Chittoor V. Nagayya (born Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya Sarma; 28 March 1904 – 30 December 1973) was an Indian actor, singer, composer, screenwriter, director, and producer known for his work in Telugu cinema, Tamil cinema, and Telugu theatre. Indian film journalist and the editor of Film India, Baburao Patel, described Nagayya as "The Paul Muni of India".[1][2] According to S. Muthiah, Nagayya was considered the best character actor in South cinema during 1938-1950s.[1] In 1965, he became the first South Indian actor to receive the Padma Shri in arts from the Government of India for his contributions to Indian cinema.[1][3][4] In his honour, the Chittoor Nagayya Kalakshetram of Arts was established in Chittoor of Andhra Pradesh.[5]
Chittoor V. Nagayya | |
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Born | Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya (1904-03-28)28 March 1904 Repalle, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Andhra Pradesh, India) |
Died | 30 December 1973(1973-12-30) (aged 69) |
Occupation | Actor, composer, director, producer, writer and playback singer |
Years active | 1938–1973 |
Awards | Padma Shri (1965) |
Brought up in Chittoor, Nagayya was closely connected to Rama Vilasa Sabha, a Telugu theatre association in the city. He performed and directed several stage plays, such as Sarangadhara, Viswamithra Chitra Nilayam, Savitri, Bruhannala and Ramadasu. He staged the roles of Telugu saint-poets Pothana, Vemana, Ramadasu, and Tyagaraja. While acting in a stage production at the Victoria Public Hall, Madras he was spotted by B. N. Reddy. At this juncture H. M. Reddy formed Rohini Pictures with the association of B. N. Reddy. The studio started its first venture in Telugu through the film Gruhalakshmi in 1938, in which Nagayya played a significant role. When the partners decided to go their own ways, Nagayya followed B.N. Reddy to his new venture, Vauhini Studios. Later, he worked in several films with Vauhini Studios including social films such as Vande Mataram (1939), Sumangali (1940), Devata (1941), Swarga Seema (1945), and Beedhalapatlu (1947).[6]
Nagayya made significant contributions to Telugu cinema, and starred in about two hundred Telugu films.[7] He was a method actor, and his forte was usually playing intense characters, often immersing himself in the study of the real character's traits and mannerisms.[7] Nagayya was the protagonist in the most expensive 1940 Telugu production, Viswa Mohini, touted to be the first film on the Indian motion picture world.[8][9][10] He prominent film roles include the 14th-century poet Pothana in Bhakta Potana (1942), 17th-century saint Tyagaraja in Thyagayya (1946), 12th-century saint Gora Kumbhar in Chakradhari (1948), and Sivaram in the social problem film Naa Illu (1953). In 1964, Nagayya essayed the 17th-century saint Bhadrachala Ramadasu in the film Ramadasu which he had also co-written, directed and produced. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu.[11] Nagayya also starred in about one hundred and sixty films in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi.[4]
Nagayya was born on 28 March 1904 in a Telugu-speaking family in a tiny hamlet near Repalle, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. His parents were Ramalinga Sharma and Venkata Lakshmamba. His maternal grandmother adopted him and took him to her native village, Gonugur, near Kuppam and later to Chittoor. He took up studies with a scholarship provided by the Tirupati Devasthanam and took his degree in Chittoor.[12]
