Chiranjeevi Sarja | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 17 October 1984 |
| Died | 7 June 2020 (aged 35) [N 1] Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Other names | Chiru [2] |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2009–2020 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Sarja family |
Chiranjeevi Sarja (17 October 1984 - 7 June 2020) was an Indian film actor who appeared in Kannada films. Hailing from a family of actors, Sarja acted in more than 20 films in a career spanning 11 years.
Sarja was born as the first child of Ammaji and Vijay Kumar. [3] He comes from a family of actors in the South Indian film industry; his maternal grandfather Shakti Prasad, maternal uncle Arjun Sarja and younger brother Dhruva Sarja are all actors, while another maternal uncle Kishore Sarja was a director. [4] He completed his schooling from Baldwin Boys' High School before graduating from Vijaya College, Bangalore. He worked as an assistant director to his uncle Arjun for about four years. [5]
Sarja appeared in 22 films, beginning with the 2009 film Vayuputra which was directed by his uncle Kishore Sarja [6] and earned him the Innovative Film Award for Best Debut (Male). [2] A number of his films were remakes of those from other Indian languages, [7] including the action film Varadhanayaka (2013), the supernatural thriller Whistle (2013), the horror comedy Chandralekha (2014), the action film Rudra Tandava (2015) and the action thriller Amma I Love You (2018). [8] Among other notable films of Sarja are the mystery thriller Aatagara (2015), which was based on Agatha Christie's book And Then There Were None , and the horror film Aake (2017), both of which were directed by K. M. Chaitanya. [9]
Three of Sarja's films were released in 2020; Shivarjuna turned out to be his last appearance before his death. He had five more films lined up which were in various stages of production at the time of his sudden passing. [10]
In October 2017, he was engaged to actress Meghana Raj. [11] They got married in a Christian ceremony on 30 April 2018, [12] followed by a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony on 2 May 2018 at Palace Grounds. [13] [14] At the time of his death, they were expecting their first child. Their son Raayan Raj Sarja was born on 22 October 2020, four months after his death. [15] [16]
On 6 June 2020, Sarja suffered convulsions and complained of breathlessness. The following day, he developed chest pain and collapsed around 1:10 p.m. (IST). He was taken to a private hospital in Jayanagar in "an unresponsive state"; the doctors declared him dead at 3:48 p.m. (IST), citing cardiac arrest as the cause of death. [3] [17] Sarja's body was laid in repose at his residence in Basavanagudi where actors, politicians and fans visited to pay their respects. His funeral was held on 8 June at Dhruva Sarja's farmhouse on Kanakapura Road.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Vayuputra | Balu | Innovative Film Award for Best Debut (Male) | [18] |
| 2010 | Gandedhe | Krishna | [19] | |
| Chirru | Chiru | [20] | ||
| 2011 | Dandam Dashagunam | Surya | [21] | |
| Kempegowda | Ram | Cameo appearance | [22] | |
| 2013 | Varadhanayaka | Hari | [23] | |
| Whistle | Ram | [24] | ||
| 2014 | Chandralekha | Chandhu | [25] | |
| Ajith | Ajith | [26] | ||
| 2015 | Rudra Tandava | Shivaraj | [27] | |
| Aatagara | Mrutyunjay | [28] | ||
| Ram-Leela | Ram | [29] | ||
| 2017 | Happy New Year | Cameo appearance | [30] | |
| Aake | Arjun / Shiva | [31] | ||
| Bharjari | Soldier | Cameo appearance | [32] | |
| 2018 | Prema Baraha | Himself | Cameo appearance in "Jai Hanumantha" song | [33] |
| Samhaara | Shrishaila | [34] [35] | ||
| Seizer | Seizer | [36] | ||
| Amma I Love You | Sidharth | [37] | ||
| 2019 | Yajamana | Himself | Special appearance | [38] |
| Sinnga | Singa | [39] | ||
| 2020 | Khakii | Chiru | [40] | |
| Aadyaa | Aditya Shankar | [41] | ||
| Shivarjuna | Shiva | [42] | ||
| 2021 | Ranam | Devdas | Posthumous release | [43] |
| 2023 | Raja Marthanda | Raja Marthanda | Posthumous release | [44] |
Singanalluru Puttaswamaiah Muthuraj, better known by his stage name Dr. Rajkumar, was an Indian actor and singer who worked in Kannada cinema. Regarded as one of the greatest and versatile actors in the history of Indian cinema, he is considered a cultural icon and holds a matinée idol status in the Kannada diaspora, among whom he is popularly called as Nata Saarvabhouma, Bangarada Manushya, Vara Nata, Gaana Gandharva, Rasikara Raja, Kannada Kanteerava and Rajanna/Annavru. He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1983 and Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1995. He is the only lead actor to win National Award for Playback singing. His 39 movies have been remade 63 times in 9 languages by 34 actors making him the first actor whose movies were remade more than fifty times and the first actor whose movies were remade in nine languages. He was the first actor in India to enact a role which was based on James Bond in a full-fledged manner. The success of his movie Jedara Bale is credited to have widely inspired a Desi bond genre in other Indian film industries. On the occasion of the "Centenary of Indian Cinema" in April 2013, Forbes included his performance in Bangaarada Manushya on its list of "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema". Upon his death, The New York Times had described him as one of India's most popular movie stars.
Kannada cinema, also known as Sandalwood, or Chandanavana, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Kannada language widely spoken in the state of Karnataka. Kannada cinema is based in Gandhi Nagar, Bangalore. The 1934 film Sati Sulochana directed by Y. V. Rao was the first talkie film released in the Kannada language. It was also the first film starring Subbaiah Naidu and Tripuramba, and the first screened in the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom. It was produced by Chamanlal Doongaji, who in 1932 founded South India Movietone in Bangalore.
