Chiranjeevi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Chiranjeevi (disambiguation).
Chiranjeevi
Union Minister of State (Independent charge), Ministry of Tourism
Incumbent
Assumed office
28 October 2012
Preceded by Subodh Kant Sahay
Member of Parliament - Rajya Sabha
Incumbent
Assumed office
2012
Personal details
Born Mogalthur, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India
Nationality Indian
Spouse(s)
  • Surekha Konidala
    (m.1980-present (3 children))
Children
Residence Film Nagar, Hyderabad, India
New Delhi
Alma mater
Occupation Film actor, Politician
Religion Hindu
Military service
Awards Padma Bhushan

Chiranjeevi (born Konidala Siva Sankara Vara Prasad) is an Indian film actor, producer, politician and a member of the Indian National Congress. He is the Minister of State with independent charge for the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.[1] Prior to politics, Chiranjeevi had worked primarily in Telugu cinema, including Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in 1978, in the film Punadhirallu.[2] However, Pranam Khareedu was released earlier at the box office.[3]

The entertainment magazines Filmfare and India Today named him "Bigger than Bachchan", a reference to Bollywood’s Amitabh Bachchan.[4] In 1987, he became the first south Indian actor to be invited to attend the 59th Academy Awards ceremony.[5][6] News magazine The Week hailed him as "The new money machine".[7] The film made Chiranjeevi the highest paid actor in India at the time, catapulting him to hit the cover pages of noted national weekly magazines in India.[8] He was paid a remuneration of INR1.25 crores for the 1992 film Aapad Bandhavudu.[9] In 2002, Chiranjeevi was given the Samman Award for the Highest Income Tax Payer for the assessment year 1999-2000 by the Minister of State for Finance, Government of India.[10] A poll conducted in Andhra Pradesh by the English news channel CNN-IBN in 2006 named that Chiranjeevi the most popular star of the Telugu Film Industry.[11][12] The poll also revealed that Vishnuvardhan, Rajinikanth and Mohanlal were the most popular stars of the Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam film industries respectively. In 2013, he inaugurated the Incredible India Exhibition, a joint participation of the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at the 66th Cannes Film Festival.[13][14] He also represented Incredible India at the 14th International Indian Film Academy Awards ceremony held in Macau.[15]

In a film career spanning more than thirty years, Chiranjeevi has starred in 149 feature films. In 1987, he starred in Swayam Krushi, which was screened at the Moscow International Film Festival.[16] In 1988, he co-produced Rudraveena, which won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration.[17] He has won four state Nandi Awards and ten Filmfare Awards South. Chiranjeevi was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award, for his contributions towards Indian cinema. In 2006, he was presented with an honorary doctorate from Andhra University.[18] In 2013, IBN LIVE named him as one of "The men who changed the face of the Indian Cinema".[19]

Chiranjeevi founded the Chiranjeevi Charitable Foundation, established in 1998, which is involved in humanitarian activities. In 2008, he entered politics by forming the Praja Rajyam Party. In the 2009 Andhra Pradesh elections, Chiranjeevi contested from his native places, Palakollu and Tirupati. He was defeated by the Congress party candidate in Palakollu and was elected as a member of the State Assembly from the Tirupati constituency. He led the Praja Rajyam Party to emerge as the third largest party during the same election. Later, in February 2011, his Praja Rajyam Party merged into the Indian National Congress.

Early life and family

Chiranjeevi was born at Mogalthur, a small village near Narsapur.[20] He was interested in acting from a very young age. He did his Intermediate at C. S. R. Sarma College in Ongole.[21] After graduating with a degree in commerce from Sri Y N College at Narsapur, Chiranjeevi moved to Chennai and joined the Madras Film Institute in 1976 to pursue a career in acting.[22] Since his family worshipped Anjaneya, a Hindu deity, his mother advised him to take the screen name of "Chiranjeevi".[23]

He has two daughters, Sushmita and Sreeja, and a son, Ram Charan Teja. Ram is also an actor in Tollywood.[24] One of Chiranjeevi's brothers, Nagendra Babu, is a film producer and also has acted in several films, and his youngest brother, Pawan Kalyan, is an actor in Tollywood.[24] Allu Aravind, his brother-in-law, is a film producer.[25] Allu Arjun & Allu Sirish sons of Allu Aravind, are also actors in Telugu cinema.

