Indian movie stars died in 2006
Here are 9 famous actors from India died in 2006:
Oduvil Unnikrishnan
Oduvil Unnikrishnan (February 13, 1944 Wadakkancherry-May 27, 2006 Kozhikode) also known as Oduvil Unni Krishnan was an Indian actor, singer and composer. His children are called Shalini Unnikrishnan and Padmini Unnikrishnan.
Oduvil Unnikrishnan started his career as a stage actor before making his film debut in 1975 with the movie "Ozhukkinethire". He went on to act in over 300 movies in a career spanning three decades. Some of his notable performances include his roles in "Thaniyavartanam", "Kamaladalam", "Kireedam", "Bhoothakkannadi" and "Guru".
Apart from acting, Oduvil Unnikrishnan was also a renowned singer and composer. He had a keen interest in music from childhood and had learnt Carnatic and Hindustani music. He composed music for the movie "Pattabhishekam" in 1999.
Oduvil Unnikrishnan was honoured with several awards in his career, including the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the movie "Nizhalkkuthu" in 2003. He also received the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his role in "Kallan Pavithran" in 1981.
Oduvil Unnikrishnan passed away in 2006 at the age of 62 due to complications from a heart attack. He is remembered as one of the most talented actors in Malayalam cinema.
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Ustad Bismillah Khan
Ustad Bismillah Khan (March 21, 1913 Dumraon-August 21, 2006 Varanasi) also known as Bismillah Khan or Qamaruddin Khan was an Indian musician and actor. He had one child, Soma Ghosh.
Bismillah Khan was a legendary shehnai player who is credited with popularising the shehnai, a traditional Indian wind instrument, in the Indian classical music world. He was born in Dumraon, Bihar, in a family of musicians, and learned to play the shehnai from his uncle. He later honed his skills under the tutelage of Ustad Ali Baksh Vilayati, a famous shehnai player of the time.
Bismillah Khan became a highly respected musician all over India and around the world. He was awarded India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001, and other prestigious awards, such as the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
He also performed at several national events, such as India's Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations. Bismillah Khan had a great love for his country and once said, "The shehnai is the sound of India. As long as the shehnai is played, India will play on."
Apart from his musical career, Bismillah Khan also acted in movies, including "Goonj Uthi Shehnai" (1959), which was based on his life story. He passed away in 2006 in Varanasi, his hometown, leaving behind a rich legacy of Indian classical music.
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Kulwinder Dhillon
Kulwinder Dhillon (November 27, 1975-March 19, 2006) also known as Dhillon, Kulwinder or Kulwinder Dillon was an Indian singer, musician, singer-songwriter and actor.
He was born in the village of Barapind in the Fatehgarh Sahib district of Punjab, India. Kulwinder Dhillon started his career in the Punjabi music industry in the 1990s and released his debut album "Kacheriyan Ch Mele Lagde" in 1998 which became a huge hit. Over the course of his career, he released more than 10 albums and became one of the most popular and respected singers in the Punjabi music industry.
In addition to his music, Kulwinder Dhillon also tried his hand at acting and appeared in several Punjabi movies including "Long da Lishkara" (1986), "Jor Jatt Da" (1987), "Nigahen" (1989) and "Deson Pardes" (1997). Unfortunately, his life was cut short when he was tragically killed in a car accident in 2006 at the age of 30. His untimely death shocked the Punjabi music industry and his fans around the world. Kulwinder Dhillon's music still remains popular and he is remembered as one of the greatest singers of Punjabi music.
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Peketi Sivaram
Peketi Sivaram (October 8, 1918 East Godavari district-December 30, 2006 Chennai) also known as Sivaram Peketi, Peketi Sivarama Subba Rao, Sivaram or Pekati Shivram was an Indian film director and actor. He had eight children, Krishna Mohan, Peketi Ranga Rao, Venku Peketi, Gopal Peketi, Laxmi Peketi, Shanti Peketi, Rani Kumar Tindal and Poornima Peketi.
Peketi Sivaram was born on October 8, 1918, in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, India. He started his career in the film industry as an actor in the late 1940s and later transitioned to become a director in the 1950s. He directed over 50 films in Telugu cinema during his career, including the critically acclaimed film "Jagath Kiladilu" in 1969. His films were known for their social messages and he was considered a pioneer in introducing new technologies in Telugu cinema.
Apart from his work in the film industry, Peketi Sivaram was also a social activist and philanthropist. He actively supported the development of the film industry in Andhra Pradesh and served as the president of the Telugu Film Directors Association. He was honored with several awards in his lifetime, including the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.
Peketi Sivaram passed away on December 30, 2006, in Chennai at the age of 88. His contributions to Telugu cinema and his philanthropic work continue to be remembered and celebrated by his fans and the film industry.
