One of his most memorable roles remains Sithapathi in the 1990 comedy 'Golmaal Radhakrishna', starring Ananth Nag.
Published Nov 30, 2025 | 2:19 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 30, 2025 | 2:19 PM
MS Umesh
Synopsis: Veteran Kannada actor MS Umesh (80) passed away on 30 November 2025 after battling cancer and a recent fall injury. Known for effortless comedy in over 350 films across five decades, he shared screen with legends like Dr Rajkumar and Vishnuvardhan. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and several leaders mourned the loss of the beloved “Sithapathi” of Golmaal Radhakrishna.
The Sandalwood industry is mourning the loss of MS Umesh, one of its most beloved artistes, celebrated for his effortless humour and impeccable comic timing.
The 80-year-old actor passed away on Sunday, 30 November, following a prolonged battle with cancer. He had also suffered a recent fall at his Bengaluru residence and was hospitalised after sustaining injuries.
With a career spanning more than five decades, Umesh appeared in over 350 Kannada films, drawing himself to generations of audiences with his light-hearted performances and distinctive style of comedy.
Throughout his illustrious career, he shared the screen with many stalwarts, including Dr Rajkumar, Sivaji Ganesan, Vishnuvardhan, Ambareesh, Srinath, Shankar Nag, Ananth Nag, Arvind Swamy, B Saroja Devi and Bharathi.
Mourning his demise, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote on X: “ Through his natural acting, he entertained audiences for several decades, and to this senior soul who served Kannada cinema, heartfelt farewell.”
ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗದ ಹೆಸರಾಂತ ಹಾಸ್ಯನಟ ಉಮೇಶ್ ಅವರ ನಿಧನದ ಸುದ್ದಿ ನೋವು ತಂದಿದೆ. ತಮ್ಮ ಸಹಜ ಅಭಿನಯದ ಮೂಲಕ ಹಲವು ದಶಕಗಳ ಕಾಲ ಪ್ರೇಕ್ಷಕರನ್ನು ನಗಿಸುತ್ತಾ, ಕನ್ನಡಾಂಬೆಯ ಸೇವೆಗೈದ ಹಿರಿಯ ಜೀವಕ್ಕೆ ಭಾವಪೂರ್ಣ ವಿದಾಯಗಳು.
ಮೃತರ ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಚಿರಶಾಂತಿ ಸಿಗಲಿ ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ. pic.twitter.com/QTrWOLpxJJ
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) November 30, 2025
Born in Mysore in 1945, Umesh was drawn to the performing arts at a very young age. At the tender age of four, he joined a theatre group run by master K Hirannaiah, where he played a role in Lanchavatara, a political satirical play that called out corruption.
He made his cinematic debut in a lead role in Makkala Rajya, directed by B R Panthulu, which told the story of a scientist who takes children to an unknown planet where they establish a democratic republic. The film, released in 1960, marked his entry into the Sandalwood industry.
However, for nearly 16 years afterwards, Umesh did not have a film release. He returned to the stage and worked in various jobs, including backstage roles, before making his comeback in 1975 with the anthology film Katha Sangama.
He appeared as Thimmaraya in the “Munithaayi” segment featuring Rajinikanth and Aarathi. The performance earned him his first Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.
In 2013, he was also honoured with the Karnataka Nataka Akademi Award for his significant contribution to theatre. One of his most memorable roles remains “Sithapathi” in the 1990 comedy Golmaal Radhakrishna, starring Ananth Nag.
His catchy dialogue from the film, Apaartha Madkondbitro Eno (meaning “Seems he has misunderstood something”), gained wide popularity among the masses.
Recalling this performance, Minister for Commerce and Industries MB Patil wrote on X: “His artistic journey, which began on the stage, extended to cinema and television, where he left his own unique mark and won the hearts of audiences. His role as ‘Sithapathi’ in Golmaal Radhakrishna is unforgettable.”
ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗದ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧ ಹಾಸ್ಯ ಕಲಾವಿದ ಎಂ.ಎಸ್. ಉಮೇಶ್ ಅವರು ವಿಧಿವಶರಾದ ಸುದ್ದಿ ದುಃಖತರಿಸಿದೆ.
ರಂಗಭೂಮಿಯಿಂದ ಆರಂಭವಾದ ಅವರ ಕಲಾಜೀವನ ಸಿನಿಮಾರಂಗ ಮತ್ತು ಕಿರುತೆರೆಯವರೆವಿಗೂ ವಿಸ್ತರಿಸಿ, ತಮ್ಮದೇ ಆದ ಛಾಪು ಮೂಡಿಸಿ ಪ್ರೇಕ್ಷಕರ ಮನಗೆದ್ದಿದ್ದರು. ಗೋಲ್ ಮಾಲ್ ರಾಧಾಕೃಷ್ಣ ಚಿತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿನ ಅವರ ‘ಸೀತಾಪತಿ’ ಪಾತ್ರ ಮರೆಯಲಾಗದು.… pic.twitter.com/LwwvmivhrC
— M B Patil (@MBPatil) November 30, 2025
Several political leaders from the state expressed grief on Sunday, recalling the actor’s significant contributions to the industry.
JD(S) leader and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy wrote, “Umesh would make audiences float in a sea of laughter through his fresh humour.”
Kumaraswamy recalled the actor’s memorable performance in Guru Shishyaru in 1980, a story that follows a fictional Guru and his seven disciples who are cursed by the angels to behave in an odd manner until the angel gets married.
Recalling his role in this film, Public Works Department (PWD) minister Satish Jarkiholi said in a post on X, “Through his unique and innovative humour, he entertained and delighted audiences, standing as a proud actor of the Kannada art world.”
ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗದ ಪ್ರಖ್ಯಾತ ಹಾಸ್ಯ ಕಲಾವಿದ ಶ್ರೀ ಎಂ.ಎಸ್. ಉಮೇಶ್ ಅವರ ನಿಧನದ ಸುದ್ದಿ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ನೋವು ತಂದಿದೆ. ತಮ್ಮ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಮತ್ತು ನವಿರಾದ ಹಾಸ್ಯದ ಮೂಲಕ ಜನರನ್ನು ನಗಿಸಿ, ಮನರಂಜಿಸಿದ ಅವರು ಕನ್ನಡ ಕಲಾಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಹೆಮ್ಮೆಯ ನಟರಾಗಿದ್ದರು.
‘ಗುರು ಶಿಷ್ಯರು’, ‘ಹಾಲು ಜೇನು’, ‘ಅಪೂರ್ವ ಸಂಗಮ’ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಅನೇಕ ಸಿನಿಮಾಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರ ಅಭಿನಯ… pic.twitter.com/0duZl3oLCy
— Satish Jarkiholi (@JarkiholiSatish) November 30, 2025
He further said that his departure is an irreplaceable loss to the Kannada film industry.
