Bedara Kannappa started as a play produced by the Gubbi Veeranna Nataka Company before it became a Kannada film.[4] The film rights of the play were later bought by A. V. MeiyappanofAVM Productions. The film's songs were composed by R. Sudarsanam, with lyrics written by S. Nanjappa. The cinematography of the film was handled by S. Maruthi Rao.[5] In 1953, Singanalluru Puttaswamaiah Muthuraj, a dramatist with Gubbi Veeranna Nataka Company was spotted by director H. L. N. Simha, who was on the lookout for well-built, pleasant-faced man for the starring role in film. Simha eventually signed Muthuraj for the film and named him Rajkumar. Filming began in mid-1953 and took over two months to complete.[6] This was the debut film of both Rajkumar and Narasimharaju as actors and of G.V. Iyer as a scriptwriter.[7]
Bedara Kannappa was released on May 7, 1954 in Bangalore's Sagar and Shivaji theatres and New Opera theatre in Mysore to low expectations.[8] The owners of New Opera theatre, thought that at best it would only run for two weeks.[4] However, defying expectations; The film was critically and commercially successful, becoming the first Kannada film to have a direct run of 365 days.[9] The film was the inaugural recipient of National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada (then called the Certificate of Merit)[10] in National film awards 1954.[11] Following the film's success in Karnataka, it was dubbed and released in TamilasVedan Kannappa[12] with an additional song ("Aasaikkoru Aan Pillai") featuring JP Chandrababu, Rajkumar and Pandari Bai which was not there in the Kannada version.[13]G. Govindarajulu Naidu composed music for additional song in the Tamil version.[citation needed] Later, the film was remade in TeluguasKalahasti Mahatyam also starring Rajkumar.[14] The film was also remade in Hindi in 1955 by the same director-producer duo as Shiv Bhakta.[15] It was again remade in Telugu in 1976 as Bhakta Kannappa.[14][16]
Dinna (Rajkumar) and Neela (Pandharibai) are gods banished to earth where they are born to a tribe of hunters. They grow up and become involved with a corrupt temple priest who accuses Dinna of theft. Dinna weathers all the tests, including torture, the gods impose on him.
The film's soundtrack was composed by R. Sudharsanam. The song Shivappa Kayo Tande (literally Shiva, protect me oh father) is very popular and is sung even today in orchestras.
When the film was ready, there were no distributors willing to pick it up. But thanks to the intervention of the chief minister of the state, S. Nijalingappa, they could release it through Karnataka Films. The owners of New Opera theatre in Mysore, where it ran for a 100 days, thought that at best it would run for two weeks. But they were in for a big shock when people from different parts of the state streamed in to watch the film. Among those who turned up for the first show at Mysore, was Rajkumar himself with his father. The Tamil version, Vedan Kannappa was also a hit.
The film is often regarded by critics as a landmark film in Kannada film history. The film also became the first Kannada film to gain national recognition as it became the first film to win the Certificate of Merit for the Best Feature Film in Kannada.[17] The success of the film was reported to have spurred the pace of production of Kannada language films significantly.[18]Bedara Kannappa acquired cult status in Kannada cinema and became a trendsetter for dialogues and acting for later Kannada films.[8] Michael Patrao of Deccan Herald wrote, "This film turned out to be a landmark in Kannada cinema for more than one reason. It was the first film in Kannada to win recognition at the national level by getting a certificate of merit. But most important of all, it launched Rajkumar, one of the greatest artistes of Kannada cinema."[19]
