Doddanna
**Doddanna** (born Sugurappa Doddanna, November 11, 1949) is a veteran Indian actor who works predominantly in Kannada cinema. With a prolific career spanning over four decades and an astonishing filmography of more than 500 films, he is celebrated as one of Sandalwood's most versatile, beloved, and enduring character artists. Born in Arsikere in Hassan district, he was the youngest son in his family and was named Kadale Doddappa after his grandfather. Before venturing into films, he was employed at the Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant in Bhadravati. During his time there, he immersed himself in the amateur theatre circuit through the Vighneshwara Kala Sangha and co-founded the theatre troupe Gandharva Ranga alongside close friends, honing his expressive acting chops on the stage. Doddanna made his silver-screen debut in the early 1980s with films like *Koodi Balidare Swarga Sukha* (1981) and *Kranthiyogi Basavanna* (1983). While he initially played villainous and ruthless henchman roles, his natural sense of humor and commanding physical presence soon led filmmakers to cast him in comedic and pivotal supporting parts. Over the late 1980s and 1990s, he evolved into a household staple, sharing legendary comic chemistry with peers such as Jaggesh, Tennis Krishna, Umashree, and Sadhu Kokila. He shared long-standing working relationships with Kannada cinema's biggest superstars, including Dr. Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Ambareesh, V. Ravichandran, Shiva Rajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar, and Darshan. Some of his most celebrated performances came in landmark films such as *Anjada Gandu* (1988), *Sangliyana* (1988), *C.B.I. Shankar* (1989), *Belli Kalungura* (1992), *Solillada Saradara* (1992), *Yarigu Helbedi* (1994), *Aaha Nanna Maduveyanthe* (1999), *Suryavamsha* (1999), *Laali Haadu* (2003), *Mata* (2006), and the historical epic *Kranthiveera Sangolli Rayanna* (2012). His role in the fantasy-comedy *Katari Veera Surasundarangi* (2012) earned him the SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actor. Equally adept at evoking laughter as he was at delivering heartfelt dramatic and authoritarian turns, Doddanna remains a towering, revered figure in Kannada film history.
Known For
Credits
- 2025 · Raktha Kashmira as
- 2025 · X & Y as Thatha
- 2024 · Karataka Damanaka as
- 2021 · Kaddu Mucchi as
- 2021 · Rajatantra as
- 2018 · Aatagadharaa Siva as
- 2014 · Weekend With Ramesh as Himself
- 2014 · Agraja as
- 2013 · Brindavana as
- 2012 · Katari Veera Surasundarangi as Chitragupta
- 2011 · Maryade Ramanna as
- 2010 · Mr. Theertha as Teertha's uncle
- 2010 · Aithalakkadi as
- 2010 · Nannavanu as
- 2010 · Kutti Pisasu as (Kannada version)
- 2010 · Ullasa Uthsaha as
- 2010 · Krishna Nee Late Aag Baro as
- 2009 · Raam as Dodda mallayya
- 2009 · Bhagyada Balegara as
- 2009 · Ainthaam Padai as Dhanushkodi
- 2009 · Chellidaru Sampigeya as
- 2008 · Ganesha Matthe Banda as
- 2008 · Nee Tata Naa Birla as
- 2008 · Bandhu Balaga as
- 2007 · Snehana Preethina as
- 2007 · Amrutha Vani as
- 2007 · Thayiya Madilu as
- 2006 · Ravi Shastry as
- 2006 · Sirivantha as
- 2006 · Ajay as
- 2006 · Sevanthi Sevanthi as
- 2006 · Hatavadi as
- 2005 · Pandu Ranga Vittala as
- 2005 · Vishnu Sena as
- 2005 · Anna Thangi as Doddanna
- 2005 · Auto Shankar as
- 2005 · Gowramma as
- 2005 · Rishi as
- 2004 · Chappale as
- 2004 · Maurya as
- 2004 · Pakkadmane Hudugi as
- 2004 · Ramakrishna as
- 2004 · Durgi as MLA
- 2004 · Dharma as
- 2004 · Jai as
- 2003 · Swaathi Mutthu as
- 2003 · Namma Preethiya Ramu as
- 2003 · Hrudayavantha as
- 2003 · Raktha Kanneeru as
- 2003 · Ree Swalpa Bartheera as
