Happy Birthday Venkatesh: 'Dharma Chakram', 'Drushyam' and other films that helped him leave an indelible impact on viewers

It was in 1986 that Venkatesh made his big screen debut when he essayed the lead role in ‘Kaliyuga Pandavulu’. In the years that followed ‘Venky’ established himself as one of Telugu cinema’s most bankable stars courtesy a host of critically and commercially successful big screen outings.

Moreover, the actor also won over a legion of passionate fans courtesy his powerful screen presence, charismatic personality and of course actress prowess. Today, as Venkatesh celebrates his birthday, we take a look at some of his most memorable performances.

Dharma Chakram: Directed by Suresh Krishna, ‘Dharma Chakram’ saw Venkatesh essay the role of a virtuous young lawyer who is held in high regard by the underprivileged sections of society. Needless to say, the star added new life to his character courtesy his intense expressions and pulsating body language. Interestingly, ‘Dharma Chakram’ was a hit at the box office and helped him bag a Nandi award.

Abbaigaru: Best remembered for the crackling rapport between Venkatesh and Meena, this intense drama was a remake of the Kannada film ‘Mallammana Pavaada’. Directed by EV Satyanarayan, ‘Abbaigaru’ revolved around a young simpleton who falls into a trap laid bby his step mother. Released in 1993, it received tremendous critical acclaim.

Sankranti: A runaway hit at the ticket window, ‘Sankranti’ celebrated the concept of a joint family and stressed on the importance of traditional values. Besides Venkatesh, it also featured popular actors Srikanth and Prakash Raj in pivotal roles. Interestingly, the film was a retelling of the Tamil drama ‘Aanandham’.

Drushyam: A remake of the Malayalam classic ‘Drishyam’, this thriller highlighted a common man’s attempts at protecting his family. Just like Mohanlal in the original, Venkatesh too underplayed his part with ease and brought out the complexities which were an inherent part of the character. A commercial success, it helped ‘Venky’ bag a Filmfare nomination.

Chanti: Boasting of some lively tunes from the maestro Illayaraja, ‘Chanti’ enjoyed a run of over 100 days in as many as 40 centres. Directed by Ravi Raja, the film saw Venkatesh play the role of a gullable yet courageous simpleton and helped him showcase his talents to the fullest. Interestingly, it was later on remade in Hindi as ‘Anari’ with actor reprising his role from the original.

Kshana Kshanam: A trendsetter in every sense of the word, this Ram Gopal Varma-directed noir created a buzz amongst movie buffs courtesy its slick narrative and sincere performances. Shot in Telugu, it was also dubbed into Hindi as ‘Hairan’. Regarded as a critical masterpiece, it won four Nandis shortly after its release. Moreover, the movie was also showcased at the Fribourg International Film festival.

Ganesh: Directed by Thirupathisamy, ‘Ganesh’ highlighted the conflict between an honest journalist and some corrupt political leaders. Touted as a revenge-drama, it helped Venkatesh bag a Filmfare award. Interestingly, the film was later on dubbed in Hindi as ‘Jalaa Kar Raakh Kar Doonga’.

Bobbili Raja: Best remembered for Venkatesh’s rugged look, ‘Bobbili Raja’ revolved around the disturbing developments which create chaos in a small village. A huge hit the ticket window, it marked Divya Bharti’s big screen debut.

Gharshana: An out-and-out action-thriller. ‘Gharshana’ saw Venkatesh redefining the very meaning of onscreen machismo and play the role of a cop with effortless ease. Interestingly, it also featured Asin in a pivotal role.

Gopala Gopala: A witty satire, this attempted remake of the Akshay Kumar starrer ‘Oh My God’ saw Venkatesh share screen space with ‘Power star’ Pawan Kalyan and enthrall audiences with his simple yet effective onscreen mannerisms.