H. G. Dattatreya


Harihar Gundurao Dattatreya, popularly known as Dattanna, is an Indian actor who has appeared in more than 204 films and several plays. Alongside his career as an actor, he served in the Indian Air Force as an Aeronautical Engineer for over 20 years and also occupied academic positions with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. He is best known for his work in Kannada cinema, in which he appears in mostly supporting roles. In a film career of almost three decades, he has won two National Film Award – Special Jury Awards, one National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor and two Karnataka State Film Awards. He is known for his performances in Munnudi, Bettada Jeeva and Bharath Stores. In 2022, he was awarded the Rajyotsava Prashasti by the Government of Karnataka.

Early life and education

Dattatreya was born in 1942 in Chitradurga, in the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore to Harihar Gundurao and Venkamma. He has six siblings; brothers Venkatesh, who was a physicist at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur; Suryanarayana Rao, is a professor of English in University of Mysore; and H. G. Somashekar Rao, a writer and an occasional actor. Dattatreya completed his education in Chitradurga. He secured the first rank in his matriculation exams in 1958, and second rank on completion of his pre-university course in 1959. He graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from University of Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, Bangalore, in 1964. In 1978, he obtained a master's degree in electrical communication engineering from Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.

Career

In Indian Air Force

After graduating in 1964, Dattatreya joined the Indian Air Force, as a Commissioned Officer in its technical branch. He subsequently trained at Air Force Technical College, Bangalore, and while studying his post graduation at IISc, Bangalore, he received a certificate on completion of a project on Management and Advance Technologies, in 1984. He served the IAF for over 20 years, before retiring as a Wing Commander. Upon retirement, he served in the Management Academy of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the Staff Training College, as its Deputy General Manager and Principal.

As actor

Dattatreya began acting in plays in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and while studying engineering in college at UVCE. His first appearance in a Kannada film came in T. S. Nagabharana's Aasphota, which earned him the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. Since then, he went on to appear in several films that have won multiple awards such as Kraurya and Munnudi. His performance in the latter film earned him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor.
Dattatreya's performances in Mouni won him a National Film Award – Special Jury Award at the 51st National Film Awards. In the 2012 released film Bharath Stores, his role as Govinda Shetty, a Grocery shop owner hit hard when the Union Government increases foreign direct investment in the retail sector, won widespread critical acclaim. He won his second National Special Jury Award at the 60th National Film Awards. He was also awarded the Best Actor at the International Film Festival in Fiji in 2013.

Partial filmography

  • Note: All films are in Kannada, unless otherwise noted.
YearTitleRoleNotes
1988UdbhavHindi film
1988Aasphota
1989Madhuri
1990Santha Shishunala SharifaImam Sab
1992Mysore Mallige
1992Harakeya KuriDanappa
1993Chinnari MuthaDaada
1994Kotreshi Kanasu
1995Lady Police
1996Kraurya
1997Ganga Yamuna
1997Ulta PaltaPolice inspector
1997America! America!!Srinivas
1998AndamanLieutenant Governor
1998HoomaleSantosh's uncle
1999Maha Edabidangi
1999Chaithrada Chiguru
1999Prema Prema Prema
2000ThiladaanamSubbayyaTelugu film
2000MunnudiHasanabba
2001MussanjeSeshanna
2001Chandana Chiguru
2002AtithiDoctor
2003Don
2003Mouni
2004YahooHaladi Nagappa's ghost
2004Dharma
2004Joke FallsRaghavendra Joshi
2005Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
2005BeruVenkateshaiah
2005SiddhuSiddu's teacher
2005Rama Shama BhamaRangaswamy
2006Thutturi
2006Miss California
2006Uppi Dada M.B.B.S.
2007SMS 6260Dattanna
2007Masanada Makkalu
2007Sathyavan Savithri
2007Kaada BeladingaluChandranna
2007Atheetham
2008Hani Hani
2009Anu
2009Maleyali JotheyaliCol. Thammayya
2009Kurunadu
2009Daatu
2010Anishchitha
2010Cheluveye Ninne NodaluGopala Gowda
2011Johny Mera Naam Preethi Mera KaamPriya's grandfather
2011Bettada JeevaGopalaiah
2011Allide Nammane Illi Bande Summane
2011ParamathmaAppanna
2012Dashamukha
2013Bharath StoresGovinda Shetty
2014December-1Chief Minister
2014Matthe Satyagraha
2014Bahaddur
2014BaanaadiKishore's grandfather
2014Haggada Kone
2015Male Nilluvavarege
2015Endendigu
2015Vidaaya
2016Parapancha
2016Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu
2016Home Stay
2016Jigarthanda
2016Run Antony
2016Santheyalli Nintha Kabira
2016Happy Birthday
2016Neer DoseDattatreya
2016Doddmane Hudga
2017Srinivasa Kalyana
2017Jilebi
2017Prathima
2017RaajakumaraMohammad Rafi
2017Tab
2017April Na HimabinduSrikanta
2017KempiruveVenkatesh Murthy
2017Hombanna
2018ChurikatteAdi's grandfather
2018Kannadakkaagi Ondannu Otti
2018Double Engine
2018Loudspeaker
2018Amrutha Ghalige
2018Ajja
2018Ananthu vs NusrathZulfikar Ali Khan
2019Mission MangalAnanth IyengarHindi film
2019Premier PadminiVinayak's neighbour
2019Sarvajanikarige SuvarnavakashaDevraj
2019BrahmachariDr. Ramdev
2020Act 1978Venkatachalaiah
2021SriKrishna@gmail.com
2021RiderPrincipal
2021Nan Hesaru Kishora Yel Pass Yentu
2022Four Walls & Two Nighties Mavayya
2022Selfie Mummy Googl Daddy
2022Totapuri: Chapter 1Imaam Saheb
2023Raghavendra StoresGunda Bhat
2023Jersey Number 10
2023Totapuri: Chapter 2
2023Bad Manners
2024My Hero
2024MurphyRichard

Web series

Awards and nominations