fiction.wikisort.org - Actor

V. Nagayya (born Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya Sarma; 28 March 1904 – 30 December 1978) also known as Chittoor Nagayya was an Indian actor, singer, music composer, and director known for his works in Telugu cinema, Tamil cinema, and Telugu theatre. Indian film journalist Baburao Patel described Nagayya as "The Paul Muni of India".[1][2] Nagayya was considered the best character actor in South Indian cinema during 1940s and 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]

V. Nagayya
Born	Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya Sarma (1904-03-28)28 March 1904 Repalle, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Andhra Pradesh, India)
Died	30 December 1978(1978-12-30) (aged 74)
Occupation	Actor, composer, director, producer, writer and playback singer
Years active	1938–1978
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. When B. N. Reddy along with H. M. Reddy produced Gruhalakshmi in 1938, Nagayya made his film debut and played a significant role in the film. Later, when B. N. Reddy established Vauhini Pictures banner, Nagayya followed him. He worked in several films with Vauhini including social films such as Vande Mataram (1939), Sumangali (1940), Devata (1941), Swarga Seema (1945), and Beedhalapatlu (1947).[5] Nagayya was also the protagonist in the most expensive 1940 Telugu production, Viswa Mohini, touted to be the first film on the Indian motion picture world.[6][7]

Nagayya made significant contributions to Telugu cinema, and starred in about two hundred Telugu films.[8] 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.[8] His other 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.[9] Nagayya also starred in about one hundred and sixty films in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi.[4]

Early life

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 Sarma 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.[10]

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.[11] He was married to Jaya Lakshmi, but she died giving birth to a daughter a year after. He then married Girija, and she too died due to miscarriage in the eighth month. His first daughter died of an undiagnosed illness. He then participated in long stays at Ramana Maharshi Ashram. He had family in Tirupati who are his brother's (Vuppaladadiyam Subrahmanya Sarma) son, Vuppaladadiyam S. Haragopal and daughters (Late Amruthavalli and Late Kusuma), Lakshmi Narasimha and their children, Vuppaladadiyam Shyam Sundar and Vuppaladadiyam Pavan Kumar.[12]

In his honour, the Chittoor Nagayya Kalakshetram of Arts was established in Chittoor of Andhra Pradesh.[13]

Civilian honours

• Padmashri, Government of India in 1965

Awards

National Film Awards

• National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu (director) – 1964 for Ramadasu

State Awards

• Abinava Thyagaraju by the Maharaja of Travancore.
• Best Actor Award by the Andhra Film Journalists Association
• Felicitated by a life size statue in Panagal Park, Chennai after his demise.

Filmography

Actor

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 Kusa	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	Gopalayya	Tamil
1964	Kai Koduttha Dheivam	Father of Latha	Tamil
1964	Amarsilpi 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)

Composer and play back singer

Year	Title	Song
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 Namasivaya, Jaya Jaya Sankara Sambasadasiva
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

Playback singer

• Ramadasu (1964)
• Tenali Raman
• Gumasta (1953/II) (playback singer and composer)
• Naa Illu (1953) (playback singer and composer)
• Yogi Vemana (1947) (playback singer and composer)
• Thyagayya (1946) (playback singer and composer)
• Swargaseema (1945) (playback singer and composer)
• Bhakta Potana (1942) (playback singer and composer)
• Devatha (1941) (playback singer and composer)
• Sumangali (1940) (playback singer and composer)
• Viswa Mohini (1940) (playback singer)
• Vande Mataram (1939) (playback singer and composer)
• Gruhalakshmi (1938) (playback singer)

Director (partial filmography)

• Ramadasu (Telugu, 1964)
• En Veedu (Tamil, 1953)
• Naa Illu (Telugu, 1953)
• Thyagayya (Telugu, 1946)

Producer (partial filmography)

• Naa Illu (1953)

Writer (partial filmography)

• Thyagayya (1946)

References

External links

• V. Nagayya at IMDb

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