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Kongara Jaggayya (31 December 1928 – 5 March 2004) was an Indian actor, littérateur, journalist, lyricist, dubbing artist and politician known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. He was known as Kanchu Kantham Jaggayya (Telugu) for his booming voice. In a film career spanning forty years as a matinee idol, he starred in eighty films, as a lead actor, and lead antagonist in a variety of genres.[1] In 1967, he was elected as a member of the fourth Lok Sabha, from the constituency of Ongole, becoming the first Indian film actor to be elected as a member of the Parliament.

Jaggayya
Portrait of Jaggayya
Born	Kongara Jaggayya (1928-12-31)31 December 1928 Tenali, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Andhra Pradesh, India)
Died	5 March 2004(2004-03-05) (aged 75) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Other names	Kalavachaspati Kanchu Kantam
Alma mater	Andhra Christian College
Occupation	Actor, dubbing artist, littérateur, journalist, poet, politician
Political party	Indian National Congress
Awards	Padma Bhushan 1992
Member of the Lok Sabha
In office 1967–1970
Constituency	Ongole

During his early career he portrayed breakthrough characters in works such as Donga Ramudu (1955), which was archived by the Film and Television Institute of India, He starred in award-winning works such as Bangaru Papa (1954), Ardhangi (1955), Edi Nijam (1956), Todi Kodallu (1957), Dr. Chakravarti (1964), Antastulu (1965), the Cannes Film Festival featured Meghasandesam (1982), and Seethakoka Chiluka (1981); all of which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Films in Telugu. In 1962, he co-produced and starred in the political drama film Padandi Munduku based on Salt March, the film was screened at the International Film Festival of India, the Tashkent Film Festival, and got a special mention at the 5th Moscow International Film Festival.[2]

As a character actor he received critical appreciation for his performance in notable works such as Velugu Needalu (1961), Chitti Tammudu (1962), Aaradhana (1962), Aatma Balam (1964), Sumangali (1965), Gudi Gantalu (1965), Nava ratri (1966), Aame Evaru? (1966), Aastiparulu (1966), Jarigina Katha (1969), Bala Mitrula Katha (1972), Badi Pantulu (1972), Bharya Biddalu (1972), Devudu Chesina Manushulu (1973). He portrayed British official Rutherford in the biographical film Alluri Sita Rama Raju (1974), and essayed Pontius Pilate in the hagiographical film Karunamayudu (1978). He then appeared in works such as Veta (1986), Chantabbai (1986), Pasivadi Pranam (1987), Dharma Kshetram (1992) and Bobbili Simham (1994). He has won the Andhra Pradesh state Nandi Award for Best Character Actor for his works in some of these films. A recipient of the Tamil Nadu state's Kalaimamani, the Government of India has honored him with the Padma Bhushan in 1992 for his contributions towards Indian cinema.[3]

Early life

Jaggayya was born on 31 December 1928 to Seetaramaih and Rajya Lakshmamma in Morampudi village near Tenali in Guntur district.[1] He quoted on several occasions in his essays the influence his father had on his interest towards arts. He started acting at the age of 11, with the role of Lava in a Hindi play during his high school days in Duggirala. He got trained in the art of painting under the guidance of Adivi Bapiraju, a noted painter, during his college days.[4]

As a student, he joined the Congress Socialist party in Tenali, which was involved in the Indian Independence Movement at that time.

He joined the Andhra-Christian College, in 1942, in Guntur for his higher studies. He used to be a member of Navya Sahitya Parishath in Guntur. Later he joined a periodical named Desabhimani (meaning "Patriot") as a journalist.[5] Later he worked as an editor for the weekly Andhra Republic. During his B.A. days in A-C College, he along with N. T. Rama Rao, acted in several plays. He also used to be a part of Navajyothi Artists, a cultural organisation run by Mukkamala. After working as a teacher in Duggirala for a brief while, he became a news announcer in Akashavani for three years.[6] Jaggayya won the best actor award in three successive years for Chesina Papam and Telangana.

Film career

He made his cinematic debut in 1952 drama film Priyuralu directed by Tripuraneni Gopichand.[7] This movie was produced by Donepudi Krishnamurthy, also known popularly as Gokul Krishnamurthy. He quit the job as news announcer as he signed three movies on a trot. His second movie, Adarsham, didn't do well at box office. His planned third movie Paleru did not even see light of the day.

Bangaru Papa, directed by B N Reddy, released in 1955, was the first breakthrough film for Jaggayya. He was distinguished for his booming voice and contributed as a voice artist for more than hundred feature films. He dubbed in Telugu language for veteran Sivaji Ganesan. He was the narrator, and dubbing artist for internationally recognized works such as Maa Bhoomi, and Richard Attenborough's character of John Hammond in the Telugu-dubbed version of the Hollywood film Jurassic Park. He acted in almost 100 films as a lead, 100 more as a co-lead and almost 200 films as a character artist. He was a part of almost every film of VB Rajendra Parasad's Jagapathi Pictures, K B Tilak's Anupama Pictures and Ramavijeta Films owned by brothers Prabhakar and Baburao. His last film as an actor was Kunthi Putrudu, which starred Mohan Babu as lead and was directed by Dasari Narayana Rao.

He turned into producer with a film Padandi Munduku, under the banner of Jagruthi Chitra. The film was released in January 1962 and was a regarded as first Telugu social film made on the basis of Indian Independence movement.

