Dr D. Kemparaj Urs of South Indian Cinema field: Director-Actor-Producer

 

Dr  D. Kemparaj Urs  of  South Indian Cinema field: Director-Actor-Producer

 


 D. Kemparaj Urs (05 February, 1917 - 18 May, 1982)  Born in Hunsur, Mysore District, in an aristocratic family ( parents: Shrimathi Deveerammanni and Shri Devaraj Urs), as the younger  brother of the famed Shri D.Devaraj Urs, (the former Congress Chief Minister of Karnataka, who was famous for the Dalit cause and  “ Uluvavanige Bhoomi “ policy.), After a stint in studying English Literature, he joined the Medical College to become a doctor, and studied for three years, his love for stage and Cinema activities were too strong to pull him away from the Medical College.. At the same time he was a Gandhian and a freedom fighter and was even  jailed (as reported by The Hindu).

He had married  his classmate  Ms. T.N.Lalitha, while he was studying Intermediate, against the wishes of the relatives. He had three children  Ashalatha, Kusumalatha and  Hemalatha.

He was a Golf player.

Was actively involved in Congress politics when brother Devaraj Urs was Karnataka Chief Minister and campaigned for Indira Gandhi when she fought the controversial Chikmagalur elections (1980). Later chairman of Karnataka Film Development Corp. Wrote two autobiographical books, "Naanu"  and “Aravattu  Varshagalu”(1979).

 He was active in amateur theatre and had entered into the  first  film  “Jeevana Naataka” of  doyen Gubbi Veeranna under his banner “Gubbi Films”.He was cast as the lead opposite Shanta Hublikar, and M V Rajamma. He was also in a small role in Prabhat’s  “Ramashastri”. He was  simply  called “Kemparaj”

 He became the Actor-Producer-Director , in his banner “Kemparaj Productions” of cinemas, like Bhakta Ramadass , Raja Vikrama  in Kannada and Tamil, Jaladurga  and Nala Damayanti .  He had shot films in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada, covering mythogical, adventure Kannada film Jaladurga (based on Count of Monte Cristo) which was also released as Karkottai in Tamil. Dr Kemparaj Urs was one of the great actors,  preceding Dr Raj kumar, and they were together in the 1964 film “Navakoti Narayana”, with Dr Raj Kumar in the lead role.  He left film field after incurring losses whereas, the pictures did well to earn for its Producers and Directors. He passed away in 1982.

(See: https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/Glorious-body-of-work/article17251809.ece for  more details.)

 

The detailing for the three language film Nala Damayanti can be seen below:

Country: India; Year: 1957; Language: Kannada, Telugu, Tamil; Color: Black and White

Studio: Kemparaj Productions

Producer: Kemparaj; Cinematographer: B.D. Madhur; Editor: V. Surya Narayana Rao, B. Kandaswamy; Composer: B. Gopalam; Lyricist: Samudrala Ramanuja Charya

Cast: Paluvayi Bhanumathi, Kemparaj, Chittor V. Nagaiah, Relangi Venkataramaiah, Jayalakshmi, Mukkamala, P. Seeta, Lanka Satyam, Srivatsav, B. Gopalam, Ramadevi, Vangara, Vishwanatham, Lakshmaiah Chowdary, Savithri Ganesan, Kameswaramma, Krishna Sastry, N. Prasad Rao, Reeta, Padmini Priyadharshini, Vasundara, Master Narasimha Chary, Baby Padmavathi

Story: Samudrala Ramanuja Charya; Dialogue: Samudrala Ramanuja Charya

Singer: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, Madhavapedhi Satyam, Jikki, A.P. Komala, N.L. Gana Saraswathi, Pitapuram Nageshwara Rao, K. Rani, Paluvayi Bhanumathi, Chittor V. Nagaiah, B. Gopalam, P. Leela

Art Director: V.M. Varthurkar; Dance Director: B. Heeralal, Chinni-Sampath

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 He had 11 credits for acting; 4  for Directing and 3 for  Producing.  

1. Jeevana Nataka  [Actor] Based on A.N.Krishna Rao’s  Work                                                               
A 1942 movie by Wahab Kashmiri(New Theatres of Calcutta)                        
Starring: Gubbi Veeranna, Kemparaj Urs, B Jayamma, Shanta Hublikar              
Family, Drama

2.. Mahananda  [Actor]                                                    
A 1947 movie by T Janakiram                                        
Starring: Kemparaj Urs,Sumathi Kashinath,Kashinath,Vedaantham,Padmanabhan,Rajakumari,Pratimadevi                                          
Family, Drama

3. Krishnaleela  [Actor]                                                   
A 1947 movie by C V Raju;      P Kalinga Rao”s music;                           
Starring: Kemparaj Urs,Mari rao,Bellary Lalitha,kaantha,Bellary Rathnamala,Prathima devi,Usha,Nagarathna.                                                   
Mythology, B&W, Philosophical

4. Bhakta Ramadas  [Director,Actor]                                          
A 1948 movie by Kemparaj Urs;     P Kalinga Rao’ music                       
Starring: Kemparaj Urs, Sumathi Kashinath, Vimalananda das                                         
B&W, Religious, Philosophical  

5. Shiva Parvathi   [Actor]                                                   
A 1950 movie by T Janakiram                                        
Starring: Kemparaj Urs, Prathima devi, Sumathi Kashinath, Shantha                   
Mythology, Religious, Drama

6. Raja Vikrama   [Director,Actor,Producer]                                        
A 1951 movie by Kemparaj Urs                                        
Starring: Kemparaj Urs, M V Rajamma, B Jayamma, M S Subbanna, Pandari Bai            
Historical, Drama

7. Sri krishna  [Actor]                                                   
A 1953 movie by C V Raju                                        
Starring: Kemparaj Urs, Mari rai,Bellary Lalitha,Bellary Rathnamala,Nagarathna,Usha Bellur
Mythology, Religious


8. Jaladurga  [Director,Producer,Actor](based on Count of Monte Cristo)                        
A 1954 movie by Kemparaj Urs                                        
Starring: Kemparaj Urs,KrishnaKumari,B R Panthulu,Jayalakshmi,M A Ganapathi Bhat      
War, Mystery, Historical 

9. Nala Damayanthi  [Actor,Director,Producer]                                       
A 1957 movie by Kemparaj Urs                                      
Starring: Kemparaj Urs,P.Bhanumathi Ramakrishna,M A Ganapathi Bhat,T R Narasimha Raju,B Ramadevi,Jayalakshmi                                          
Mythology, Drama

10. Navakoti Narayana  [Actor]                                               
A 1964 movie by S K A Chari                                       
Starring: Dr Rajkumar,Sahukar Janaki,Dikki Madhava Rao,H Ramachandra Shastry,Dr Kemparaj Urs,Maala                                                  
Mythology, Philosophical, Biography  

11. Nava Jeevana   [Actor]                                               
A 1964 movie by P S Murthy                                        
Starring: K S Ashwath,R N Sudarshan,Pandari Bai,T R Narasimha Raju,K M Rathnakar,Revathi            Family, Drama, Comedy

Karkottai* (1954),  Nala Damayanthi** (1957), Azhagarmalai Kalvan*(1959).  (*  in Tamil, ** in Tamil and Telugu)

 

                                                                In his role in "Karkottai"
 

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The other famed Ursu personalities of the field: Late Sundara Krishne Urs;  Suresh Urs (Film Editing) Prof. Dr. P.V. Nanjaraj Urs, Director;  Basavaraje Urs;  S. K. Nagendra Urs, Director and Editor

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