Prakash Raj Movies and Career Information

Prakash Raj is the screen name of Prakash Rai (Tulu: ಪ್ರಕಾಶ್ ರೈ),a National Film Award-winning Indian method actor and producer in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam language films. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 2009 for his role in Kanchivaram, a Tamil film directed by Priyadarshan and won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1998 for the Mani Ratnam film Iruvar. Prakash Raj was born to a Tulu speaking Bunt family in Puttur (near Mangalore), Karnataka,on Mar 26,1965. He studied in St.Joseph's Indian High School in Bangalore. He won the President's Scout award in 1982. He later joined St. Josephs College of commerce, Brigade road, Bangalore, where he participated in many plays, most of which were in Kannada . He has acted in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi films. His original name 'Prakash Rai' in Kannada screen was rechristened to 'Prakash Raj' by K. Balachander for Prakash Raj's debut movie 'Duet'. His first major role was in the 1993 film Duet, directed by veteran director K. Balachander. He achieved fame through Tamil films, where he did most of his films. Prakash Rai began his acting career with Kannada Doordarshan serials