Dr Vishnuvardhan
is considered to be one of the most loved matinee idols in
Kannada cinema
. Born as
Sampath Kumar
, he entered films as a youngster and then continued to wow audiences for multiple decades till he breathed his last. His performances still continue to inspire and entertain film lovers. On his birth anniversary today, we look at five must watch films of his that any film lover must see. It is a hard task to pick just five, but here's what we think are the absolute must watch films of his for someone who hasn't seen any...
NagarahaavuWhat a smashing entry into films he had. As the angry, young Ramachari, he etched a place in people's hearts for his acting skills. A dream debut, which is pretty much unparalleled in Sandalwood, he rose to the occasion as he worked veterans and announced to film fans that he was here to stay.
Bandhana
He played the sacrificial lover with elan in this film. The classic love triangle, this film shows him as a doctor who has to nurse a tragic end and a heartbreak. Interestingly, the film's comic scenes involving him are still cherished by many cinephiles.
Mutthina Hara
This is another landmark performance of Vishnuvardhan, which shows him as a fearless soldier on one side and a soft-hearted family man on the other. The highlight of his performance in this film are his emotional scenes. This remains a fan favourite till date and is also one of his best performances.
Nishkarsha
This 90s film was a trendsetter in many ways and interestingly there has been no other film like this in Kannada cinema yet. The film saw the matinee idol play a commando who has to evacuate a building in the heart of Bengaluru and take care of a bomb threat in this heist thriller. The edgy narrative and his gritty performance ranks high.
Apthamithra
Arguably one of his most loved roles in his career, he played a psychiatrist in this horror thriller. Vishnuvardhan's adaptation of the role originally essayed by Mohanlal in the Malayalam original was celebrated and even copied by Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar in the Tamil and Hindi adaptations respectively.