Actor Rangayana Raghu | Photo Credit: Ravichandran N.

Rangayana Raghu is enjoying a new phase in his career. The Kannada actor, who has three decades of experience in cinema, is now seen in stories revolving around his characters.

Raghu rose to prominence with his brilliant timing and commendable consistency as a character artiste. Vegetarian And muren krishnappa In 2024, he is now carrying films on his shoulders with confidence.

Well versed with the rich heritage of Kannada, Raghu was excited to do both the films as it gave him an opportunity to understand the different dialects of the language.” The film’s director Sandip Sunkar said, Vegetarian, is from Shivamogga. The story takes place in Tirthahalli, a town in Shivamogga. He had a good command over the Kannada language spoken in the district. Once I learnt the dialect, it became easy to live up to the character,” says Raghu.

Rangayana Raghu in ‘Shakhahari’. | Photo Credit: MRT Music/YouTube

muren krishnappa it was a story of a villagein Anekal. “Director Naveen Narayanghatta is from that part of Karnataka, so he wrote the script in that dialect. I enjoyed playing a character who spoke Kannada with Anekal and Kolar slang,” he adds.

herbivorous It is a thriller in which Raghu risks his life to shelter a man accused of murdering his wife. Playing the role of a cook who owns a small hotel, Raghu’s character, Subbanna, is also a theatre lover and is secretly in love with someone.

The veteran actor has showcased his versatility to make a mark in the challenging role. After a good run in theatres, the film has now crossed one crore streaming minutes on Prime Video.

“I was impressed with the story. Subbanna loves his little world and wants to enjoy life. But what happens when he has to defend his dubious acts and hope for a bright future? Such a challenging situation makes the character very vulnerable. And the film has many twists and turns to keep you hooked,” explains Raghu.

After a point of time, Subbanna becomes ruthless to survive. How did people react to the seriousness of the role? “Some people found it difficult to digest,” Raghu said.

Rangayana Raghu as a panchayat leader in ‘Murane Krishnappa’ | Photo Credit: Anand Audio/YouTube

“Kaikeyi is an important character in Ramayan, but many people don’t like her because of her intentions. Crime and sex sell on OTT platforms these days. We all know that a man in Delhi cuts his partner’s body into pieces and keeps them in the refrigerator; streamers track and connect with horrific true crime stories. herbivorous This too is partly based on a true incident.”

With his expressions and brilliant dialogue delivery, Raghu also looks hilarious in the role of a panchayat leader in this movie. Muren Krishnappa. It is a delight to watch him play a desperate man who wants to bring the CM to the inauguration of a temple in his village.

“Perhaps my long stint with Rangayana (theatre institute in Mysore) helped me master comedy. I travelled across the country and did many comedy plays. People from different regions reacted differently to comedy. For instance, people in Mangaluru are difficult to please. They accept whatever you do straightaway; only if they really like a performance do they appreciate you,” he says. “So I observed people to understand what works and what doesn’t in comedy,” he says.

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Many fans feel that Kannada filmmakers have underutilised Raghu so far, and believe he has been wasted in exaggerated, comic roles. “Being exaggerated is also a kind of performance. Not everyone can do it. I agree that I have done formulaic roles, but I never let my career become monotonous. I am not a fan of Kannada films like Suri (filmmaker)world, wild) and Yogiraj Bhat (Galipaat, God) He said, “I have always written characters that are unique to me. If I feel I am no longer versatile, I will leave this profession.”

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Raghu is excited about his upcoming projects, which he feels will lead to his 2.0 phase. “I have played many interesting characters PowderAgnyathwasi, Uttarakhand, And Sanju Weds Geeta 2. I can never give up commercial cinema. However, I want filmmakers to offer me roles that make me think. Unique characters bring out the best in you, and it helps you reflect on your personality,” he added.