Rangayana Raghu

Raghu was born as Kotturu Chikkarangappa Raghunath on 17 April 1965 as the ninth child of Chikkarangaiah and Veeramma, in a village Kotturu, in Pavagada taluk of the Tumkur district of the erstwhile Mysore State (now Karnataka). His father Chikkarangaiah was an agriculturist and folk artist who played Bayalaata. Raghu completed his schooling and college education in National College, Bangalore, where he developed an interest in acting. He was encouraged to act in plays by Rajashekhar, the son of noted playwright, Chandrashekhara Kambara. He also referred Raghu to the theatre institute, Rangayana in Mysore in 1988.Raghu trained as an actor in Rangayana before joining films in the mid-1990s. He last performed on stage in 2001. In 2004, he started the theatre group, Sanchari, with his wife, Mangala. Raghu made his film debut in the 1995 Kannada-language film Suggi directed by Hamsalekha that eventually got shelved. His first release was Bhoomi Thayiya Chochchala Maga (1998), that saw him appear in a supporting role. He then appeared in the 2002 film Dhumm, which followed minor roles in Megha Banthu Megha (1998) and Aryabhata (1999). His major breakthrough was Yogaraj Bhat's debut directorial venture Mani (2003). Raghu then received praise for his performances in films like Ranga SSLC (2004), Duniya (2007), Modalasala (2010), Alemari (2012), and Director's Special (2013). Raghu made his debut in Tulu films in 2018 with My Name is Annappa. Raghu played a respected folk artist humiliated by a wealthy man in Rangasamudra (2024), a film set in the North Karnataka region. His only grandson intends to restore his grandfather's lost self-respect by buying him a car. A. Sharadhaa of The New Indian Express wrote, "Rangayana Raghu shines every time he graces the screen, as a folk artist, he exemplifies a life of dignity." In the thriller, Shakhahaari (2024), he played an innocent Subbanna Bhat, who runs a small hotel, and has to shield a man on the run who is accused of murdering his wife. The film and Raghu's performance received praise from critics. The reviewer for Deccan Herald wrote: "Veteran Rangayana Raghu is brilliant in a nuanced role demanding wholesome acting. He seamlessly traverses through varied emotions."