After working as a clerk in a government office, Nagayya became a journalist with Andhra Patrika. Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru influenced him and he participated in the freedom struggle (Dandi Satyagraha) in 1930, later going on to work for some gramophone companies including Hutchins as well as attending the Gowhati Congress conclave with S. Srinivasa Iyyengar.[13] He was married to Jaya Lakshmi, but she died giving birth to a daughter a year after. He then married Girija, and Girija, too died due to miscarriage in the eighth month. His first daughter died of an un-diagnosed illness. He then participated in long stays at Ramana Maharshi Ashram. He has family in Tirupati who are his brother's (Vuppaladadiyam Subrahmanya Sharma) son, Vuppaladadiyam S. Haragopal and daughters (Late Amruthavalli and Late Kusuma), Lakshmi Narasimha and their children, Vuppaladadiyam Shyam Sundar and Vuppaladadiyam Pavan Kumar.[14]
Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1938 | Gruhalakshmi | Gopinath | Telugu | |
1939 | Vande Mataram | Raghu | Telugu | |
1940 | Viswa Mohini | A Film Director | Telugu | |
1940 | Sumangali | Panthulu | Telugu | |
1941 | Devatha | Venu | Telugu | |
1941 | Ashok Kumar | King Ashoka | Tamil | |
1943 | Bhakta Potana | Pothana | Telugu | |
1943 | Chenchu Lakshmi | Chenchu Lakshmi's Father | Telugu | |
1943 | Bhagyalaxmi | Srinivasa Rao | Telugu | |
1945 | Swargaseema | Murthy | Telugu | |
1945 | Meera | King of Mewar | Hindi / Tamil | |
1946 | Tyagayya | Tyagayya | Telugu | |
1947 | Yogi Vemana | Vemana | Telugu | |
1948 | Chakradhari | Korakumbar | Tamil | |
1948 | Bhaktha Jana | Namadeva | Tamil | |
1949 | Mana Desam | Telugu | ||
1949 | Navajeevanam | Mahadevan | Tamil | |
1950 | Ezhai Padum Padu | Kandan | Tamil | |
1950 | Beedala Patlu | Telugu | ||
1951 | Sarvadhikari | Tamil | ||
1952 | Thai Ullam | Tamil | ||
1953 | Ulagam | Tamil | ||
1953 | Prapancham | |||
1953 | Penn | Tamil | ||
1953 | Panakkari | Tamil | ||
1953 | Naa Illu | Sivaram | Telugu | |
1953 | Ladki | Kamini's father | Hindi | |
1953 | Gumastha | Ranganatham | Tamil | |
1953 | Gumasta | Ranganatham | Telugu | |
1953 | En Veedu | Shivram | Tamil | |
1954 | Viduthalai | Periaswamy | Tamil | |
1954 | Thuli Visham | Tamil | ||
1954 | Maa Gopi | Telugu | ||
1954 | Edhir Paradhathu | Dayaparar | Tamil | |
1954 | Prapancham | Telugu | ||
1954 | Sangham | Telugu | ||
1955 | Kanavaney Kankanda Deivam | Tamil | ||
1955 | Anarkali | Raja Mansingh | Telugu | |
1955 | Nam Kuzhandai | Tamil | ||
1956 | Tenali Ramakrishna | Mahamantri Thimmarusu | Telugu | |
1956 | Uma Sundari | Telugu | ||
1956 | Pennin Perumai | Zamindar, father of Ragunathan / Nagendran | Tamil | |
1956 | Naga Panchami | Telugu | ||
1956 | Muddu Bidda | Telugu | ||
1956 | Marmaveeran | Tamil | ||
1956 | Asai | Tamil | ||
1956 | Bhakta Markandeya | Kannada | ||
1956 | Bhakta Markandeya | Tamil | ||
1956 | Bhakta Markandeya | Telugu | ||
1956 | Amaradeepam | |||
1956 | Tenali Raman | Appaji | Tamil | |
1957 | Yaar Paiyyan | Tamil | ||
1957 | Vanangamudi | Tamil | ||
1957 | Sati Savitri | Telugu | ||
1957 | Panduranga Mahatyam | Jahnavi | Telugu | |
1957 | Nala Damayanti | Tamil | ||
1957 | Nala Damayanti | Telugu | ||
1957 | Ambikapathy | Raja Kulothunga Chola I, the father of Amaravathi | Tamil | |
1958 | Piya Milan | |||
1958 | Sampoorna Ramayanam | Telugu | ||
1958 | Pati Bhakti | Bhikshu | Tamil | |
1958 | Parvati Kalyanam | Telugu | ||
1958 | Ettuku Pai Ettu | Telugu | ||
1958 | Bommala Pelli | Varadarajan | Telugu | |
1958 | Bommai Kalyanam | Tamil | ||
1958 | Illarame Nallaram | Tamil | ||
1959 | Jayabheri | Viswambhara Sastri | Telugu | |
1959 | Sahodhari | Pazhani, father of Chandiran and Meena | Tamil | |
1959 | Nalla Theerpu | Tamil | ||
