Komal Kumar
Komal Kumar, known mononymously as Komal, is an Indian actor and film producer known for his work in Kannada cinema. He made his acting debut with Super Nan Maga in 1992. Since his debut, Komal has acted in over 100 films, initially in comedic roles as a supporting actor before playing lead roles. He is the younger brother of actor Jaggesh, with whom he has frequently collaborated professionally.
Komal has won Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a supporting actor in the film Thavarige Baa Thangi in 2003. He has also won the South Filmfare Award for his performance in Neenello Naanalle in 2006.
Early life and family
Komal was born into a well-to-do family of industrialists. He completed his studies in Ooty and was interested in taking up the civil service examinations before he lost interest in academics. He subsequently wanted to pursue a course in cinematography at the Film and Television Institute in Pune, but was unable to do so "owing to my academic background in arts." He then took to acting "doing small roles". His brother, Jaggesh, is an established actor in Kannada cinema. Komal's nephews Gururaj and Yathiraj are also actors. His wife Anasooya is a producer who has produced the film Kal Manja. The couple released the film under their home banner Soundarya Lahari Combines.Career
Komal made his film debut playing a supporting role in his brother's 1992 film Super Nanna Maga. In Military Mava, he was cast in a lead role under the stage name of Chiranjeevi. In an interview to Deccan Herald in 2003, he recalled, "Unfortunately, the film flopped miserably and I lost interest in acting. But my brother kept encouraging me to take up more acting assignments. He would always advice me not to give up." He added, "My role of a villain in Soma against my brother Jaggesh and Subhashri, who is Malashri's sister, was appreciated so much by Malashri that she cast me for her brother's role in her next movie Lady Commissioner." After a string of other films that he acted in failed to do well or failed to fetch him recognition, it was in Thavarige Baa Thangi that he received appreciation for his performance. He was subsequently cast in Katthegalu Saar Katthegalu.Komal return to playing a lead role with Mr. Garagasa. However he got a break as a lead actor in the 2009 released Chamkaisi Chindi Udaysi produced by his brother-in-law and his wife. Since then he acted as a solo hero in films such as Maryade Ramanna and Kal Manja.
His 2012 film Govindaya Namaha has been declared a blockbuster catapulting him to the stardom status. The song "Pyarge Aagbittaite" featuring Parul Yadav and himself went viral on the internet. After a string of commercial failures, Komal starred in the horror–comedy Namo Bhootatma, a performance that was received well by critics. Shyam Prasad S. of Bangalore Mirror felt that "Komal does his job well" and that "here are no histrionics with everything cut to the point." Prior to the film's release, Komal had stated that he would quit Kannada films if it failed commercially. After being typecast as an actor who could only play comedic roles, Komal starred in the cop film Kempegowda 2, the eponymous role that he shed to play.
After a few years of no releases, Komal appeared in the comedy film Undenaama. He played the role of an engineer Venkatesh whose only aim in life to get married and thereby get the license to have sex, something he had been obsessed with since childhood. The film was not received well by critics who called it "jaded". In the horror-comedy Namo Bhootatma 2 as Arjun, a prankster and owner of a local television channel, that gets into trouble after he pranks a couple of gangsters. The film received mixed reviews from critics. Shashiprasad S. M. of the South First called him "the only saving grace" of the film, while The New Indian Express wrote, "Komal Kumar's comedic timing acts as a lifeline, serving as the saving grace that ties together the mishmash of gags. His comic brilliance keeps you engaged, often reminiscent of his brother Jaggesh's expressions."
Filmography
- All films are in Kannada, unless otherwise noted.