He was awarded the 'Kala Vachaspathi' for his sonorous voice.[8]

Political career

Jaggayya was active in politics right from his student days and was allied with the socialist group within the Congress party. When the group was disbanded, he joined Jayaprakash Narayan's Praja Socialist Party, but returned to Congress in 1956, heeding the call of Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1967, he was elected as a member of the fourth Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India from the constituency of Ongole on a Congress Party ticket.[9] He was the first Indian film actor to be elected as a member of parliament.[10][11]

Literary achievements

He translated Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's Geetanjali and multiple poems into Telugu under the name Ravindra Geetha. He also translated Tagore's play "Sacrifice" into Telugu under the name Balidaanam. He also co-founded Manasvini Charitable Trust to honor the film literature of Acharya Aatreya. The lyrics of all the film songs written by Athreya was consolidated into seven volumes.

Death

Jagayya died on 5 March 2004 in Chennai, Tamilnadu.[1]

Awards

Civilian honours

• Padma Bhushan, Government of India in 1992

Nandi Awards

• Nandi Award for Best Character Actor

State Awards

• Andhra Pradesh Government cash award for producing Padandi Munduku in 1962
• Title of Kalaimamani from Tamil Nadu government

Other honours

• Title of Kala Vachaspathi from the Sanskrit Viswa Vidyalaya, Delhi
• Title of Kala Prapoorna from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam
• Honorary D.Litt. from the Telugu University, Hyderabad

Filmography

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2021)

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1952	Priyuralu
1952	Adarsam
1954	Bangaru Papa	Manohar	National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
1955	Ardhangi	Chinna Babu	National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
1955	Donga Ramudu	Dr. Mohan	Archived at the Film and Television Institute of India
1956	Muddu Bidda
1956	Edi Nijam		National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
1957	Veera Kankanam
1957	Varudu Kavali
1957	Thodi Kodallu	Vaikuntam	National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
1957	MLA
1957	Bhale Bava
1957	Aalu Magalu
1958	Mundadugu
1958	Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu
1959	Bhagya Devata
1960	Pelli Kanuka
1961	Velugu Needalu
1961	Pellikani Pillalu
1961	Kalasi unte Kaladu Sukham
1961	Intiki Deepam Illalu
1962	Chitti Tammudu
1962	Aradhana
1962	Padandi Munduku		Producer
1963	Constable Koothuru
1963	Anubandhalu
1963	Eedu Jodu
1963	Manchi rojulu vasthayi
1964	Pooja Phalam
1964	Manchi Manishi
1964	Dr. Chakravarthi		National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
1964	Aathma Balam
1965	Naadi Aada Janme
1965	Uyyala Jampala
1965	Sumangali
1965	Preminchi Choodu
1965	Manushulu Mamathalu
1965	Gudi Gantalu
1965	Antastulu		National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
1966	Navarathri
1966	Manase Mandiram
1966	Aame Evaru?
1966	Aastiparulu
1967	Prana Mithrulu
1968	Bandipotu Dongalu
1969	Adrushtavanthulu
1969	Ardha Rathri
1969	Sipayi Chinnayya	Kodandam
1970	Thalli Thandrulu
1971	Ramalayam
1971	Naa Thammudu
1971	Chinnanati Snehitulu
1972	Badi Panthulu
1972	Bharya Biddalu
1973	Devudu Chesina Manushulu
1974	Bhoomi Kosam
1974	Deeksha
1974	Alluri Sita Rama Raju
1974	Manchi Manushulu	Dr. Ramesh
1976	Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club
1976	Paadipantalu
1976	Muthyala Pallaki	Srinivasa Rao
1976	Ramarajyamlo Rakthapasam
1977	Adavi Ramudu	Forest Officer
1977	Chanakya Chandragupta		Voice double for Sivaji Ganesan
1977	Bangaru Bommalu
1977	Manassakshi
1978	Karunamayudu	Pontius Pilate
1978	KD No:1
1979	Vetagadu	Boopathi
1979	Maavari Manchitanam
1980	Ram Robert Rahim
1981	Nyayam Kavali
1981	Seethakoka Chilaka		National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
1982	Bobbili Puli
1982	Yamakinkarudu
1983	Meghasandesam		National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
1983	Dharma Poratam	Raghurama Rao
1984	Disco King
1984	Anubandham
1985	Swathi
1985	Tirugubatu
1985	Adavi Donga
1985	Agni Parvatam	Jagannadha Rao
1985	Vijetha
1985	Pachani Kapuram
1986	Kirathakudu
1986	Ugra Narasimham	Chakravarthy
1986	Veta
1986	Chantabbai
1987	Ramu
1987	President Gari Abbayi
1987	Aradhana
1987	Pasivadi Pranam
1987	Viswanatha Nayakudu		Voice double for Sivaji Ganesan
1988	Manchi Donga
1988	Aakhari Poratam
1988	Jeevana Ganga
1989	Ajatha Satruvu	Raghavaiah Naidu
1990	Alludugaru
1991	Assembly Rowdy
1992	Dharma Kshetram
1992	Brahma[12]
1992	Rowdy Inspector
1992	Detective Narada
1993	Joker
1994	Bobbili Simham

Death

He underwent a Hip Replacement surgery and complications after the surgery resulted in his death.[1]

References

External links

• Jaggayya at IMDb

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