V. Nagaiah

Chittoor V. Nagaiah (born Vuppaladadiyam Nagaiah Sarma) was a multilingual Indian film actor, composer, director, producer, writer and playback singer from Chittoor, 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 honour, the Chittoor Nagaiah Kalakshetram of arts was established in Chittoor city of Andhra Pradesh.[2]

V. Nagaiah
Born
Vuppaladadiyam Nagaiah

Born on Chaitra Shudda Dwadasi, (1904-03-28)28 March 1904
Repalle, Guntur district, Madras Presidency, British India
Died30 December 1973(1973-12-30) (aged 69)
OccupationActor, composer, director, producer, writer and playback singer
Years active1938–1973
AwardsPadma Shri 1965

Nagaiah was closely connected to Rama Vilasa Sabha, a Telugu theatre association in Chittoor 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. Nagaiah developed a life-time association with B. N. Reddy, at this juncture H. M. Reddy formed 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. Later, the association worked through several films with Vauhini Studios including social films such as; Vande Matharam (1939), Sumangali (1940), Devata (1941), Swarga Seema (1945) and Beedhalapatlu. (1947).[3]

Nagaiah made significant contributions to Telugu cinema, and starred in about two hundred Telugu films.[4] Regarded as one of the finest Indian method actors, and the first Telugu matinee idol, his forte was usually playing intense characters, often immersing himself in study of the real character's traits and mannerisms.[5] Nagaiah was the lead protagonist in the most expensive 1940 Telugu production, Viswa Mohini, touted to be the first film on the Indian motion picture world.[6][7][8] He was the producer, director, composer and actor for pioneering works; he essayed 14th-century poet Pothana in Bhakta Potana (1942), 17th-century saint Tyagaraja in Thyagayya (1946), 12th-century saint Gora Kumbhar in Chakradhari (1948), and the social problem film Naa Illu (1953). In 1964, Nagaiah essayed 17th-century saint Kancharla Gopanna in Ramadasu for which he won the National Film Award.[9] Nagaiah also starred in about one hundred and sixty films in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi.[10] He received the Padma Shri from the Government of India in 1965 for his contributions to Indian cinema.[11][12][13]

Early life

Nagaiah was born on 28 March 1904 in a Telugu-speaking Brahmin 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.[14]

After working as a clerk in a government office, Nagaiah 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.[15] 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.[16]

Civilian honours

Awards
National Film Awards
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.

