[2] [3] Bhagavan was the principal of Adarsha Film Institute, Bangalore.
Srinivasa Krishna Iyengar Bhagavan was born on 5 July 1933.[4] [5] He completed his schooling in Bangalore High school. At a young age, he was acting on stage dramas with Hirannaiah Mithra Mandali. He started his film career as an assistant to Kanagal Prabhakar Shastri in 1956 through the film Bhagyodaya. He then went on to direct his debut movie Sandhya Raga in 1966 though officially its direction was credited to A.C. Narasimha Murthy. However, next year, he was credited as the co-director of Rajadurgada Rahasya (1967) alongside A.C. Narasimha Murthy. His official directorial debut happened when he co-directed Jedara Bale (1968) with Dorai Raj under the name Dorai–Bhagavan thus becoming the first directors to make James Bond-style movies in Kannada.[6]
The duo then directed films like Kasturi Nivasa, Eradu Kanasu, Bayalu Daari, Gaali Maathu, Chandanada Gombe, Hosa Belaku, Benkiya Bale, Jeevana Chaitra and more Bond-style movies such as Goa dalli C.I.D 999, Operation Jackpot Nalli C.I.D 999 and Operation Diamond Racket. Apart from Rajkumar, the duo directed many movies with Anant Nag and Lakshmi, most of which were based on novels. After the death of Dorai Raj, Bhagavan ceased directing for many years – their last film was Baalondu Chaduranga in 1996. In 2019, he made his comeback at the age of 85 with Aduva Gombe, which marks 50th film of his direction.[7]
Bhagavan was the principal of Adarsha Film Institute.[8]
Dorai–Bhagavan directed a number of films. Apart from directing movies, Bhagavan also acted in films including Bhagyodaya, Rowdy Ranganna, Vasantha Geetha, Shravana Bantu, Sootradhaara, Haalu Jenu, Jeevana Chaithra and Bangalore Mail. He mostly worked with music director duo Rajan–Nagendra and G. K. Venkatesh for most of his films.
Note*: This is a partial filmography. You can expand it.
| . | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Film | Actors | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Bhagyodaya | Udaykumar | Assistant to Kanagal Prabhakar Shastri |
| 1966 | Sandhya Raga | Dr.Rajkumar, Bharati | Uncredited [9] |
| 1966 | Mantralaya Mahatme | Dr.Rajkumar, Kalpana, Jayanthi | Production and direction department |
| 1967 | Rajadurgada Rahasya | Dr.Rajkumar, Bharati | Bhagavan only (co-director with A.C. Narasimha Murthy) |
| 1968 | Jedara Bale | Dr Rajkumar, Udaykumar | James Bond-style movie 1 |
| 1968 | Goa Dalli CID 999 | Dr Rajkumar, Lakshmi | James Bond-style movie 2 (debut of Lakshmi) |
| 1969 | Operation Jackpot Nalli C.I.D 999 | Dr. Rajkumar, Rekha, Surekha | James Bond-style movie 3 |
| 1971 | Kasturi Nivasa | Dr Rajkumar, Aarati, Jayanthi, Raja Shankar | |
| 1971 | Pratidwani | Dr Rajkumar, Rajesh, Aarati | |
| 1974 | Eradu Kanasu | Dr Rajkumar, Kalpana, Manjula | Novel by Vani |
| 1976 | Bayalu Daari | Anant Nag, Kalpana, Ashok, Jayalaxmi, Padma Kumta | Novel by Bharatisuta |
| 1977 | Giri Kanye | Dr Rajkumar, Jayamala | Novel by Bharatisuta |
| 1978 | Operation Diamond Racket | Dr Rajkumar, Padmapriya | James Bond-style movie 4 |
| 1979 | Chandanada Gombe | Anant Nag, Lakshmi, Lokesh | Novel by Ta Ra Su |
| 1979 | Nanobba Kalla | Dr Rajkumar, Lakshmi, Kanchana | |
| 1980 | Vasantha Geetha | Dr Rajkumar, Gayatri, Puneet | |
| 1981 | Gaali Maathu | Lakshmi, Jai Jagadish, Kokila Mohan, Hema Chaudhry | Novel by Ta Ra Su |
| 1981 | Muniyana Madari | Shankar Nag, Jai Jagadish, Kokila Mohan, Jayamala | Novel by Ashwatha |
| 1982 | Hosa Belaku | Dr Rajkumar, Sarita, Mamata Rao, Srinivas Murthy | Novel by Vani |
| 1983 | Benkiya Bale | Anant Nag, Lakshmi | Novel by Ta Ra Su |
| 1984 | Samayada Gombe | Dr Rajkumar, Srinath, Roopadevi, Menaka, Kanchana | Novel by Chitralekha |
| 1984 | Yarivanu | Dr. Rajkumar, Srinath, Roopadevi, B. Saroja devi, Puneet, Hema Chaudhry | |
| 1985 | Bidugadeya Bedi | Anant Nag, Lakshmi | Novel by Ta Ra Su |
| 1985 | Sedina Hakki | Anant Nag, Lakshmi, Prabhakar, Rajeev, Jayamalini | Novel by T.K Rama Rao |
| 1986 | Hennina Koogu | Sarita, Sridhar | Novel by Geetha Nagabhushana (Hasi maamsa mattu haddugalu) |
| 1987 | Vijayothsava | Kumar Bangarappa, Sudharani, Kanchana | |
| 1989 | Gagana | Anant Nag, Srinath, Khushboo, Mahalakshmi, Vanita Vasu | Novel by N.Pankaja |
| 1991 | Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare | Vishnuvardhan, Srinath, Rupini, Vinaya Prasad, Rajani, Chandrika, Anjali | Only movie with Vishnuvardhan |
| 1992 | Jeevana Chaitra | Dr Rajkumar, Madhavi, Sudharani | Novel by Vishalakshi Dakshinamurthy (Vyapti-Praapti) |
| 1993 | Mangalya Bandhana | Ananth Nag, Malashri, Moon Moon Sen | Bhagavan only |
| 1994 | Odahuttidavaru | Dr Rajkumar, Madhavi, Ambareesh, Srishanti, Umashree, Vajramuni | Last movie with Raj Kumar |
| 1995 | Baalondu Chaduranga | Lakshmi, Ramesh, Sai Kumar, Sudharani, S.P. Balasubramanyam, Srishanti | |
| 2019 | Aduva Gombe | Anant Nag, Sanchari Vijay | [10] Bhagavan only |