1959 | Mahishasura Mardini | Shukracharya | Kannada | |
1959 | Kalaivanan | Tamil | ||
1959 | Banda Ramudu | Telugu | ||
1960 | Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam | Bhavaji | Telugu | |
1960 | Abhimanam | Telugu | ||
1961 | Sri Seetha Rama Kalyanam | Dasarathudu | Telugu | |
1961 | Intiki Deepam Illale | Telugu | ||
1961 | Vagdanam | Vishwanatham (Vijaya's father) | Telugu | |
1961 | Sabash Raja | Telugu | ||
1961 | Paava Mannippu | Tamil | ||
1961 | Nichaya Thamboolam | Ramanna, a teacher who is the father of Seetha (Jamuna) | Tamil | |
1961 | Nagarjuna | Telugu | ||
1961 | Kappalottiya Thamizhan | Ulaganatha Pillai | Tamil | |
1961 | Ellam Unakkaga | Tamil | ||
1961 | Thirudathe | Tamil | ||
1961 | Palum Pazhamum | Tamil | ||
1961 | Manapanthal | Tamil | ||
1962 | Gaali Medalu | Ranganatham the father of Krishna (NTR) | Telugu | |
1962 | Dakshayagnam | Dadhichi | Tamil | |
1962 | Dakshayagnam | Dadhichi | Telugu | |
1962 | Swarnamanjari | Telugu | ||
1962 | Aalayamani | Tamil | ||
1962 | Valar Pirai | Tamil | ||
1962 | Thendral Veesum | Tamil | ||
1962 | Siri Sampadalu | Nayudu | Telugu | |
1962 | Shantinivasam | Ramadasu the father of four children | Telugu | |
1962 | Padandi Munduku | Telugu | ||
1963 | Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham | Akroora | Telugu | |
1963 | Lava Kusha | Valmiki Maharshi | Telugu | |
1963 | Amarshilpi Jakanachari | |||
1963 | Naan Vanangum Dheivam | Tamil | ||
1963 | Naanum Oru Penn | Tamil | ||
1963 | Mani Osai | |||
1963 | Lava Kusa | Valmiki | Hindu | |
1963 | Karpagam | The father of Amudha (Savitri) | Tamil | |
1963 | Bandipotu | Saluva Dharmanayaka | Telugu | |
1963 | Anuragam | Telugu | ||
1963 | Lakshadhikari | Lakshadhikari Rangaiah | Telugu | |
1964 | Bobbili Yudham | Telugu | ||
1964 | Ramadasu | Ramadasu | Telugu | |
1964 | Pachai Vilakku | Gopalaiya | Tamil | |
1964 | Kai Koduttha Dheivam | Father of Latha | Tamil | |
1964 | Amarshilpi Jakanna | Telugu | ||
1964 | Aggi Pidugu | Telugu | ||
1964 | Aatma Balam | Telugu | ||
1964 | Amarashilpi Jakanachari | Kannada | ||
1964 | Chandavalliya Tota | Kannada | ||
1964 | Annapurna | Father of Annapurna | Kannada | |
1964 | Devatha | Father of Prasad | Telugu | |
1964 | Gudi Gantalu | Telugu | ||
1964 | Aandavan Kattalai | Doctor | Tamil | |
1965 | Sumangali | Venkata Chalam | Telugu | |
1965 | Satya Harishchandra | Vasistha Maharshi | Telugu | |
1965 | Devatha | Telugu | ||
1965 | Santhi | Tamil | ||
1965 | Preminchi Choodu | Telugu | ||
1965 | Enga Veetu Penn | Tamil | ||
1965 | Sri Simhachala Kshetra Mahima | Father of Pururava | Telugu | |
1965 | Veerabhimanyu | Telugu | ||
1965 | Dorikithe Dongalu | Telugu | ||
1966 | Sri Krishna Pandaviyam | Telugu | ||
1966 | Selvam | Tamil | ||
1966 | Shakuntala | Telugu | ||
1966 | Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha | Paramanandaiah | Telugu | |
1966 | Parakkum Paavai | Tamil | ||
1966 | Navarathri | Telugu | ||
1966 | Motor Sundaram Pillai | Tamil | ||
1966 | Bhakta Potana | Vyasa Maharshi | Telugu | |
1966 | Adugu Jaadalu | Telugu | ||
1966 | Aastiparulu | Diwan to Zamindar | Telugu | |
1966 | Sadhu Mirandal | Priest Micheal | Tamil | (Special Appearance) |
1966 | Saraswati Sabatham | Vidhyapathy father | Tamil | |
1967 | Kanchukota | Raja Rajendra Bhupathi | Telugu | |
1967 | Sri Krishnavataram | Dhritarashtra | Telugu | |
1967 | Punyavathi | Telugu | ||
1967 | Veera Pooja | Telugu | ||
1967 | Rahasyam | Telugu | ||
1967 | Poola Rangadu | Veeraiya | Telugu | |
1967 | Patukunte Padivelu | |||
1967 | Iru Malargal | Sivasamy | Tamil | |
1967 | Bhama Vijayam | Telugu | ||
1967 | Maa Vadina | Telugu | ||
1967 | Private Master | Father of Private Master | Telugu | |
