Chittor V. Nagaiah
| Chittor V. Nagaiah | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
28 March 1904 Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh |
| Died | 30 December 1973 (aged 69) |
| Occupation | actor, composer, director, producer, writer and playback singer |
| Years active | 1938–1973 |
Chittor V. Nagaiah (born Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya, Telugu: వుప్పలదడియం నాగయ్య) was a multilingual Indian film actor, thespian, composer, director, producer, writer and playback singer from Andhra Pradesh, India. Indian film journalist and the editor of Film India, Baburao Patel, described Nagiah as The Paul Muni of India.[1] In his honor, the Mahati Chittor Nagaiah Kalakshetram of arts was established in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.[2]
Nagaiah is starred in about 200 Telugu films, and 160 films in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi. Widely recognized as one of the finest Indian method actors, his acting quality, was usually playing intense characters, often immersing himself in study of the real character's traits and mannerisms.[3] He was the first south Indian film star to be honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1965.[4][5][6]
Early life
Nagaiah was born on 28 March 1904 in a Telugu speaking Brahmin family, Andhra Pradesh. His parents were Ramalinga Sarma and Venkata Lakshmamba. The family moved to Kuppam and later to Tirupati, in Chittoor district. He took up studies with the scholarship provided by the Tirupati Devasthanam and took his degree in Chittoor.[7]
Career
He worked as a clerk in a government office. Later, he turned into a journalist with "Andhra Patrika". Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru influenced him and he participated in the freedom struggle (Dandi Satyagraha) in 1930. He worked with gramophone companies like Hutchins. He attended the Gowhati Congress conclave with S. Srinivasa Iyyengar.[8]
He held strong association with 'Rama Vilasa Sabha' a cultural association in Chittoor. He performed several stage plays 'Sarangadhara', 'Viswamithra Chitra Nilayam', 'Savitri', 'Bruhannala' and 'Ramadasu' and took on the roles of saint poets Pothana, Vemana, Rama Dasu and Thyagiah. He won the gold medal for his female role as 'Chitrangi', in the play 'Sarangadhara'. During that period he was married to Vijaya Lakshmi, but she died when she was giving birth to a girl child a year after. He then married Girija. Girija too died due to miscarriage in the eighth month. His daughter died of an undiagnosed illness. He participated in long stays at Ramana Maharshi Ashram.[9]
He joined the Chennapuri Andhra Maha Sabha (CAMS), a popular cultural Association of Andhras in the erstwhile Madras. Nagaiah developed life-time friendship with Bommireddy Narasimha Reddy . H. M. Reddy formed the Rohini Pictures with the association of B.N. Reddy. The firm started its first venture in Telugu through the film 'Gruhalakshmi' in 1938, in which Nagaiah played a significant role, as the brother of the heroine Kannambha. Later, the association worked through several films with Vauhini Studios including 'Vande Matharam' (1939), 'Sumangali' (1940), 'Devata' (1941), 'Bhakta Potana' (1942), 'Swarga Seema' (1945), 'Thygayya' (1946). He started getting offers from the Telugu and Tamil film industries equally. Nagiah became the highest paid actor by the time he was doing the film 'Beedalapatlu'.[10]
The film 'Thyagayya' was released in the year 1946 . Nagaiah was the producer, director, music director and actor for the film 'Thyagiah'. After that he made films 'Naa Illu' in 1953 and 'Ramadasu' in 1964, which won the National Film Award, 'Chakradhari' was a musical from 1948 based on the story of the Maharashtrian potter-saint Gora Kumbhar.[11]
Civilian honours
- Padmashri, Government of India in 1965
Awards
- National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu (director) – 1964 for Ramadasu[12]
- State Awards
- Abinava Thyagaraju by Thiruvankur Maharaja.
