1. Jaggesh
- Born 17 March 1963, Tumkuru district, Karnataka.
- Known for his bubbly, distinctive mannerisms and comic
timing; earned the nickname “Navarasa Nayaka”.
- Started with supporting roles, then lead roles in films
like Tharle Nan Maga (1992) which became a breakout.
- Style: Fast-paced dialogue delivery, comic-hero roles,
mixing humour with emotion.
- Contribution: Showed that a comedian can carry a film
as lead, bridging comedy and mainstream commercial cinema.
2.
Sadhu Kokila
- Multi-talented: comedian, actor, musician, director.
(See list where he appears among top comedy actors)
- Style: Slapstick, physical humour, colourful
characters, memorable for his comic tracks in many Kannada films.
- Contribution: A key figure in modern Sandalwood comedy;
brought in a fresh look and newer comedic timing.
3.
Rangayana Raghu
- Recognised for his versatility in comedy as well as
serious roles; over 250 films.
- Style: Strong presence, comedic supporting roles with
distinct dialogue delivery and expressions.
- Contribution: Added weight to character-comedy in
Kannada – not just side jokes, but memorable roles.
4.
Doddanna
- Veteran actor-comedian listed among best Kannada
comedians.
- Style: Mature comedic roles, often playing
father-figures or comedic elder characters, delivering humour with
subtlety.
- Contribution: Made comedy accessible across
generations; a pillar in the industry for supporting humour roles.
5.
Tennis Krishna
- Born 5 June 1961 in Bengaluru.
- Has acted in over 600 films; well-known for pairing
with Rekha Das in comedic “century”-pair films.
- Style: Rural humour, situational comedy, large
expressive performances.
- Contribution: A very prolific comedian – filled the
market with laugh-out-loud roles in the 1990s and 2000s.
6.
M. S. Umesh
- Born 24 April 1945, Mysore. Career spans six decades in
Kannada cinema.
- Style: Subtle comedic expressions, face-based humour,
dialogue-timing rather than slapstick.
- Contribution: Represents the older era of Kannada
comedy, respected for his craft and longevity.
7.
Komal Kumar
- Listed among notable Kannada comedians who later also
acted in bigger roles.
- Style: Young-generation comic roles, mixing modern
elements with traditional humour.
- Contribution: Represents transition era – comedic
actors leveraging their popularity into wider roles.
8.
Jagadeesh
- Recognised in lists of best comedians in Kannada films.
- Style: Supporting comedic roles with high energy,
consistent presence in many films.
- Contribution: Reliable comic presence; helped maintain
the tradition of strong supporting humour actors.
9.
Kuri Prathap
- Active 2007-present; known for TV and film comedy in
Kannada.
- Style: Youthful, character-based humour, often in
ensemble cast films.
- Contribution: Represents newer wave of comedic actors
in Kannada – bridging TV & film, ensemble humour.
10.
Vaijanath Biradar
- Also appears in rankings of best Kannada comedians.
- Style: Character-actor comedian, often using regional
dialect, local comedic context.
- Contribution: Keeps local comedic flavour alive in
Kannada cinema; ensures representation of diverse humour styles.
Conclusion
The comedy-scene in Sandalwood is
rich and varied. From veterans like M. S. Umesh and Doddanna, through prolific
performers like Tennis Krishna and Sadhu Kokila, to transition stars like
Jaggesh and Komal Kumar, each has added their own flavour. These ten comedians
show how Kannada cinema blends slapstick, situational humour, regional
dialects and character-comedy effectively.
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