**Kuri Prathap** (born Prathap) is an Indian actor, television personality, and comedian celebrated for his slapstick humor, expressive facial antics, and quick wit across Kannada entertainment. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he has appeared in over 150 Kannada feature films, becoming one of Sandalwood's most recognizable comedy performers and household television figures. He earned his famous screen moniker "Kuri" from his early association with popular hidden-camera prank shows such as *Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu* and *Kuri Bond* on Udaya TV. Born in Karnataka, Prathap began his journey in regional entertainment through television before transitioning into feature films. He made his silver screen debut in the mid-2000s with films like *Sixer* (2007) and *Anatharu* (2007). Thanks to his gift for situational comedy and peculiar dialogue delivery, he quickly became a staple comic relief across mainstream Kannada cinema. Over the years, Prathap has shared the screen with leading Sandalwood stars including Shiva Rajkumar, Upendra, Darshan, and Sudeep. Some of his notable film credits include *Mylari* (2010), *Godfather* (2012), *Rambo* (2012), *Auto Raja* (2013), *Victory* (2013), *Brindavana* (2013), *Super Ranga* (2014), *Vajrakaya* (2015), *Pataki* (2017), and *Ayogya* (2018), the latter earning him a nomination for Best Comedian at the SIIMA Awards. Alongside his busy film slate, Prathap achieved massive mainstream popularity through Kannada television. He became a celebrated regular cast member on the smash hit sketch-comedy show *Majaa Talkies*, hosted by Srujan Lokesh, where his improvisational banter made him a family favorite across Karnataka. His popularity reached new heights in 2019 when he entered *Bigg Boss Kannada Season 7*, where his humility and lighthearted demeanor won broad audience support, carrying him to the grand finale as the first runner-up. Continuing to appear across films, comedy shows, and hosting roles, he remains one of the most reliable and beloved humorists in modern Kannada pop culture.