1967 | Marapurani Kadha | Madhava Rao | Telugu | |
1968 | Brahmachari | Telugu | ||
1968 | Ramu | Tamil / Telugu | ||
1968 | Deva kanya (1968 film) | Telugu | ||
1968 | Thillana Mohanambal | Shanmugasundaram's Nadaswara Guru | Tamil | |
1968 | Nindu Samsaram | Telugu | ||
1968 | Niluvu Dopidi | Swamiji the director of an orphanage | Telugu | |
1968 | Bandhavyalu | Telugu | ||
1968 | Uyarndha Manithan | Manickam | Tamil | |
1969 | Saptaswaralu | Telugu | ||
1969 | Nam Naadu | The school master Kandhaya | Tamil | |
1969 | Mooga Nomu | Telugu | ||
1969 | Deiva Magan | Tamil | ||
1969 | Annaiyum Pithavum | Tamil | ||
1969 | Aadarsa Kutumbam | Telugu | ||
1969 | Natakala Rayudu | Adiseshayya | Telugu | |
1970 | Akka Chellelu | Second judge | Telugu | |
1970 | Kaalam Vellum | (Guest Appearance) | ||
1970 | Thaali Bottu | Telugu | ||
1970 | Engirundho Vandhaal | Dharmalingam | Tamil | |
1970 | Thalli Thandrulu | Raobahadur Perumallu | Telugu | |
1970 | Thabalkaran Thangai | Tamil | ||
1970 | Raman Ethanai Ramanadi | Director Nagaiya | Tamil | |
1970 | Kanmalar | Tamil | ||
1970 | Sorgam | Judge | Tamil | |
1971 | Srimanthudu | Telugu | ||
1971 | Prema Nagar | Doctor | Telugu | |
1971 | Vichithra Dampathyam | Telugu | ||
1971 | Pavitra Bandham | Telugu | ||
1971 | Sri Krishna Satya | Telugu | ||
1971 | Raitu Kutumbam | Telugu | ||
1971 | Kula Gourava | Kannada | ||
1971 | Jeevitha Chakram | Father of Raja (NTR) | Telugu | |
1971 | Iru Thuruvam | Teacher | Tamil | |
1971 | C.I.D.Raju | Telugu | ||
1971 | Thangaikkaaga | Tamil | ||
1971 | Ramalayam | Temple priest | Telugu | |
1971 | Pavitra Hrudayalu | Zamindar Bhujanga Rao | Telugu | |
1972 | Sampoorna Ramayanam | Vasishta Mahamuni | Telugu | |
1972 | Papam Pasivadu | Doctor | Telugu | |
1972 | Shakti Leelai | Tamil | ||
1972 | Pedda Koduku | Telugu | ||
1972 | Neethi | Judge | Tamil | |
1972 | Iddaru Ammayilu | Laxman Rao | Telugu | |
1972 | Goodu Putani | Telugu | ||
1972 | Beedala Patlu | Telugu | ||
1972 | Bala Bharatam | Telugu | ||
1972 | Raja | Haridass | Tamil | |
1972 | Shakthi Leelai | Guruji | Tamil | |
1972 | Ganga Gauri | Tamil | ||
1972 | Inti Kodalu | Telugu | ||
1973 | Vishali | Telugu | ||
1973 | Sampoorna Ramayan | Vashisht Muni | ||
1973 | Desoddharakulu | Telugu | ||
1973 | Pattikaattu Ponnaiya | Tamil | ||
1973 | Panjaramlo Pasipapa | |||
1973 | Ganga Gowri | |||
1973 | Puttinillu Mettinillu | Telugu | ||
1974 | Lav Kush | Valmiki | ||
1974 | Sivagamiyin Selvan | Church Father | Tamil | |
1974 | Inti Kodalu | |||
1976 | Tu Hi Ram Tu Hi Krishna | |||
1976 | Kula Gowravam | Tamil | ||
1976 | Ennai Pol Oruvan | Sundaramoorthy's Father | Tamil | (final film role) |
Year | Title | Song |
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1938 | Gruhalakshmi | Lendu Bharata Veerulara |
1953 | Gumasta | Oyi Parugekkadikoyi |
1953 | Prapancham | Anta Kooleelam Manamanta Kooleelam, Premasudha Sarasilo Hamsalamai |
1953 | Sangham | Jati Bhedam Samasipoda |
1954 | Maa Gopi | Sanubhoothiye Leda Jagatini, Amma Krishnamma Apacharamemitamma |
1956 | Bhakta Markandeya | Om Namashivaya, Jaya Jaya Shankara Sambasadashiva |
1956 | Naga Panchami | Sambho Mahadeva |
1956 | Muddu Bidda | Itulela Chesavaya O Devadeva |
1956 | Tenali Ramakrishna | Gandupilli Menu Marichi |
1956 | Tenali Ramakrishna | "Putrile Pambirukkum...Kottaiyile Oru Kaalatthile" |
1957 | Nala Damayanti | Ghorambaina Daavagni Keelakerayai |
1957 | Panduranga Mahatyam | Jaya Jaya Gokula Bala, Sannuti Seyave Manasa |
1962 | Swarnamanjari | Madhuramaina Guru Deevena |
1967 | Maa Vadina | Suthudilu Peeda Mandiramu (poem) |
1967 | Poola Rangadu | Chillara Rallaku Mokkutu Unte Chedipoduvura |
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