Acting career

Early career: 1978–1981

Chiranjeevi started his film career in Punadhirallu.[2] However, his first released film was Pranam Khareedu.[26] Mana Voori Pandavulu, directed by Bapu, gave Chiranjeevi recognition from the Indian audience.[22] He played a small role in Tayaramma Bangarayya. He also played the anti-hero in films like I Love You and K. Balachander's Idi Katha Kaadu,[22] starring Kamal Haasan. In a remake of the Tamil film Avargal, Chiranjeevi portrayed the character played by Rajinikanth in the original. In 1979, Chiranjeevi had eight major film releases and then 14 films in the following year.[27][28] He played characters with negative shades in films like Mosagadu, Rani Kasula Rangamma and the Tamil-Telugu bilingual 47 Natkal /47 Rojulu directed by K. Balachander.[29] A. Kodandarami Reddy's Nyayam Kavali (1981) saw him playing an anti-hero once again and his performance was noticed by the critics.[citation needed] Also in 1981, he appeared as a villain in Ranuva Veeran opposite Rajinikanth.[citation needed] He was mostly cast in supporting roles and as antagonistic characters during this period.

Leading roles: 1982

Chiranjeevi began to appear in lead roles with films such as Intlo Ramayya Veedilo Krishnayya directed by Kodi Ramakrishna which was a hit at the box office.[30] Later, he starred in Shubhalekha directed by K. Viswanath, which dealt with the social malady of the dowry system. It brought him his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu and Viswanath's third Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu.[31][32] He also appeared in movies like Idi Pellantara, Sitadevi, Tingu Rangadu, Bandhalu Anubandhalu and Mondi Ghatam. He acted in multi-star movies like Patnam Vachina Pativrathalu and Billa Ranga. He later acted in Manchu Pallaki, along with Suhasini Maniratnam, which was the debut film for director Vamsy.[33]

1983–2007

Khaidi was a box-office success and Chiranjeevi attained stardom with this movie .[23] In the year 1984, Chiranjeevi continued doing action films.

Chiranjeevi films of the period include Mantri Gari Viyyankudu, Sangharshana, Goonda, Challenge, Hero, Donga, Jwala, Adavi Donga, Kondaveeti Raja, Rakshasudu, Gang Leader, Rowdy Alludu, Yamudiki Mogudu and Donga Mogudu.[34] In 1985, he received his second Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu for his performance in Vijetha.[35] Chiranjeevi received his first Nandi Award for Best Actor for Swayam Krushi (1987), directed by K. Viswanath.

Chiranjeevi worked in 23 films, most of which were box office hits. He also attempted a variety of roles which showed his acting skills. After Khaidi, he had hits like Pasivadi Pranam (1987) and Yamudiki Mogudu (1988) where he appeared in a dual role, and Manchi Donga (1988). His film, Rudraveena (1988), not only won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration,[17] but also the Nandi Special Jury Award. Its composer Ilaiyaraaja and singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam won National Film Awards for the same film.

Chiranjeevi paired with Sridevi in Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari, a socio-fantasy movie from Tollywood. Directed by K. Raghavendra Rao and produced by Ashwini Dutt. Other films like Kondaveeti Donga and Raja Vikramarka were also box-office successes. Gang Leader (1991) was also a hit and critics even called him the "boss of Telugu cinema".[36]

He acted in Hindi films too. His performances were appreciated in Pratibandh (1990), which gained him a Filmfare nomination.[citation needed] Aaj Ka Goonda Raj, a remake of his Telugu film and The Gentleman, a Tamil remake also proved to be successful.[citation needed] In 1996, he appeared in a guest role in the Kannada film Sipaayi.[citation needed]