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1992 | Super Nanna Maga | Vishnu | |
| 1993 | Shivanna | ||
| 1993 | Military Mava | credited as S. Chiranjeevi | |
| 1994 | Prema Simhasana | ||
| 1994 | Beda Krishna Ranginata | ||
| 1996 | Soma | ||
| 1996 | Pattanakke Banda Putta | ||
| 1996 | Shivanna | ||
| 1997 | Lady Commissioner | Hari | |
| 1999 | Drona | ||
| 2000 | Shukradese | ||
| 2000 | Khiladi | ||
| 2001 | Jipuna Nanna Ganda | ||
| 2001 | Mr. Harishchandra | ||
| 2001 | Rusthum | ||
| 2001 | Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu | Ice Candy Gopala | |
| 2002 | 123 | Kotigobba | |
| 2002 | Ninagoskara | Thief | |
| 2002 | Hattoora Odeya | ||
| 2002 | Thavarige Baa Thangi | Nandeesha | WonKarnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 2002 | Love U | ||
| 2002 | Makeup | Karate master | |
| 2003 | Katthegalu Saar Katthegalu | Komi | |
| 2003 | Preetisle Beku | ||
| 2003 | Kasu Iddone Basu | ||
| 2004 | Love | ||
| 2004 | Maurya | Manu's friend | |
| 2005 | Jootata | Eeshwar Khan | |
| 2005 | Varsha | ||
| 2005 | Mr. Bakra | Director | Guest appearance |
| 2005 | Gowramma | Bunty | |
| 2005 | Sye | Reliance worker | |
| 2005 | Love Story | ||
| 2006 | 7 O' Clock | Thief | |
| 2006 | Neenello Naanalle | Gunda | WonFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kannada |
| 2006 | Mohini 9886788888 | Investigating officer | |
| 2006 | Chellata | ||
| 2006 | Shree | ||
| 2006 | Odahuttidavalu | ||
| 2006 | Student | ||
| 2006 | Thandege Thakka Maga | ||
| 2006 | Honeymoon Express | Rama | |
| 2006 | Tenali Rama | ||
| 2006 | Aishwarya | Bunk Seena | |
| 2006 | Dattha | Tingu | |
| 2006 | Sevanthi Sevanthi | Malavalli | |
| 2007 | Govinda Gopala | Gopala | |
| 2007 | Arasu | Daas | |
| 2007 | Hudugaata | "Mathi" Madesha | |
| 2007 | Tamashegaagi | Shivu | |
| 2007 | Sathyavan Savithri | ||
| 2007 | Cheluvina Chittara | ||
| 2007 | Manmatha | Marriage broker | |
| 2007 | Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige | ||
| 2007 | Chanda | College friend | |
| 2008 | Gaja | Appaji | |
| 2008 | Akasha Gange | ||
| 2008 | Satya in Love | ||
| 2008 | Vamshi | Vamshi's sidekick | |
| 2008 | Mast Maja Maadi | Mylari | |
| 2008 | Meravanige | ||
| 2008 | Mr. Garagasa | Muniya "Mr. Garagasa" | |
| 2008 | Shivani | ||
| 2008 | Sangama | Kama | |
| 2008 | Dheemaku | Komal Kumar alias KK | Cameo |
| 2009 | Jaaji Mallige | ||
| 2009 | Chamkaisi Chindi Udaysi | Bot Seena | |
| 2009 | Muniya | ||
| 2009 | Male Bille | ||
| 2009 | Mooru Guttu Ondu Sullu Ondu Nija | Siddu | |
| 2010 | Appu and Pappu | Animal trainer | |
| 2010 | Nannavanu | Thief | |
| 2010 | Thipparalli Tharlegalu | Pandu | |
| 2010 | Lift Kodla | Ring Road Gowda | |
| 2010 | Aptharakshaka | Dr. Srinath | |
| 2010 | Yaksha | ||
| 2010 | Vaare Vah | Adesh Deshpande a.k.a. Adi | |
| 2011 | Kal Manja | "Kal" Manja | |
| 2011 | Allide Nammane Illi Bande Summane | Himself | Guest appearance |
| 2011 | Maryade Ramanna | Ramu | |
| 2012 | Govindaya Namaha | Govinda | Nominated—SIIMA Award for Best Comedian |
| 2012 | Nandeesha | Nandeesha | |
| 2013 | Lakshmi | ||
| 2013 | CID Eesha | ||
| 2013 | Veera | ||
| 2013 | Radhan Ganda | Krishna | |
| 2013 | Pyarge Aagbittaite | ||
| 2014 | Karoodpathi | Banti Babu | Also singer |
| 2014 | Pungi Daasa | Ramadasa | |
| 2014 | Aindhaam Thalaimurai Sidha Vaidhiya Sigamani | Dr. Sathish Kumar | Tamil film |
| 2014 | Namo Boothatma | Karthik | |
| 2015 | Goa | Swamy | |
| 2015 | Lodde | Narasimha "Lodde" | |
| 2016 | Kathe Chitrakathe Nirdeshana Puttanna | Puttanna | |
| 2016 | Deal Raja | "Deal" Raja | |
| 2019 | Kempegowda 2 | Kempegowda | |
| 2023 | Undenama | Venkatesh | |
| 2023 | Namo Bhootatma 2 | Arjun | |
| 2024 | Yala Kunni | K.D. Nagappa and Satya Harishchandra | dual role |
| 2025 | Rajaputhiran | Linga | Tamil film |