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Bengaluru: Renowned director, actor, producer, and screenplay writer Apadanda T. Raghu, popularly known as A.T. Raghu, passed away at around 10 PM on March 20 in Bengaluru. He was 75.
Raghu, a celebrated figure in Kannada, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kodava cinema, is survived by his wife Leela Raghu (Thamane Palengada) and children Bijoy Ganapathy and Binu Sachin (Baakemane Bayavanda). A resident of Mattadahalli in Bengaluru’s R.T. Nagar, he hailed from Bettathur village in Kodagu. His final rites will be held at Hebbal Crematorium, Bengaluru, at 3 PM on March 21, according to his family members.
A towering figure in cinema
Raghu’s cinematic journey began under the mentorship of producer-director B. Vittalacharya before he went on to assist veteran filmmaker Y.R. Swamy. He made his directorial debut in 1980 with Nyaya Neethi Dharma, starring Ambareesh, Aarathi, Dwarakish, Sundar Krishna Urs, Jai Jagadish, and K.S. Ashwath.
Over his illustrious career, Raghu directed and acted in over 55 films, including the 1984 Hindi film Meri Adalat, featuring superstar Rajinikanth, and the 1985 Malayalam film Kattu Rani. His 1990 Kannada movie Ajay Vijay and 1994 hit Mandyada Gandu, starring Ambareesh, Vajramuni, and Bank Janardhan, remain among his most notable works. The song Mandyada Gandu from the latter, composed by Upendra Kumar, gained immense popularity.
Championing Kodava culture
Beyond mainstream cinema, Raghu was instrumental in showcasing Kodava talent and culture. He directed and produced six acclaimed Kodava-language television serials—Ainmane, Pombolcha, Thamane, Gejje Thand, Jamma Bhoomi, and Nanga Kodava—which aired on Doordarshan Chandana for over two decades.
Recognitions and awards
Raghu’s contributions to cinema earned him several prestigious accolades, including the Puttanna Kanagal Award (2004-2005) and the Kannada Rajyotsava Award (2020) from the Karnataka government. He was also a recipient of the Karnataka Film Fans Association Award, Kodava Sahitya Academy Award, Kalasagara Sangeetha Nrithya Nataka Academy Award, KANFIDA Award, RNR Award, Bangalore Doordarshan Chandana Award for cinema, and the Bangalore Kodava Samaja Centenary Celebration Award, among others.
The passing of A.T. Raghu marks the end of an era in the Kannada film industry. His legacy, however, will continue to inspire generations of filmmakers and artists, especially those from the Kodava community.
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