Srinivasa Sarja, better known by his stage name Arjun Sarja or simply Arjun, is an Indian actor, producer, and director who works predominantly in Tamil cinema in addition to Telugu and Kannada films and a few Malayalam and Hindi films. Referred to by the media and his fans as "Action King" for his roles in action films, Arjun has acted in more than 160 films, most of them being lead roles. He is one of few South Indian actors to attract fan following from multiple states of India. He has directed 12 films and also produced and distributed a number of films.
Prakash Raj is an Indian actor, film director, producer, television presenter, and politician. Known for his works in Telugu, Tamil, English, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi-language films, he is the recipient of several accolades, including five National Film Awards, eight Nandi Awards, eight Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, five Filmfare Awards South, four SIIMA Awards, three CineMAA Awards, and three Vijay Awards. Apart from his mother tongue Kannada, Raj's fluency in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, English, Tulu and Marathi has placed him among the most sought after actors in Indian cinema.
Sharmiela Mandre is an Indian actress and producer who primarily works in Kannada films. She made her acting debut with Sajni (2007) and then received success with Krishna, the same year. Mandre turned producer with the Tamil film Evanukku Engeyo Matcham Irukku (2018).
Jayashree, known by her screen name Sudha Rani, is an Indian actress, voice artist and former model. She has primarily worked in Kannada films in addition to a few Telugu, Tulu and Malayalam films. As on Feb 2024, she has acted in about 150 films across industries.
Meghana Sundar Raj Sarja is an Indian actress who primarily works in Malayalam and Kannada films along with a few Telugu and Tamil films. She made her acting debut in the 2009 Telugu film Bendu Apparao R.M.P. She has won Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in Iruvudellava Bittu, a 2018 Kannada film. She is the widow of Kannada actor Chiranjeevi Sarja.
Shruthi Chandrasena, known professionally as Hariprriya, is an Indian actress and model who chiefly works in Kannada films, in addition to a few Telugu and Tamil films.
Un Samayal Arayil in Tamil, Oggarane in Kannada (transl. Tempering) and Ulavacharu Biryani in Telugu, is a 2014 Indian romantic comedy film directed by Prakash Raj. A remake of Aashiq Abu's 2011 Malayalam film Salt N' Pepper, the film is simultaneously shot in three languages. It starts Prakash Raj alongside Sneha, Urvashi, Tejus and Samyukta Hornad. The film features the original score and soundtrack by Ilaiyaraja. The regular shoot commenced from 26 September at Mysore.
Whistle is a 2013 Indian Kannada-language horror thriller film starring Chiranjeevi Sarja alongside Pranitha Subhash, and directed by Prashant Raj. The story revolves around an engaged couple, who are chasing their dreams, the first of its kind in the Kannada Film Industry. It is a remake of the 2012 Tamil film Pizza. Notable directors Guruprasad and Chi. Gurudutt appear as supporting roles in the film.
Dhruva Sarja is an Indian actor who appears in Kannada films. He made his acting debut in the 2012 film, Addhuri.
Ravi Basrur is an Indian music composer, sound designer, lyricist and director who mostly works in the Kannada film industry. He is known for his collaborations with director Prashanth Neel, with whom he debuted in Ugramm. He is also a film director, having directed the films Gargar Mandala and Girmit.
Sudeepana Banakar Prabhudeva, popularly known by her stage name Aditi Prabhudeva, is an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Kannada cinema.
Kurukshetra is a 2019 Indian Kannada-language mythological war film written by J. K. Bharavi and directed by Naganna. The story is based on the epic poem Gadhayuddha by Ranna, which itself is based on the Indian epic Mahabharata. The story is centred on Duryodhana, the Kaurava king. The film was produced by Munirathna.
Sundar Raj is an Indian actor in the Kannada film industry (Sandalwood). Some of his notable films include Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane, Ondanondu Kaladalli, Chandanada Gombe, Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu (2001), Mathadana (2001), Aakasmika (1993).
Sree Raam Films International is an Indian film production and distribution company headed by Arjun Sarja.
Pramila Joshai is an Indian actress in the Kannada film industry. Some of the films of Pramila Joshai as an actor include Saheba (2017), Thayi (2008), Apthamitra (2004). She was credited as Parimalam in her debut Tamil film Vaidehi Kathirunthal (1984) which became a blockbuster hit and has attained cult status over the years.
Arjun Sarja is an Indian actor, producer and director who works predominantly in Tamil cinema and he also established his career in Telugu and Kannada cinema apart from a few Hindi and Malayalam films. He debuted as a child actor in the film Simhada Mari Sainya in the year 1981. Sarja had acted in more than 160 movies. He has directed 12 films and also produced and distributed a number of films. After starring in numerous Kannada films with minor roles, he starred in his first movie as an independent actor in Male Bantu Male. In 1984, Sarja made his Tamil Debut in Rama Narayanan's film Nandri. During the subsequent years he acted in many Telugu and Kannada films portraying lead and supporting roles in Trimurtulu (1987), Premagni (1989), Prathap (1990) and Shivanaga (1992).
Hariprriya is an Indian actress and model who mostly works in Kannada films, in addition to a few Telugu and Tamil films. She gained wide acclaim for her role in Ugramm which fetched her a lot of appreciation and awards and also for her performances in Ranna, Ricky, Neerdose, Bharjari, Samhaara, Jai Simha, Bell Bottom, Soojidara and D/O Parvathamma.
Guru Deshpande is an Indian film director, producer and distributor, known for his work in Kannada film industry. He is well known for Raja Huli starring Yash and Meghana Raj. In 2019, Guru Deshpande turned produced launching his banner G Cinemas and started a Film Institute under the name G Academy in Bengaluru.