Top 10 Most Critically Acclaimed Roles Played By Sandalwood Actors

1. Besuge (1976)

A 70s cult classic, Besuge is a culmination of good taste, detailing a serial depiction of reality through the ultimate realization of responsibility against individualism, in a couple’s lives. Shreenath’s ample contribution to the film, displayed via his finesse in depicting varied human emotions, won him many accolades, including the conferment of the best actor in the 24^th Filmfare Awards South.

2. Mayura (1975)

Set in the 4^th century AD, it narrates the tale of the glorious Kadamba ruler Mayura Varma, from his humble origins as a poor priest till his enthronement as the first indigenous ruler of ancient Karnataka, bringing a new era for the Kannada language and culture . Doctor Raj Kumar’s demanding presence on the screen as a learned brahmin and as an able administrator won many hearts, he could easily capture the intriguing peculiarities of his character and execute it very well.

3. 777 Charlie (2022)

Garnering primarily positive reviews from critics, this film soothes one's heart, is quite vocal on animal adoption and presses on the need for a severe ban on animal abuse. Rakshit‘s character as Dharma urges us to put ourselves into his shoes, we remain perplexed by the numerous sides of him, from being a messy introvert to being one of the most vulnerable one can be, even to the slightest pain perceived by his dog-cum-best friend. It’s truly an emotional roller coaster, garnished with true love, compassion, loyalty and selfless friendship.

4. Ghatashradha (1977)

So thought-provoking yet down-to-earth remains the film, considering the showcase in the social levels and the regretful triumph of societal discrimination over a father's love as showcased herein, it managed to bag at least three awards at the 25th National Film Awards and get inculcated in the Paris national archives. Mina Kuttapa's role as a lone orthodox widow, Yamuna, who gets pregnant out of wedlock, betrayed, and left alone to fend for herself, is quite moving. The initial days of security and honor at her father's house change into a state of bereavement once her father hates her perceived immorality, disowning her at the villagers' behest.

5. Kantara (2022)

An unreal and intense cinematographic experience into the ancestral traditions of Tulunaad in the face of extensive greed and betrayal is encountered, when one watches this Rishab Shetty Rishab Shetty is a Kannada film actor and director >> Read More... starrer action thriller film. His meticulous portrayal as the troubled tribal, who comes into conflict with the local forest officer and an influential royal’s deceitful descendant, materialises his trauma of separation from his father into saving his culture and his community’s livelihood via the blessings of the benevolent and just Panjurli Deva.

6. Bettada Hoovu (1985)

This Puneet Rajkumar starrer, social problem film, focused on the troubled life of studious Ramu, who was eventually forced to work hard to fend for his family and forgo his lifelong dreams, being born into abject poverty. The terrific performance meted out by Puneet aptly captured the boy's transition from innocence into one with a fighting spirit as time progressed.

7. Tarka (1985)

This film was a breakthrough in Kannada cinema, leading the craze for the film noir genre, soon after that. Shankar Nag Shankar Nag, most influential and talented Kannada >> Read More... gets to play the role of an innocent convict, who gets wrongly accused of killing his long-time girlfriend and seeks vengeance through a bizarre turn of events. The actor shows his acting prowess through all the qualities enshrined by his conflicting character, while we remain at the edge of our seats, as the story unfolds.

8. Bhajarangi (2013)

Dr. Shiva Rajkumar Shiva Rajkumar is the populous Kannada actor, who >> Read More... gets to show his great action-based skills apart from his emotional side abundantly, in this fantasy-based film. Based loosely on a local legend, the storyline commences in a secluded hamlet, where the lead character battles a demonic Tantric’s corrupted soul years after his grandpa, who had done the same to protect innocent lives. His portrayal of a troubled father also earned him great praise.

9. Rangitaranga (2015)

As one of the biggest mystery thrillers in the history of Kannada cinema. the storyline revolves around an introverted writer, who decides to retire with his wife to their ancestral property, but gets haunted by strange occurrences, relative to his dark past. In the vivid landscape of Karavali, unexpected twists await at every turn, as the viewer marvels at the possibility of all actors, being the main culprit. Sai Kumar He was born on July 27, 1960 in Vijayanagaram, And >> Read More... outshone himself as an actor with a class act, where he brings justice to the confident yet reclusive Gautam, struggling to fight his inner demons while saving the love of his life.

10. Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana ( 2021)

Set in the picturesque town of Mangalore, this high-voltage gangster action movie is highly unpredictable, abounding in excellent cinematography, astounding depth in the characters with majuscule allusions to Hindu mythology of the Puranas. The story unfolds as two brothers fight into a deadly scramble for the spoils of their massive mafia empire, being pitted against each other by a deceptive police officer. Rishab Shetty’s “ Hari Hari is a Tamil director and was born in Katchana >> Read More... ” remains at odds with Raj Shetty’s” Shiva”, where the latter is a fiercely protective family man, with reservations. We get to see them fight head-to-head in this film.