Born on 15th Febrauary, 1935 to Hirannaiah and Sharadamma, Narasimha Murthy was brought up in a theatre environment. Before popularity turned him to the person well known today as ‘Master Hirannaiah’, he finished his graduation. He has dedicated his life to the world of theatre and has done various roles, produced and directed numerous plays and has run a troupe as well. Also, he has acted in many featured films and television serials.
Hirannaiah adopted the name of his equally famous father who died in 1953 after regaling Kannada audiences with plays such as ‘Devadasi’ and ‘Makmal Topi’. Senior Hirannaiah had set up the Mitra Mandali Drama Company and later directed ‘Vani’, the third talkie movie of that era, which won accolades and made substantial profit. Master Hirannaiah has been paying a tribute to his father by keeping the characters played by him alive and propagating his message. His ‘Lanchaavatara’, a popular satire on corruption, still runs to packed houses.
People find him on television, often playing an honest politician these days (an antithesis of all those whom he ridiculed on stage) instead of the Dattu in Lanchavataara, the play which made his career.
Master Hirannaiah is known for his direct comments during his public appearances. Once he was quoted saying, “Poverty, ignorance and illiteracy are not problems. If they were, we would have solved them. They are the properties of India. So we hold on to them”.
K Hirannaiah‘s Mitra Mandali made a contribution to Prime Minister Nehru’s defence funds in 1962. The contribution was made in the form of silver, equivalent in weight to that of Dr. Master Hirannaiah.
Master Hirannaiah is well known for his sharp wit, a great sense of humour and stinging satire. He is widely respected and has performed worldwide.
Read Master Hirannaiah Exclusive Interview with KYS.