# Rangayana Raghu (ರಂಗಾಯಣ ರಘು)
**Rangayana Raghu** (ರಂಗಾಯಣ ರಘು; born 1965) is the screen name of Kotturu Chikkarangappa Raghunath, an Indian film and stage actor known for his work in [Kannada cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/kannada-cinema).[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/rangayana-raghu.html) He began as a theater performer with the Mysuru troupe Rangayana before moving into films, where he built a career the actor has described as spanning more than 400 films, playing comic, negative-shaded, and character roles, and in his late 50s moved into leading roles.[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/rangayana-raghu/biography.html) • [3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/new-age-filmmakers-are-redefining-kannada-cinema-rangayana-raghu/articleshow/110118467.cms)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1965, Kotturu, Pavagada taluk, Tumkur district, Karnataka[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/rangayana-raghu/biography.html) • [1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/rangayana-raghu.html) |
| Real name | Kotturu Chikkarangappa Raghunath[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/rangayana-raghu.html) |
| Theatre | Stage actor with B. V. Karanth's theater group Rangayana, 1988 to 1999[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/rangayana-raghu/biography.html) |
| Screen debut | 1992 telefilm *Kanasugitti* on Chandana Vainavi, directed by B. Suresh from Yogaraj Bhat's first story; his first film, *Suggi*, was never released[4](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/amp/celebrity-interviews/rangayana-raghu-400-movies-political-entry-theatre-to-cinema-journey-interview-gvd/articleshow-atssut6) |
| Filmography | More than 400 films, according to the actor in a 2024 interview[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/new-age-filmmakers-are-redefining-kannada-cinema-rangayana-raghu/articleshow/110118467.cms) |
| Awards | Filmfare Award, Best Supporting Actor (Kannada), for *Tagaru Palya* (2023); 2 wins and 12 nominations overall[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1679254/awards/) |
| Breakthrough | *Duniya* (2007), which earned him the Karnataka State Award for Best Supporting Actor[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/rangayana-raghu/biography.html) |
## Theatre background
Raghu was born in Kotturu, a village in Pavagada taluk of Tumkur district, to a family rooted in folk performance; in a 2026 interview he recalled that his father, Chikkarangappa, was a Bayalaata artist and that the roots of his own art probably came from there.[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/rangayana-raghu/biography.html) • [4](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/amp/celebrity-interviews/rangayana-raghu-400-movies-political-entry-theatre-to-cinema-journey-interview-gvd/articleshow-atssut6) His screen name records his theatrical origin: he worked as a stage actor with the theater institute Rangayana, the Mysuru repertory founded by director [B. V. Karanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/b-v-karanth), from 1988 to 1999.[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/rangayana-raghu/biography.html) In theater he became known through plays including *Pratishodha*, *Kindari Jogi*, *Road*, *Chakavo*, and *Pugalindi Prahasana*.[6](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/top-listing/ranghayana-raghu-to-sathish-ninasam-here-is-the-list-of-theater-artists-who-have-gained-fame-in-sandalwood-3-4302.html)
## Entry into cinema
His first screen appearance came in 1992 through the telefilm *Kanasugitti*, directed by B. Suresh and broadcast on Chandana Vainavi, written by Yogaraj Bhat, who has described it as his first story.[4](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/amp/celebrity-interviews/rangayana-raghu-400-movies-political-entry-theatre-to-cinema-journey-interview-gvd/articleshow-atssut6) The transition to films was rocky. His first feature, *Suggi*, directed by [Hamsalekha](https://www.edgepedia.org/hamsalekha), was never released; in his own telling, his unreleased debut never discouraged him from staying on.[4](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/amp/celebrity-interviews/rangayana-raghu-400-movies-political-entry-theatre-to-cinema-journey-interview-gvd/articleshow-atssut6) • [3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/new-age-filmmakers-are-redefining-kannada-cinema-rangayana-raghu/articleshow/110118467.cms) Early credits he lists include *Bhoomi Thayiya Chochchala Maga*, *Megha Banthu Megha*, *Bhoomigeethe*, *Chandrodaya*, *Singaaravva*, *Aramane*, *Duniya*, and *Modalasala*.[4](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/amp/celebrity-interviews/rangayana-raghu-400-movies-political-entry-theatre-to-cinema-journey-interview-gvd/articleshow-atssut6)
## Breakthrough and character work
**Duniya and the 2000s.** The 2007 film *Duniya*, starring Vijay, made him widely noted and brought him the Karnataka State Award for Best Supporting Actor.[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/rangayana-raghu/biography.html) Follow-up hits included *Gaalipata*, *Junglee*, and *Milana*.[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/rangayana-raghu/biography.html) Raghu has described his approach to negative roles as deliberately softened with comedy, in films such as *Ranga SSLC* and *Suntaragaali*, citing earlier performers Balakrishna and Musuri Krishnamurthy as inspiration for playing gray characters with a comic touch.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/new-age-filmmakers-are-redefining-kannada-cinema-rangayana-raghu/articleshow/110118467.cms) Other notable roles of this period include *Cyanide*, *Raam*, *Olave Mandara*, and *Jayammana Maga*, the last earning him a 2014 Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actor.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1679254/awards/)
He has said the early 2000s were a weak period for Kannada cinema because of a flood of remakes, and that strong character roles in films like *Mani*, *Ranga SSLC*, *Duniya*, *Olave Mandara*, and *Inti Ninna Preethiya* helped local artists prove their potential at a time when makers preferred talent from other industries.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/new-age-filmmakers-are-redefining-kannada-cinema-rangayana-raghu/articleshow/110118467.cms)