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Rajkumar
Rajkumar (April 24, 1929 Gajanur-April 12, 2006 Bangalore) also known as Singanalluru Puttaswamayya Muthuraju, Mutturaju Singanalluru Puttaswamayya, Dr. Rajkumar, Annavru, Raj Kumar, Gaana Gandharva, Natasarvabhouma, Rajanna, Mutturaju, Annavaru, Gaana Gandarva, Dr. Raj Kumar, Bangarada Manushya or Mutturajar was an Indian actor and singer. He had five children, Puneeth Rajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar, Shiva Rajkumar, Poornima and Lakshmi.
Rajkumar was born in Gajanur, Mysore to Puttaswamayya and Lakshmamma. He completed his schooling in Gajanur and later moved to Bangalore for higher education. He started his career as a theater artist and debuted in the film Bedara Kannappa in 1954. He went on to act in more than 200 films in Kannada cinema and won several awards for his performances. He was known for his versatile acting and melodious singing.
Apart from acting, Rajkumar was also actively involved in social and cultural activities. He promoted Kannada language and culture throughout his career and was an advocate of non-violence and vegetarianism. He was also a philanthropist and contributed to various charities.
Rajkumar's contributions to Indian cinema were recognized with several honors and awards, including prestigious honors like National Film Awards and Padma Bhushan. He was also the recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award in cinema, in 1995.
Rajkumar passed away on April 12, 2006, in Bangalore at the age of 77. His death was mourned by millions of fans and his legacy continues to inspire many in the Indian film industry.
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Vajramuni
Vajramuni (May 10, 1944 Kanakapalya-January 5, 2006 Bangalore) also known as Vatramuni was an Indian actor.
He predominantly worked in Kannada film industry, and also appeared in a few Tamil and Telugu films. Vajramuni is known for his versatile and dynamic acting skills, and has acted in over 300 films during his long career. He started his career as a small-time actor in the late 60s, but quickly rose to prominence with his impeccable performances in negative roles. Some of his notable works include "Bangarada Manushya", "Mayura", "Baalu Jenu", "Kasturi Nivasa", and "Bhakta Kumbara". Vajramuni was not only a successful actor but was also a skillful scriptwriter and producer. He is regarded as one of the finest actors in Kannada cinema history.
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R. S. Manohar
R. S. Manohar (June 29, 1925 Namakkal-January 10, 2006 Chennai) a.k.a. Ramasamy Subramania Manohar, Lakshmi Narashiman, R.S. Manohar, Manoharan, M.S. Manohar, Manohar, Namakkal or Nadaga Kavalar was an Indian actor.
He started his acting career in 1947 with the Tamil film 'Rajakumari'. He went on to act in over 500 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. Manohar was known for his villainous roles, and he played the antagonist in many popular films such as 'Parasakthi', 'Basha', and 'Aalayamani'. He was also a talented writer and director, having written and directed several successful plays in the 1960s and 70s. In addition to his film and theater work, Manohar was also a member of the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly, representing the DMK party. He received numerous awards for his contributions to the Indian film industry, including the prestigious Kalaimamani award from the Tamil Nadu government in 1974. Manohar passed away in 2006 at the age of 80.
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M. S. Thripunithura
M. S. Thripunithura (October 10, 1941 Thrippunithura-March 8, 2006 Shoranur) also known as Madathipparambil Seshaniyyar Venkatrama Iyer, M.S. Thrippunithara or M.S. Thripunithura was an Indian actor. He had three children, Poornima Thripunithura, Pushpa Thripunithura and Pooja Thripunithura.
M.S. Thripunithura was a prominent actor in the Malayalam film industry, having acted in over 300 films. He started his career as a theatre artist and gradually moved on to the film industry. He is best known for his performances in films like 'Nizhalkuthu', 'Makalkku', 'Swathi Thirunal' and 'Sreekrishnapurathe Nakshathrathilakkam'. He was a versatile actor who could handle both comic and serious roles with ease. M.S. Thripunithura was also a writer and has published books on various subjects. He was the recipient of several awards for his contribution to the film industry, including the Kerala State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. He passed away in 2006 at the age of 64 due to a heart attack.
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K.P.A.C. Sunny
K.P.A.C. Sunny (November 27, 2014 Chavara-April 17, 2006 Thiruvananthapuram) otherwise known as Sunny D'Cruz, Sunny or Dominic D'Cruz was an Indian actor and film score composer. He had two children, Deepa Sunny and Roopa Sunny.
Sunny was born in Chavara, a town in the Kollam district of Kerala. He started his acting career in the 1952 Malayalam film "Jeevitha Nouka". He went on to act in over 300 films in a career spanning more than four decades. He was known for his versatile acting skills and was equally at home in comedy as well as serious roles. Some of his notable films include "Iruttinte Athmavu", "Adimakal", "Anubhavangal Palichakal", and "Ayalathe Adheham".
Apart from acting, Sunny was also a talented music composer and has scored music for films like "Yakshaganam" and "Aparna". He was a founding member of the Kerala People's Arts Club (KPAC) and was actively involved in the theatre movement in Kerala. His contribution to Malayalam cinema and theatre has been widely recognized and he has won numerous awards including the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor in 1989.
Sunny passed away on April 17, 2006 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. His legacy as one of the finest actors and music composers in Malayalam cinema continues to live on.
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