For his role in Aapad Bandhavudu (1992), he received his second Nandi Award for Best Actor and third Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu.[citation needed]

The mid-1990s saw a career dip for Chiranjeevi with box-office failures like Mechanic Alludu, S. P. Parasuram, Big Boss and Rikshavodu. There were exceptions, such as Mutha Mestri, which fetched him a fourth Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu. Mugguru Monagallu and Alluda Majaka were moderately successful.[35]

After a brief lull, he came back with Hitler in 1997, which received both critical and commercial acclaim.[citation needed] From then on, Chiranjeevi confined himself to acting in only a few selected films. The following years, he appeared in commercially successful movies like Master, Bavagaru Bagunnara?, and Choodalani Vundi, and for Sneham Kosam, he received his fifth Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu.[citation needed]

In 1999, Chiranjeevi was to appear in a Hollywood production directed by Dushan Garsi, and produced by Rameshkrishna Murthi. The Telugu version was directed by Suresh Krissna. The movie, which was titled Return of the Thief of Baghdad, had its filming suspended for unknown reasons.[37]

Chiranjeevi's new decade started with Annayya. After a brief gap, Chiranjeevi starred in Indra, released in 2002, which broke all his previous box office records of Tollywood and won him his third Nandi Award for Best Actor and sixth Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu. After that, he appeared in films which had an underlying message and a social cause, like Tagore and Shankar Dada MBBS, for which he won his seventh and latest Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu, and Stalin. He was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South at the 58th Filmfare Awards South in 2011 for his contributions to the film industry.

Political career: 2008–present

In 2008, Chiranjeevi started Praja Rajyam, a political party in the state of Andhra Pradesh.[38] At the launch, he stated that social justice was the main agenda of his party.[39] In the 2009 general elections, the party won 18 of the 295 seats in the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly.[40] He was elected a Member of the State Assembly from Tirupati.[41]

He contested from both Tirupati and Palakollu Constituencies for MLA in the 2009 general elections, winning in Tirupati but losing out in Palakollu.[42][43]

On 6 February 2011, Chiranjeevi merged the 30-month-old Praja Rajyam Party with the Indian National Congress,[40][44] after two weeks of back talks with Sonia Gandhi, the president of the Congress, which feared the no confidence motion in the state assembly in the wake of the emergence of Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress Party and the stronghold of Telangana agitation. After more than one year of merging his party into Congress, he was given the Rajya Sabha seat on 29 March 2012. He took the oath as a Rajya Sabha member on 3 April 2012.

On 28 October 2012, he was sworn in as the Union Minister of State (Independent charge), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.[1]

Humanitarian work

On 2 October 1998, he founded the Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust (CCT), which includes Chiranjeevi Blood and Eye Banks. It is the state's largest recipient of blood and eye donations. The trust has made over 68,000 blood donations and 1,414 eye donations.[2][45][46] The Blood Bank of the CCT has helped over 80,000 people and the Eye Bank has helped about 1,000 people in the state of Andhra Pradesh since its opening. Around 350,000 people have pledged their eyes to CCT so far, giving 1600 people eyesight through CCT. CCT has also won the "Best Voluntary Blood Bank Award" by the AP State Government for the past 4 years.[47][48] On 10 June 2006, the then President of India, Abdul Kalam, inaugurated the Chiranjeevi Charitable Foundation (CCF) at the Jubilee Hills Check Post in Hyderabad.[citation needed]

Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust has crossed the one lakh mark in collecting blood and more than 96,000 people have been helped with blood by this blood bank.[49]

After allegations made against the Blood Bank and Eye Bank,[50][51] the state government of AP constituted a high-level committee to look into the allegations. The committee worked under the guidance of the project director of AP State AIDA Control Society, comprising experts from finance and technical fields, verified records pertaining to the collection and disposal of blood samples, blood grouping, screening, sterilisation, medical waste disposal, camps conducted, blood expiry, quality control, store room, record room and purchase of equipment.[citation needed]

