Devadas Kapikad

Acting

**Dr. Devadas Kapikad** is an acclaimed Indian theatre actor, film director, writer, producer, lyricist, and singer who primarily works in the Tulu and Kannada entertainment industries. Born in Mangalore, Karnataka, he is widely celebrated by audiences as "Telikeda Bolli". Kapikad began his artistic journey on the stage and has made monumental contributions to Tulu theatre. He is the founder and owner of the renowned drama troupe "Cha-parka". Over the course of his extensive stage career, he has written and directed more than 45 Tulu dramas. Transitioning his comedic talents to the silver screen, Kapikad has acted in numerous hit Tulu films, including *Telikeda Bolli* (2012), *Chaali Polilu* (2014), and *Dabak Daba Aisa*. He made his feature film directorial debut with the 2015 Tulu movie *Chandi Kori*. He subsequently directed films like *Barsa* (2016) and *Are Marler* (2017), frequently casting his son, actor Arjun Kapikad, in the lead roles. He has also appeared in Kannada films such as *Venkata in Sankata* (2009) and *Toofan* (2012). His immense contributions to regional arts have been heavily recognized. He won multiple accolades at the Tulu Cinemotsava 2015 and RED FM Tulu Film Awards, particularly for his writing and acting in *Telikeda Bolli*. In 2022, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Mangalore University in recognition of his lifelong dedication to theatre and cinema.