- Best Actor Award by the Andhra Film Journalists Association
Partial filmography
Actor
| Year | Film | Language | Character | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Gruhalakshmi | Telugu | Gopinath | |
| 1939 | Vande Mataram | Telugu | Raghu | |
| 1940 | Sumangali | Telugu | Panthulu | |
| 1940 | Viswamohini | Telugu | A Film Director | |
| 1941 | Ashok Kumar | Tamil | King Ashoka | |
| 1941 | Devatha | Telugu | Venu | |
| 1942 | Bhakta Potana | Telugu | Pothana | |
| 1943 | Bhagyalaxmi | Telugu | Srinivasa Rao | |
| 1943 | Chenchu Lakshmi | Telugu | Chenchu's Father | |
| 1945 | Meera | Hindi | King of Mewar | |
| 1945 | Meera | Tamil | King of Mewar | |
| 1945 | Swargaseema | Telugu | Murthy | |
| 1946 | Thyagayya | Telugu | Tyagayya | |
| 1947 | Yogi Vemana | Telugu | Vemana | |
| 1948 | Chakradhari | Tamil | ||
| 1949 | Mana Desam | Telugu | ||
| 1949 | Navajeevanam | Tamil | Mahadevan | |
| 1950 | Beedala Patlu | Telugu | ||
| 1950 | Ezhai Padum Padu | Tamil | Kandan | |
| 1951 | Sarvadhikari | Tamil | ||
| 1952 | Thayi Ullam | Tamil | ||
| 1953 | En Veedu | Tamil | ||
| 1953 | Gumasta | Tamil | ||
| 1953 | Gumasta | Telugu | Ranganatham | |
| 1953 | Ladki | Hindi | ||
| 1953 | Naa Illu | Telugu | Sivaram | |
| 1953 | Panakkari | Tamil | ||
| 1953 | Penn | Tamil | ||
| 1953 | Prapancham | Telugu | ||
| 1953 | Sangham | Telugu | ||
| 1954 | Ethirparadathu | Tamil | Dayaparar | |
| 1954 | Maa Gopi | Telugu | ||
| 1954 | Viduthalai | Tamil | Periaswamy | |
| 1955 | Anarkali | Telugu | ||
| 1955 | Kanavane Kan Kanda Daivam | Tamil | ||
| 1956 | Asai | Tamil | ||
| 1956 | Bhakta Markandeya | Kannada | ||
| 1956 | Bhakta Markandeya | Tamil | ||
| 1956 | Bhakta Markandeya | Telugu | ||
| 1956 | Muddu Bidda | Telugu | ||
| 1956 | Naga Panchami | Telugu | ||
| 1956 | Tenali Ramakrishna | Telugu | Mahamantri Thimmarusu | |
| 1956 | Tenali Raman | Tamil | Mahamantri Thimmarusu | |
| 1957 | Nala Damayanti | Tamil | ||
| 1957 | Nala Damayanti | Telugu | ||
| 1957 | Panduranga Mahatyam | Telugu | Jahnavi | |
| 1957 | Sati Savitri | Telugu | ||
| 1958 | Bommala Pelli | Telugu | ||
| 1958 | Ettuku Pai Ettu | Telugu | ||
| 1958 | Parvati Kalyanam | Telugu | ||
| 1958 | Sampoorna Ramayanam | Telugu | ||
| 1959 | Banda Ramudu | Telugu | ||
| 1959 | Jayabheri | Telugu | Viswambhara Sastri | |
| 1959 | Kalaivanan | Tamil | ||
| 1959 | Nalla Theerpu | Tamil | ||
| 1960 | Abhimanam | Telugu | ||
| 1960 | Shantinivasam | Telugu | ||
| 1960 | Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam | Telugu | Balaji | |
| 1961 | Ellam Unnakkaga | Tamil | ||
| 1961 | Intiki Deepam Illalu | Telugu | ||
| 1961 | Nagarjuna | Telugu | ||
| 1961 | Pavamanippu | Temil | ||
| 1961 | Sabash Raja | Telugu | ||
| 1961 | Sri Seetha Rama Kalyanam | Telugu | Dasarathudu | |
| 1961 | Vagdanam | Telugu | Vishwanatham (Vijaya's father) | |
| 1962 | Aalayamani | Tamil | ||
| 1962 | Dakshayagnam | Tamil | Dadhichi | |
| 1962 | Dakshayagnam | Telugu | Dadhichi | |
| 1962 | Siri Sampadalu | Telugu | Nayudu | |
| 1962 | Swarnamanjari | Telugu | ||
| 1962 | Valar Pirai | Tamil | ||
| 1963 | Anuragam | Telugu | ||
| 1963 | Lakshadhikari | Telugu | Lakshadhikari Rangaiah | |
| 1963 | Lava Kusha | Telugu | Valmiki Maharshi | |
| 1963 | Naan Vanangum Daivam | Tamil | ||
| 1963 | Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham | Telugu | Akroora | |
| 1964 | Aatma Balam | Telugu | ||
| 1964 | Aggi Pidugu | Telugu | ||
| 1964 | Amarshilpi Jakkanachari | Kannada | ||
| 1964 | Chandavalliya Tota | Kannada | ||
| 1964 | Amarshilpi Jakanna | Telugu | ||
| 1964 | Annapurna | Kannada | Father of Annapurna | |
| 1964 | Bobbili Yudham | Telugu | ||
| 1964 | Devatha | Telugu | Father of Prasad | |
| 1964 | Gudi Gantalu | Telugu | ||
| 1964 | Pachai Vilakku | Tamil | ||
| 1964 | Ramadasu | Telugu | Ramadasu | |
| 1965 | Preminchi Choodu | Telugu | ||