Awards, honours and recognitions

Veteran director K. Balachander once commented "Chiranjeevi has both Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth in him. Not only can he do action, he can also act."[52] Chiranjeevi received the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour in India in the year 2006. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Andhra University in the same year.[17] He is a ten-time winner of Filmfare Awards South[2][17] and a four time winner of Nandi Awards. Amitabh Bachchan said during the Padma Bhushann felicitation, "Commercially, Telugu cinema is much larger than any other cinema in this country."[53]

Awards

National Film Award
Filmfare Awards South
Nandi Awards

Other honors

Notable filmography

Main article: Chiranjeevi filmography

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Business Standard. "Chiranjeevi's dramatic comeback". Business-standard.com. Retrieved 2012-10-28. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Padmabhushanudiki Mega Sanmanam Part – I – Telugu Movie News". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 2011-06-10. 
  3. ↑ "Chiranjeevi's debut". Rediff.com. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 
  4. ↑ Babu, Venkatesha (23 April 2009). "The ‘megastar’ hopes to score a smash hit on debut". Livemint. Retrieved 7 October 2013. 
  5. ↑ "Chiranjeevi was invited for Oscar Awards". The Times Of India. 13 March 2012. 
  6. ↑ Chiru At Cannes Vs Chiru At Oscars
  7. ↑ Rajeev Deshpande, TNN, 18 Apr 2009, 03.15am IST (18 April 2009). "Chiru charisma shines on, may end up hurting Cong". Times of India. Retrieved 2010-05-15. 
  8. ↑ "First Telugu film to gross Rs. 1 million". The Times Of India. 17 August 2012. 
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ Chiranjeevi dismisses reports linking him with tax raids - Indian Express
  11. ↑ http://entertainment.oneindia.in/kannada/news/2008/vishnuvardhan-most-popular-star-240608.html
  12. ↑ http://www.chitraloka.com/news/3323-vishnuvardhan-most-popular-super-star-in-kannada.html
  13. ↑ "Chiranjeevi to inaugurate Incredible India exhibition at Cannes". The Times Of India. 20 May 2013. 
  14. ↑ Chiranjeevi offers wide opportunities to foreign film producers in India | Business Standard
  15. ↑ Press Information Bureau English Releases
  16. ↑
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 "Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : From reel to real life". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 18 August 2008. Retrieved 2011-06-10. 
  18. ↑ "AU confers honorary degrees on Chiru, others". Chennai, India: Hindu.com. 7 November 2006. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 
  19. ↑ 100 Years of Cinema: The men who changed the face of Indian films|Movies News Photos-IBNLive
  20. ↑ "Selam/: PR faces ‘mega’ dilemma!". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 26 March 2009. Retrieved 2011-06-10. 
  21. ↑ "Andhra Pradesh / Ongole News : Nostalgic moments for Chiru". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 11 January 2009. Retrieved 2011-06-10. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 D., Murali Krishna. "Many Happy Returns to Mega Star". Indiaglitz.com. Retrieved 19 September 2010. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 R. G., Vijayasarathy (18 August 2008). "From superstar to a political leader". Rediff.com. Retrieved 19 September 2010. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Chiru celebrates decisive B'Day! – Telugu Movie News". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 2011-06-10. 
  25. ↑ "Double whammy for Chiru’s fans – Bollywood Movie News". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 2011-06-10. 
  26. ↑ "Chiranjeevi—Live and let others live is the theme of his life". EntireAndhra.com. Retrieved 19 September 2010. 
  27. ↑ "Chiranjeevi – Filmography". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 19 September. 
  28. ↑ "Ram Charan Teja to do a remake?". EntireAndhra.com. 6 August 2009. Retrieved 2011-06-10. 
  29. ↑ "Entertainment Chennai / Film Review : What women power?". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 17 June 2005. Retrieved 2011-06-10. 
  30. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intlo_Ramayya_Veedilo_Krishnayya