## Leading roles after 2023
**A late-career shift.** Around 2024 Raghu's career moved from character and supporting parts to leading films. In *[Shakhahaari](https://www.edgepedia.org/shakhahaari)* (2024), a thriller written and directed by Sandeep Sunkad, he played Subbanna Bhat, an eatery owner around whom the plot's crimes gather; he has said that learning the Kannada dialect spoken in Thirthahalli, in Shivamogga district, let him inhabit the character.[7](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/interviews/2024/feb/15/i-value-every-role-regardless-of-its-duration-on-screen-rangayana-raghu-52071.html) • [8](https://dunlas.com/rangayana-raghu-interview-i-love-roles-that-make-me-think/) The role brought him a Filmfare nomination for Best Actor in 2025, a year after he won Filmfare's Best Supporting Actor for *Tagaru Palya* (2023).[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1679254/awards/) The rural political comedy *Moorane Krishnappa* and the murder mystery *[Agnyathavasi](https://www.edgepedia.org/agnyathavasi-2025-film)*, directed by Janardhan Chikkanna, followed in the same period; for *Just Pass*, directed by K. M. Raghunath, he played a school principal for the first time.[7](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/interviews/2024/feb/15/i-value-every-role-regardless-of-its-duration-on-screen-rangayana-raghu-52071.html) • [9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/kannada/interviews/2024/Jan/01/rangayana-raghus-character-is-an-important-layer-of-just-pass-50839.html) • [10](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/movie-reviews/rangayana-raghu-sampath-maitreya-starrer-moorane-krishnappa-film-review-gvd-se1ho3)
**Milestones.** In 2026 the title of his 400th film, *Hosa Jeevana*, was launched by actor Daali Dhananjay.[11](https://tv9kannada.com/entertainment/sandalwood/rangayana-raghu-400th-movie-hosa-jeevana-title-launched-by-daali-dhananjay-1199114.html) He also moved to streaming: his first web series, *[Maarigallu](https://www.edgepedia.org/maarigallu)*, written and directed by Devaraj Poojari, began streaming on ZEE5 in 2025 from [Puneeth Rajkumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/puneeth-rajkumar)'s banner PRK Productions.[12](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/kannada/interviews/2025/Nov/02/rangayana-raghu-an-artist-must-keep-evolving-like-a-farmer)
## Reception
IMDb lists 325 acting credits for him and identifies *Johny Mera Naam Preethi Mera Kaam* (2011), *Tagaru Palya* (2023), and *Badava Rascal* (2021) among his known works, alongside *Hudugaru* (2011).[13](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1679254/) Reviewers of his recent films have singled out his performances: a review of *Agnyathavasi* found his work appealing even while judging the film itself average, rating it 2.5 out of 5.[14](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/reviews/rangayana-raghu-starrer-agnyathavasi-review-rating-in-kannada-098189.html)
## References
1. [ರಂಗಾಯಣ ರಘು – ಜೀವನ ಚರಿತ್ರೆ, Filmibeat Kannada](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/rangayana-raghu.html)
2. [Rangayana Raghu Biography, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/rangayana-raghu/biography.html)
3. [New-age filmmakers are redefining Kannada cinema: Rangayana Raghu, The Times of India (May 15, 2024)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/new-age-filmmakers-are-redefining-kannada-cinema-rangayana-raghu/articleshow/110118467.cms)
4. [Rangayana Raghu Exclusive Interview, Asianet Suvarna News (June 15, 2026)](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/amp/celebrity-interviews/rangayana-raghu-400-movies-political-entry-theatre-to-cinema-journey-interview-gvd/articleshow-atssut6)
5. [Rangayana Raghu – Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1679254/awards/)
6. [ರಂಗಭೂಮಿ ಕಲಾವಿದರು ಸಿನಿಮಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಖ್ಯಾತಿ, Filmibeat](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/top-listing/ranghayana-raghu-to-sathish-ninasam-here-is-the-list-of-theater-artists-who-have-gained-fame-in-sandalwood-3-4302.html)
7. [I value every role, regardless of its duration on screen: Rangayana Raghu, Cinema Express (February 15, 2024)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/interviews/2024/feb/15/i-value-every-role-regardless-of-its-duration-on-screen-rangayana-raghu-52071.html)
8. [Rangayana Raghu interview: I love roles that make me think, Dunlas (June 4, 2024)](https://dunlas.com/rangayana-raghu-interview-i-love-roles-that-make-me-think/)
9. [Rangayana Raghu's character is an important layer of Just Pass, Cinema Express (January 1, 2024)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/kannada/interviews/2024/Jan/01/rangayana-raghus-character-is-an-important-layer-of-just-pass-50839.html)
10. [Moorane Krishnappa review, Asianet Suvarna News (May 25, 2024)](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/movie-reviews/rangayana-raghu-sampath-maitreya-starrer-moorane-krishnappa-film-review-gvd-se1ho3)
11. [ರಂಗಾಯಣ ರಘು 400ನೇ ಸಿನಿಮಾ 'ಹೊಸ ಜೀವನ', TV9 Kannada (June 14, 2026)](https://tv9kannada.com/entertainment/sandalwood/rangayana-raghu-400th-movie-hosa-jeevana-title-launched-by-daali-dhananjay-1199114.html)
12. [Rangayana Raghu: An artist must keep evolving like a farmer, Cinema Express (November 2, 2025)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/kannada/interviews/2025/Nov/02/rangayana-raghu-an-artist-must-keep-evolving-like-a-farmer)
13. [Rangayana Raghu, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1679254/)
14. [Agnyathavasi review, Filmibeat Kannada (April 17, 2025)](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/reviews/rangayana-raghu-starrer-agnyathavasi-review-rating-in-kannada-098189.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Kannada film actors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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