- 2003 · Kasu Iddone Basu as
- 2003 · Chandra Chakori as
- 2003 · Mane Magalu as
- 2003 · Kutumba as
- 2003 · Pakka Chukka as
- 2003 · Neenandre Ishta as
- 2003 · Laali Haadu as
- 2002 · Romeo Juliet as
- 2002 · Nagarahavu as
- 2002 · Prema Khaidi as
- 2002 · Neela Megha Shyama as
- 2002 · Dakota Express as Ugranarasimha
- 2002 · Jameendarru as
- 2001 · Jodi as
- 2001 · Banallu Neene Buviyallu Neene as
- 2001 · Kanasugara as
- 2001 · Usire as
- 2001 · Asura as
- 2001 · Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu as
- 2001 · Diggajaru as
- 2000 · Karpoorada Gombe as
- 2000 · Nannavalu Nannavalu as
- 2000 · Galate Aliyandru as
- 2000 · Jee Boomba as
- 1999 · O Premave as
- 1999 · Suryavamsha as Dodda Kanakamurthy's uncle
- 1999 · Naanu Nanna Hendtheeru as
- 1999 · Ravimama as
- 1999 · Tuvvi Tuvvi Tuvvi as
- 1999 · Kubera as
- 1998 · Preethsod Thappa as
- 1998 · Hello Yama as Yama
- 1998 · Agni Sakshi as
- 1998 · Yaare Neenu Cheluve as
- 1998 · Megha Banthu Megha as
- 1997 · Jackie Chan as
- 1997 · Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda as
- 1997 · Bhanda Alla Bahaddur as
- 1997 · Lakshmi Mahalakshmi as
- 1997 · Janani Janmabhoomi as
- 1997 · Ee Hrudaya Ninagagi as
- 1997 · Thayi Kotta Seere as
- 1997 · Cheluva as
- 1996 · Anuraga Spandana as
- 1996 · Gulaabi as
- 1996 · Circle Inspector as
- 1996 · Jeevanadi as
- 1996 · Gaaya as
- 1996 · Sipayi as
- 1996 · Shiva Sainya as Mallayya
- 1996 · Thavarina Thottilu as
- 1996 · Appaji as
- 1995 · Gulabi as Jangayya
- 1995 · Hello Sister as
- 1995 · Karulina Kudi as
- 1995 · Bal Nan Maga as
- 1995 · Gadibidi Aliya as
- 1995 · Mojugara Sogasugara as
- 1994 · Curfew as
- 1994 · Bhairava as
- 1994 · Mutthanna as
- 1994 · Halunda Tavaru as
- 1994 · Lockup Death as
- 1994 · Jailer Jagannath as
- 1994 · Karulina Koogu as
- 1993 · Navibbaru Namagibbaru as
- 1993 · Urvashi Kalyana as
- 1993 · Alimayya as
- 1993 · Bombaat Huduga as
- 1993 · Gadibidi Ganda as Mohana's father
- 1993 · Muddina Maava as Vishakantaiah
- 1993 · Kollura Sri Mookambika as Daksha
- 1992 · Shivanaga as
- 1992 · Alli Ramachari Illi Brahmachari as
- 1992 · Bharjari Gandu as
- 1992 · Belli Modagalu as
- 1992 · Aathma Bandhana as
- 1992 · Solillada Saradara as
- 1992 · Mysore Jaana as
- 1992 · Shakthi Yukthi as
- 1992 · Belli Kalungura as
- 1992 · Chithralekha as
- 1991 · Ranachandi as
- 1991 · Shanti Kranti as Subhash's Father (Kannada Version)
- 1991 · Nanagu Hendthi Beku as
- 1991 · Modada Mareyalli as
- 1991 · Readymade Ganda as
- 1991 · Gandanige Thakka Hendthi as
- 1991 · Kitthurina Huli as
- 1990 · Nighooda Rahasya as
- 1990 · Baare Nanna Muddina Rani as
- 1990 · Mathe Hadithu Kogile as Santhosh
- 1990 · Bhale Chathura as
- 1990 · Challenge Gopalakrishna as
- 1990 · Thrinethra as
- 1990 · Aavesha as Circle inspector S. Mrutyunjaya
- 1990 · Poli Kitty as
- 1990 · Ramarajyadalli Rakshasaru as
- 1990 · Shivashankar as
- 1990 · Ranabheri as
- 1989 · Gajapathi Garvabhanga as
- 1989 · Narasimha as
- 1989 · Kindari Jogi as
- 1989 · Indrajith as
- 1989 · Thayigobba Tharle Maga as
- 1989 · Hrudaya Geethe as
- 1989 · Hongkongnalli Agent Amar as
- 1989 · Yuddha Kaanda as
- 1989 · C.B.I Shankar as SI Galappa Doddamani
- 1989 · Idu Saadhya as
- 1988 · Daada as
- 1988 · Sangliyana as
- 1988 · Anjada Gandu as Gopal
- 1988 · Mathrudevobhava as
- 1988 · Jana Nayaka as
- 1988 · Shiva Mecchida Kannappa as Doddayya
- 1988 · Ranadheera as Lawyer
- 1988 · Brahma Vishnu Maheshwara as
- 1987 · Nava Bharatha as
- 1987 · Sangrama as
- 1986 · Rathasapthami as Srikantaiah
- 1985 · Thayiya Hone as
- 1985 · Veeradhi Veera as
- 1984 · Huli Hejje as
- 1984 · Onde Raktha as
- 1982 · Parajitha as
- 1981 · Koodi Baalidare Swarga Sukha as