Jaggayya (actor)

Kongara Jaggayya (31 December 1926 – 5 March 2004) was an Indian film actor, littérateur, journalist, lyricist, dubbing artist and politician known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre.[1] Regarded as one of the finest method actors of Indian cinema,[2] 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.[2]

Jaggayya
Born	Kongara Jaggayya (1926-12-31)31 December 1926 Tenali, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Andhra Pradesh, India)
Died	5 March 2004(2004-03-05) (aged 77) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Other names	Kalavachaspati Kanchu Kantham Super star
Alma mater	Andhra Christian College
Occupation	Actor, dubbing artist, littérateur, journalist, poet, politician
Awards	Padma Bhushan 1992

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.[3][4]

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), and Dharma Kshetram (1992).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.[5]

Early life

Jaggayya was born to Kongara Seetaramaih and Rajya Lakshmamma. He was born in a well-to-do family in Morampudi village near Tenali in Guntur district. 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.

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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]

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. He was the first Indian film actor to be elected as a member of parliament.[10]

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 Athreya. The lyrics of all the film songs written by Athreya was consolidated into seven volumes.

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

Selected filmography

S No	Year of release	Movie Name	Notes / Character
1	1952	Priyuralu
2	1952	Adarsam
3	1954	Bangaru Papa	National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu / Manohar
4	1955	Ardhangi	National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu / Chinna Babu
5	1955	Donga Ramudu	Archived at the Film and Television Institute of India / Dr. Mohan
6	1956	Muddu Bidda
7	1956	Edi Nijam	National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
8	1957	Veera Kankanam
9	1957	Varudu Kavali
10	1957	Thodi Kodallu	National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu / Vaikuntam
11	1957	MLA
12	1957	Bhale Bava
13	1957	Aalu Magalu
14	1958	Mundadugu
15	1958	Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu
16	1959	Bhagya Devata
17	1960	Pelli Kanuka
18	1961	Velugu Needalu
19	1961	Pellikani Pillalu
20	1961	Kalasi unte Kaladu Sukham
21	1961	Intiki Deepam Illalu
22	1962	Chitti Tammudu
23	1962	Aradhana
24	1962	Padandi Munduku	Producer
25	1963	Constable Koothuru
26	1963	Anubandhalu
27	1963	Eedu Jodu
28	1963	Manchi rojulu vasthayi
29	1964	Pooja Phalam
30	1964	Manchi Manishi
31	1964	Dr. Chakravarthi	National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
32	1964	Aathma Balam
33	1965	Uyyala Jampala
34	1965	Sumangali
33	1965	Preminchi Choodu
34	1965	Manasulu Mamatalu
35	1965	Gudi Gantalu
36	1965	Antastulu	National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
37	1966	Navarathri
38	1966	Manase Mandiram
39	1966	Aame Evaru?
40	1966	Aastiparulu
41	1967	Prana Mithrulu
42	1968	Bandipotu Dongalu
43	1969	Adrustavanthulu
44	1969	Ardha Rathri
45	1970	Thalli Thandrulu
46	1971	Srimanthudu
47	1971	Ramalayam
48	1971	Naa Thammudu
49	1971	Chinnanati Snehitulu
50	1972	Badi Panthulu
51	1972	Bharya Biddalu
52	1973	Devudu Chesina Manushulu
53	1974	Bhoomi Kosam
54	1974	Deeksha
55	1974	Alluri Sita Rama Raju
56	1976	Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club
57	1976	Paadipantalu
58	1976	Ramarajyamlo Rakthapasam
59	1977	Adavi Ramudu	Forest Officer
60	1977	Chanakya Chandragupta	Voice double for Sivaji Ganesan
61	1977	Manassakshi
62	1978	Karunamayudu	As Pontius Pilate, then Prefect of the Roman Province of Judaea, known today for the trial and crucifixion of Jesus
63	1978	KD No:1
64	1979	Maavari Manchitanam
65	1980	Ram Robert Rahim
66	1981	Nyayam Kavali
67	1981	Seethakoka Chilaka	National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
68	1982	Bobbili Puli
69	1982	Yamakinkarudu
70	1983	Meghasandesam	National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
68	1984	Disco King
69	1984	Anubandham
70	1985	Swathi
71	1985	Adavi Donga
72	1985	Agni Parvatam	Jagannadha Rao
73	1985	Vijetha
74	1985	Pachani Kapuram
75	1986	Kiraathakudu
76	1986	Veta
77	1986	Chantabbai
77	1987	Ramu
78	1987	President Gari Abbayi
79	1987	Aradhana
80	1987	Pasivadi Pranam
81	1987	Viswanatha Nayakudu	Voice double for Sivaji Ganesan
82	1988	Jeevana Ganga
83	1990	Alludugaru
84	1991	Assembly Rowdy
85	1992	Dharma Kshetram
86	1993	Joker
87	1993	Detective Narada

Death

He underwent a Hip Replacement surgery and complications after the surgery resulted in his death.[2]

References

1. krshychait (12 December 2011). ""Kalaa Vachaspati", "Kanchu Kantham": Kongara Jaggayya".
2. "The Hindu : Jaggayya passes away". www.thehindu.com.
3. "Tollywood's Glorious Journey at Chitramala". Archived from the original on 30 January 2010.
4. "Profile of Gummadi - Telugu film actor".
5. Correspondent, By Our Special (3 May 2004). "Jaggayya passes away". p. 06 – via The Hindu (old).
6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 December 2005. Retrieved 23 April 2006.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
7. telugucinema.com/c/stars/KJaggayya.shtml
8. "Rutherford of Telugu cinema".
9. earlytollywood.blogspot.in/2008/02/kongara-jaggaiah.html
10. tollywood.info/actor/k/kongara_jaggayya.htm

External links

• Jaggaiah on IMDb