Who is Mahalinga Bhagavathar? Wiki, Age, Wife, Family & Facts About Vinod Rajs Father

Mahalinga Bhagavathar was a theater artist and supporting actor who worked in several Kannada and Tamil movies from 1935 to 1970. He was born in Gumpe village in Manjeshwar Taluk, Kasaragod district, Kerala. His exact date of birth is not known, but he is estimated to have been born around 1910.

He married actress Leelavathi, who was a prominent heroine and later a character artist in Kannada cinema. They had a son, Vinod Raj, who is also an actor and singer in Kannada cinema and is the illegitimate son of legendary actor Dr. Rajkumar.

Early Life and Career

Mahalinga developed an interest in theater and drama from a young age. He joined the drama companies of Subbaiah Naidu and Gubbi Veeranna, where he learned the nuances of acting and stagecraft. He also met Leelavathi, who was a young actress in Subbaiah Naidu’s company and married her. He introduced Leelavathi to Kannada cinema and helped her establish herself as a leading lady.

Bhagavathar made his film debut in 1935 with the Tamil film Sathi Ahalya, directed by Raja Chandrasekhar. He then acted in several Tamil and Kannada films, mostly in supporting roles. Some of his notable films are Bhakta Prahlada (1958), Ranadheera Kanteerava (1960), Bhoodana (1962), Malaiyoor Mambattiyan (1983), and Kodi Parakkuthu (1988). He was known for his versatility and ability to portray different characters with ease.

Mahalinga Bhagavathar Wiki/Bio

Personal Life and Family

Mahalinga Bhagavathar and Leelavathi had a son, Vinod, who was born in 1967 in Chennai. Vinod was the result of an affair that Leelavathi had with Dr. Rajkumar, who was a superstar and cultural icon in Kannada cinema. Dr. Rajkumar was married to Parvathamma Rajkumar, who was also a film producer and distributor.

The affair was kept a secret for many years until Vinod Raj revealed his true identity in a television interview in 2006. Vinod Raj said that he had met his biological father only once when he was 14 years old and that he had no contact with him or his family thereafter. He also said that he respected Bhagavathar as his father, who raised him with love and care.

Vinod Raj followed his parents’ footsteps and became an actor and singer in Kannada cinema. He made his debut in 1987 with the film Dance Raja Dance, which showcased his dancing skills. He then acted in several films, mostly in lead roles, such as Krishna Nee Kunidaga (1989), Nanagu Hendthi Beku (1991), Captain (1993), and Kanthaswamy (2009).

He also released an album of devotional songs, Bhaktanjali, in 2009. He said that his inspiration for both singing and dancing was Michael Jackson. He is married to Rajeshwari, who is a sub-collector and the sister of director-actor Thyagarajan. They have three children, including Dhruv, who is also an actor.

Mahalinga died in 1970, at the age of around 60. Leelavathi died in 2023, at the age of 86. They were both cremated at the Kilpauk cemetery in Chennai.

Who is Vinod Rajkumar?

Vinod Rajkumar, also known as Vinod Raj, is an Indian actor and singer who works mainly in Kannada cinema. He is the son of actress Leelavathi and the illegitimate son of legendary actor Dr. Rajkumar. He is known for his dancing skills and his devotional songs.

Vinod Rajkumar was born on July 5, 1967, in Chennai. His mother, Leelavathi, was a popular heroine and later a character artist in Kannada cinema. She had an affair with Dr. Rajkumar, who was a superstar and a cultural icon in Kannada cinema. Dr. Rajkumar was married to Parvathamma Rajkumar, who was also a film producer and distributor.

The affair was kept a secret for many years, until Vinod Rajkumar revealed his true identity in a television interview in 2006. He said that he had met his biological father only once, when he was 14 years old, and that he had no contact with him or his family thereafter. He also said that he respected Mahalinga Bhagavathar as his father, who raised him with love and care. Mahalinga was a theater artist and a supporting actor who worked in several Kannada and Tamil movies. He died in 1970.

Vinod Rajkumar followed his parents’ footsteps and became an actor and singer in Kannada cinema. He made his debut in 1987 with the film Dance Raja Dance, which showcased his dancing skills. He then acted in several films, mostly in lead roles, such as Krishna Nee Kunidaga (1989), Nanagu Hendthi Beku (1991), Captain (1993), and Kanthaswamy (2009). He also released an album of devotional songs, Bhaktanjali, in 2009. He said that his inspiration for both singing and dancing was Michael Jackson. He is married to Rajeshwari, who is a sub-collector and the sister of director-actor Thyagarajan. They have three children, including Dhruv, who is also an actor.

Vinod Rajkumar is the cousin of actor Prashanth, who is the son of Thyagarajan and the grandson of actor-director P. Subbaiah Naidu. He is also related to actor Arjun Sarja, who is the nephew of P. Subbaiah Naidu. He has worked with actors such as Ambareesh, Ramesh Arvind, and Srinivas Murthy. He has also been a judge on a television show called Rock n Roll.

Vinod Rajkumar is a versatile and talented actor and singer who has carved his own niche in the Kannada film industry. He is the son of two legendary actors, Leelavathi and Dr. Rajkumar, and has inherited their passion and talent for cinema. He is also a devoted and caring son, husband, and father, who has fulfilled his mother’s wishes and taken care of her until her death in 2023.

What Happened to Leelavathi?

Leelavathi was a legendary actress who worked in more than 600 films in Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu languages. She was known for her versatile roles and memorable performances in films like Bhakta Prahlada, Santha Thukaram, and Mana Mecchida Madadi. She was also the mother of actor and singer Vinod Raj, who is the illegitimate son of Dr. Rajkumar.

Leelavathi died on 8 December 2023, at the age of 86, at a private hospital in Nelamangala, near Bengaluru. She was suffering from age-related ailments and had been bedridden for some time. Her son Vinod Raj was taking care of her and fulfilling her wishes, such as building a veterinary hospital in her name.

She was cremated at the Kilpauk cemetery in Chennai, where her husband Mahalinga Bhagavathar, a theater artist and supporting actor, was also buried. She was mourned by many film personalities, fans, and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called her a “true icon of cinema”

Trivia

• Bhagavathar was also a singer and a harmonium player. He sang for some of his films, such as Bhakta Prahlada and Ranadheera Kanteerava.
• Mahalinga and Leelavathi acted together in several films, such as Rani Honnamma (1960), Santha Thukaram (1963), and Kaivara Mahatme (1967).
• Bhagavathar and Leelavathi were conferred with an honorary doctorate from Tumkur University in 2008 for their contribution to southern cinema.
• Vinod Raj is the cousin of actor Prashanth, who is the son of Thyagarajan and the grandson of actor-director P. Subbaiah Naidu.
• Vinod Raj’s stage name is derived from his father’s name, his original name, his mother’s name, and his sun sign. He took “Vi” from Vinod, “K” from Kennedy, “Ra” from Rajeshwari, and “Ram” from Aries.

Mahalinga Bhagavathar was a theater artist and supporting actor who worked in several Kannada and Tamil movies. He was married to actress Leelavathi, who was a prominent heroine and later a character artist in Kannada cinema. They had a son, Vinod Raj, who is also an actor and singer in Kannada cinema, and is the illegitimate son of legendary actor Dr. Rajkumar. Mahalinga and Leelavathi were both honored with the honorary doctorate from the Tumkur University for their contribution to the southern cinema. They were both cremated at the Kilpauk cemetery in Chennai.

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