| 1965 | Satya Harishchandra | Telugu | Vasistha Maharshi | |
| 1965 | Shanti | Tamil | ||
| 1965 | Sri Simhachala Kshetra Mahima | Telugu | Father of Pururava | |
| 1965 | Veerabhimanyu | Telugu | ||
| 1966 | Aastiparulu | Telugu | Diwan to Zamindar | |
| 1966 | Adugu Jaadalu | Telugu | ||
| 1966 | Bhakta Potana | Telugu | Vyasa Maharshi | |
| 1966 | Navarathri | Telugu | ||
| 1966 | Parakkum Pavai | Tamil | ||
| 1966 | Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha | Telugu | Paramanandaiah | |
| 1966 | Sri Krishna Pandaviyam | Telugu | ||
| 1967 | Bhama Vijayam | Telugu | ||
| 1967 | Iru Malargal | Tamil | ||
| 1967 | Maa Vadina | Telugu | ||
| 1967 | Poola Rangadu | Telugu | Veeraiah | |
| 1967 | Private Master | Telugu | Father of Private Master | |
| 1967 | Rahasyam | Telugu | ||
| 1967 | Marapurani Kadha | Telugu | Madhava Rao | |
| 1967 | Sri Krishnavataram | Telugu | Dhritarashtra | |
| 1967 | Veera Pooja | Telugu | ||
| 1968 | Bandhavyalu | Telugu | ||
| 1968 | Brahmachari | Telugu | ||
| 1968 | Nindu Samsaram | Telugu | ||
| 1968 | Ramu | Telugu | ||
| 1968 | Thillana Mohanambal | Tamil | Shanmugasundaram's guru | |
| 1969 | Aadarsa Kutumbam | Telugu | ||
| 1969 | Mooga Nomu | Telugu | ||
| 1969 | Natakala Rayudu | Telugu | Adiseshayya | |
| 1969 | Saptaswaralu | Telugu | ||
| 1970 | Akka Chellelu | Telugu | Second judge | |
| 1970 | Tapalkaran Thanga | Tamil | ||
| 1970 | Thalli Thandrulu | Telugu | Raobahadur Perumallu | |
| 1971 | C.I.D.Raju | Telugu | ||
| 1971 | Iru Thuruvam | Tamil | ||
| 1971 | Jeevitha Chakram | Telugu | ||
| 1971 | Kulagaurava | Kannada | ||
| 1971 | Ramalayam | Telugu | Temple priest | |
| 1971 | Sampoorna Ramayanam | Telugu | Vasishta Mahamuni | |
| 1971 | Sri Krishna Satya | Telugu | ||
| 1971 | Srimanthudu | Telugu | ||
| 1972 | Bala Bharatam | Telugu | ||
| 1972 | Beedala Patlu | Telugu | ||
| 1972 | Goodu Putani | Telugu | ||
| 1972 | Iddaru Ammayilu | Telugu | Laxman Rao | |
| 1972 | Neethi | Tamil | ||
| 1972 | Papam Pasivadu | Telugu | Doctor | |
| 1972 | Pedda Koduku | Telugu | ||
| 1972 | Sakthi Leela | Tamil | ||
| 1972 | Ganga Gauri | Tamil | ||
| 1972 | Pattikatu Ponnaiah | Tamil | ||
| 1972 | Vishali | Telugu | ||
| 1972 | Inti Kodalu | Telugu | ||
| 1973 | Ennai Pol Oruvan | Tamil |
- Composer and play back singer
| Year | Film | 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 Namashivaya, Jaya Jaya Shankara Sambasadashiva |
| 1956 | Naga Panchami | Sambho Mahadeva |
| 1956 | Muddu Bidda | Itulela Chesavaya O Devadeva |
| 1956 | Tenali Ramakrishna | Gandupilli Menu Marichi |
| 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)
- 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)
- Vishwamohini (1940) (playback singer)
- Vande Mataram (1939) (playback singer and composer)
- Gruhalakshmi (1938) (playback singer)
- Director (partial filmography)
- Producer (partial filmography)
- Naa Illu (1953)
- Writer (partial filmography)
- Thyagayya (1946)
References
- ↑ "Paul Muni of India – Chittoor V.Nagayya". Bharatjanani.com. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
- ↑ "Mahati Kalakshetram to retain Chittoor Nagaiah’s name". The Hindu.
- ↑ "Chittoor Nagaiah statue to be installed in Tirupati". The Hindu.
- ↑ "acting mentor". The New Indian Express.
- ↑ Autobiography – Chittor V. Nagaiah, RK Books, Hyderabad, 2004.
- ↑ "Special story on veteran actor Chittor Nagaiah Part 1". YouTube.
- ↑ Chittoor V. Nagaiah – A Monograph
- ↑ "Nagaiah – noble, humble and kind-hearted". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 8 April 2005.
- ↑ Chittoor V. Nagaiah: A Monograph
- ↑ Amazon / Books / Indian actor Chittoor V. Nagaiah: A Monograph, by K. N. T. Sastry (Author)
- ↑ "Chittoor Nagaiah statue to be installed in Tirupati". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 18 July 2006.
- ↑ National Film Awards (1964)