D. Rajendra Babu

D. Rajendra Babu
Born	30 March 1951
Died	3 November 2013 (aged 62) Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Other names	Babu
Occupation	Director and writer
Years active	1984–2013
Spouse(s)	Sumithra
Children	Umashankari (daughter) Nakshatra (daughter)

D. Rajendra Babu (Kannada: ರಾಜೇಂದ್ರ ಬಾಬು) (30 March 1951 – 3 November 2013) was a Kannada film maker and screenplay writer. He has directed for over 50 films in various genres, most of them being sentimental films. He wrote and directed numerous blockbuster films, though many of them are re-makes. Apart from Kannada films, he directed a few Telugu and Tamil films along with a Malayalam and Hindi film each. He is considered one of the most revered directors of Kannada film industry sandalwood.

Some of the notable works of Babu are Nanu Nanna Hendathi (1985), Olavina Udugore (1987), Ramachaari (1991), Ramarajyadalli Rakshasaru (1990), Halunda Thavaru (1994), Appaji (1996), Diggajaru (2000), Amma (2001), Encounter Dayanayak (2005) and Bindaas (2010).

Early career

Babu joined the Kannada film industry in early 1980s as an actor but later on became a filmmaker. He worked as an associate to many top directors like Rajendra Singh Babu, K. S. R. Das and V. Somashekhar.

Babu became an independent director with Jiddu starring Tiger Prabhakar and Jayamala. Though the film was not a big success, his subsequent films like Swabhimaana and Naanu Nanna Hendthi were massive silver jubilee hits. He has so far directed 50 films including a Hindi film, Pyaar Karke Dekho (1987).

Personal life

Babu was married to Sumithra, a multi-lingual actress. They have two daughters – Umashankari and Nakshatra. Nakshatra has made her acting debut in a Tamil film Doo.

Death

Babu was admitted to M. S. Ramaiah Hospital on 2 November 2013 after he complained of abdominal pain. He died of a heart attack in the hospital on the morning of 3 November.^[1]

Filmography

Year	Film	Credited as		Language	Notes
		Director	Screenplay
1984	Jiddu			Kannada
1984	Kalinga Sarpa			Kannada
1984	Hosa Ithihaasa			Kannada
1985	Swabhimana			Kannada
1985	Naanu Nanna Hendthi			Kannada
1986	Asambhava			Kannada
1986	Rekthabhishekam			Malayalam
1987	Olavina Udugore			Kannada	Also co-produced
1987	Pyaar Karke Dekho			Hindi
1989	Yuga Purusha			Kannada	Remake of Karz
1989	Samsara Nouke			Kannada
1990	Ramarajyadalli Rakshasaru			Kannada
1990	Chakravarthy			Kannada
1991	Kaala Chakra			Kannada	Also story
1991	Ramachaari		N	Kannada	Remake of Chinna Thambi
1992	Entede Bhanta			Kannada	Based on novel by Sudarshan Desai
1992	Sriramachandra			Kannada
1993	Annayya			Kannada
1994	Haalunda Thavaru			Kannada	Also dialogues
1994	Karulina Koogu			Kannada
1996	Appaji			Kannada
1996	Jeevanadhi			Kannada
1997	Jodi Hakki			Kannada	Also writer Karnataka State Film Award for Best Screenplay
1998	Kurubana Rani			Kannada	Also writer and dialogues
1998	Yaare Neenu Cheluve		N	Kannada
1999	Habba			Kannada	Karnataka State Film Award for Best Screenplay
2000	Devara Maga			Kannada
2000	Krishna Leele			Kannada
2000	Preethse			Kannada
2000	Yare Nee Abhimani			Kannada
2001	Diggajaru		N	Kannada	Remake of Natpukkaga
2002	Nandhi			Kannada
2002	Naanu Naane			Kannada	Remake of Raja Hindustani
2003	Swathi Muthu		N	Kannada
2005	Encounter Dayanayak		N	Kannada	Based on the life of encounter specialist Daya Nayak[2]
2005	Auto Shankar		N	Kannada
2006	Uppi Dada MBBS			Kannada
2008	Bindaas			Kannada	Based on Telugu film Dhana 51
2008	Bombaat			Kannada
2014	Aryan			Kannada	Also writer and dialogues Posthumously released

Awards & Honors

• 2011 – Karnataka State Award for Lifetime Achievement.^[3]
• 2012 – Puttanna Kanagal Award for Outstanding contribution in Kannada cinema.^[4]

References

1. "Kannada film director Rajendra Babu dead". The Hindu. 3 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
2. "Police-underworld skirmishes". The Hindu. 13 February 2005. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
3. 'Prasad' gets best film award for 2011
4. Rajendra Babu Elated

External links

• D. Rajednra Babu demise: Oneindia Kannada
• D. Rajendra Babu at the Internet Movie Database