More than a decade after his passing, Kannada cinema’s beloved “Sahasa Simha” Dr Vishnuvardhan is set to receive Karnataka’s highest civilian honour, the Karnataka Ratna. The state cabinet, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, announced the decision on Thursday — just days ahead of what would have been the actor’s 75th birthday on September 18.
For generations of fans, the timing couldn’t be more symbolic. Had he been alive, Vishnuvardhan would be celebrating a milestone platinum jubilee, and admirers across Karnataka were already planning large-scale festivities. The government’s announcement has now turned those celebrations into a double delight.
Born in Mysuru in 1950, Vishnuvardhan stormed into cinema with Girish Karnad’s Vamsha Vriksha (1971), but it was Puttanna Kanagal’s Naagarahaavu (1972) that gave him his defining breakthrough as the fiery “angry young man” Ramachari. Over the next four decades, he headlined more than 200 films across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi, effortlessly slipping between action, romance, comedy, and family dramas. Fans simply called him “Dada”.
Despite superstardom and an enduring partnership with fellow legend Ambareesh, Vishnuvardhan’s career was not without turbulence. At one point, weary of fan wars and industry politics, he even contemplated leaving cinema. Instead, he reinvented himself, leaving behind classics like Bandhana, Muttina Haara, and his swan song Aaptharakshaka (2009). His very first and final films both won him the Karnataka State Award for Best Actor — a rare full-circle legacy.
Sixteen years after his death at the age of 59, Vishnuvardhan’s name still evokes reverence. Calls for him to receive the Karnataka Ratna have persisted for years, with petitions submitted to successive governments. The honour, finally realised, fulfills a long-cherished dream of his fans.
The celebrations don’t end there. Actor Kichcha Sudeep is reportedly working on establishing a Vishnuvardhan Darshan Center near Kengeri, further cementing the star’s enduring presence in Karnataka’s cultural memory.
In a parallel decision, the Karnataka cabinet also moved to honour another towering name from Indian cinema: veteran actress B Saroja Devi. A screen icon of the 1950s through the 70s, she worked across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi films, often paired with superstars like Dr Rajkumar, MG Ramachandran, and Sivaji Ganesan. Posthumously awarding her the Karnataka Ratna recognises not only her luminous filmography but also her role in shaping the golden era of South Indian cinema.
The cabinet also announced that it will recommend India’s highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, for the state’s most celebrated literary voice — poet laureate Kuvempu. Known for his works rooted in humanism and universalism, Kuvempu redefined modern Kannada literature and was the first writer in Kannada to receive the Jnanpith Award.