  31. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filmfare_Best_Actor_Award_(Telugu)
  32. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filmfare_Best_Director_Award_(Telugu)
  33. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0248168/
  34. ↑ "Topper of Vivekanandha collegePart – I – Tamil Movie News". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 2011-06-10. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "Megastar Chiranjeevi's Hits And Flops". Weekendcreations.com. Retrieved 2011-05-04. 
  36. ↑ Gopalan, Krishna (30 August 2008). "Southern movie stars & politics: A long love affair". The Economic Times. Retrieved 19 September 2010. 
  37. ↑ "The RETURN OF THE THIEF OF BAGDAD". 
  38. ↑ "Front Page : Chiranjeevi launches ‘Praja Rajyam’". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 27 August 2008. Retrieved 2011-06-10. 
  39. ↑ "Tirupati premier for Chiranjeevi's party". 
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "Front Page : Praja Rajyam Party merges with Congress". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 7 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-10. 
  41. ↑ "Chiranjeevi starts a new role as Andhra MLA". CNN-IBN. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 15 October 2010. 
  42. ↑ "Chiranjeevi loses from Palacole, wins Tirupati" The Economic Times 16 May 2009
  43. ↑ Srinivas, Vadrevu (18 May 2009). "Chiranjeevi loses not just elections, but respect too". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 October 2013. 
  44. ↑ "Front Page :Praja Rajyam merges with Congress". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 7 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-10. 
  45. ↑ "Chiranjeevi Eye Bank | Best blood Bank | State Government Award | Recognition – Oneindia Entertainment". Entertainment.oneindia.in. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 
  46. ↑ "Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust – Chiranjeevi Eye Bank and Blood Bank". Humsurfer. 25 February 2009. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 
  47. ↑ "Chiranjeevi Charitable trust is number one blood bank in Andhra Pradesh – A write up on CCT – Megastar Chiranjeevi – megastar Chiranjeevi the founder president of Prajaraajyam". Cherryfans.com. 2 October 1998. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 
  48. ↑ "Chiranjeevi Blood Bank receives State award – Telugu Cinema News". Bharatwaves.com. 5 December 2006. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 
  49. ↑ "MEGASTAR CHIRANJEEVI ~ Early Tollywood". Earlytollywood.com. 23 February 2008. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 
  50. ↑ "Pic: Chiranjeevi as a five years old boy – Telugu Cinema News". Bharatwaves.com. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 
  51. ↑ Sat 14 Aug 2010 06:47 PM (14 August 2010). "Jeevitha Rajasekhar salute Chiru Fans". Cinejosh.com. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 
  52. ↑ "rediff.com, Movies:The Rediff Interview: Chiranjeevi". Rediff.com. Retrieved 2011-10-20. 
  53. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrtOKIXNpYo
  54. ↑ "36th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 7 October 2013. 
  55. ↑ "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who - Times of India (Firm) - Google Books". Books.google.co.in. Retrieved 2012-10-28. 
  56. ↑ "The affable eccentric Prathap Pothan". The New Indian Express. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-28. 
  57. ↑ Collections, p 394
  58. ↑ Data India - Google Books
  59. ↑ Data India - Google Books
  60. ↑ "Manikchand Filmfare Awards: Sizzling at 50". The Economic Times. 25 May 2003. Retrieved 7 October 2013. 
  61. ↑ ""Autograph" bags 3 Filmfare awards". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 10 July 2005. 
  62. ↑ "54th Fair One Filmfare Awards 2006 - Telugu cinema function". Idlebrain.com. 4 August 2007. Retrieved 2012-10-28. 
  63. ↑ The glitter, the gloss, the razzmatazz

External links

1972–1990
1991–2010
2011–present
1964–1979
1980–1999
2000-Present
  • Complete list
  • (1964–1979)
  • (1980–1999)
  • (2000–Present)
CineMAA Award for Best Actor
Authority control
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.