Selected filmography

Actor
Year Film Language Character
1938 Gruhalakshmi Telugu Gopinath
1939 Vande Mataram Telugu Raghu
1940 Sumangali Telugu Panthulu
1940 Viswa Mohini 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
1947 Bhaktha Jana Tamil Namadeva
1948 Chakradhari Tamil Korakumbar
1949 Mana Desam Telugu
1949 Navajeevanam Tamil Mahadevan
1950 Beedala Patlu Telugu
1950 Ezhai Padum Padu Tamil Kandan
1951 Sarvadhikari Tamil
1952 Thai Ullam Tamil
1953 En Veedu Tamil
1953 Gumastha Tamil Ranganatham
1953 Gumasta Telugu Ranganatham
1953 Ladki Hindi
1953 Naa Illu Telugu Sivaram
1953 Panakkari Tamil
1954 Penn Tamil
1954 Prapancham Telugu
1954 Sangham Telugu
1954 Edhir Paradhathu Tamil Dayaparar
1954 Maa Gopi Telugu
1954 Viduthalai Tamil Periaswamy
1955 Anarkali Telugu
1955 Kanavaney Kankanda Deivam Tamil
1955 Nam Kuzhandai Tamil
1956 Asai Tamil
1956 Pennin Perumai 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 Appaji
1957 Nala Damayanti Tamil
1957 Nala Damayanti Telugu
1957 Panduranga Mahatyam Telugu Jahnavi
1957 Sati Savitri Telugu
1957 Yaar Paiyyan Tamil
1958 Bommala Pelli Telugu
1958 Ettuku Pai Ettu Telugu
1958 Bommai Kalyanam Tamil
1958 Parvati Kalyanam Telugu
1958 Sampoorna Ramayanam Telugu
1958 Illarame Nallaram Tamil
1959 Banda Ramudu Telugu
1959 Jayabheri Telugu Viswambhara Sastri
1959 Kalaivanan Tamil
1959 Sahodhari Tamil
1959 Nalla Theerpu Tamil
1960 Abhimanam Telugu
1960 Shantinivasam Telugu
1960 Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam Telugu Bhavaji
1961 Thirudathe Tamil
1961 Ellam Unakkaga Tamil
1961 Palum Pazhamum Tamil
1961 Intiki Deepam Illale Telugu
1961 Manapanthal Tamil
1961 Nagarjuna Telugu
1961 Paava Mannippu Tamil
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
1962 Thendral Veesum Tamil
1963 Anuragam Telugu
1963 Lakshadhikari Telugu Lakshadhikari Rangaiah
1963 Lava Kusha Telugu Valmiki Maharshi
1963 Naan Vanangum Dheivam 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 Aandavan Kattalai Tamil Doctor
1964 Pachai Vilakku Tamil
1964 Kai Koduttha Dheivam Tamil
1964 Ramadasu Telugu Ramadasu
1965 Preminchi Choodu Telugu
1965 Satya Harishchandra Telugu Vasistha Maharshi
1965 Santhi Tamil
1965 Sri Simhachala Kshetra Mahima Telugu Father of Pururava
1965 Veerabhimanyu Telugu
1965 Dorikithe Dongalu Telugu
1966 Aastiparulu Telugu Diwan to Zamindar
1966 Adugu Jaadalu Telugu
1966 Bhakta Potana Telugu Vyasa Maharshi
1966 Navarathri Telugu
1966 Parakkum Paavai Tamil
1966 Selvam Tamil
1966 Ramu Tamil
1966 Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha Telugu Paramanandaiah
1966 Saraswati Sabatham Tamil Vidhyapathy father
1966 Sri Krishna Pandaviyam Telugu
1967 Bhama Vijayam Telugu
1967 Iru Malargal Tamil Sivasamy
1967 Maa Vadina Telugu
1967 Poola Rangadu Telugu Veeraiya
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 Nadaswara Guru
1968 Uyarndha Manithan Tamil Manickam
1969 Aadarsa Kutumbam Telugu
1969 Mooga Nomu Telugu
1969 Nam Naadu Tamil
1969 Natakala Rayudu Telugu Adiseshayya
1969 Deiva Magan Tamil
1969 Saptaswaralu Telugu
1970 Akka Chellelu Telugu Second judge
1970 Kanmalar Tamil
1970 Thabalkaran Thangai Tamil
1970 Raman Ethanai Ramanadi Tamil Director Nagaiya
1970 Engirundho Vandhaal Tamil Dharmalingam
1970 Sorgam Tamil Judge
1970 Thalli Thandrulu Telugu Raobahadur Perumallu
1971 C.I.D.Raju Telugu
1971 Iru Thuruvam Tamil Teacher
1971 Thangaikkaaga 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
1971 Pavitra Hrudayalu Telugu
1972 Bala Bharatam Telugu
1972 Raja Tamil Haridass
1972 Beedala Patlu Telugu
1972 Goodu Putani Telugu
1972 Iddaru Ammayilu Telugu Laxman Rao
1972 Neethi Tamil Judge
1972 Papam Pasivadu Telugu Doctor
1972 Pedda Koduku Telugu
1972 Shakthi Leelai Tamil Guruji
1972 Ganga Gauri Tamil
1972 Vishali Telugu
1972 Inti Kodalu Telugu
1973 Puttinillu Mettinillu Telugu
1973 Pattikaattu Ponnaiya Tamil
1974 Sivagamiyin Selvan Tamil Church Father
1976 Kula Gowravam Tamil
1978 Ennai Pol Oruvan Tamil Sundaramoorthy's Father
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)
  • 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)
  • Vishwamohini (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)
Writer (partial filmography)
  • Thyagayya (1946)
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References
  1. "Paul Muni of India – Chittoor V.Nagayya". Bharatjanani.com. 6 May 2011. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  2. "Mahati Kalakshetram to retain Chittoor Nagaiah's name". The Hindu.
  3. Amazon / Books / Indian actor Chittoor V. Nagaiah: A Monograph, by K. N. T. Sastry (Author)
  4. "Chittoor Nagaiah statue to be installed in Tirupati". The Hindu.
  5. "Chittoor Nagaiah statue to be installed in Tirupati". The Hindu.
  6. The Hindu : A revolutionary filmmaker
  7. Vishwamohini (1940) - IMDb
  8. entertaianment.oneindia.in/celebs/lakshmi/biography.html
  9. "Chittoor Nagaiah statue to be installed in Tirupati". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 18 July 2006.
  10. Autobiography – Chittor V. Nagaiah, RK Books, Hyderabad, 2004.
  11. "acting mentor". The New Indian Express.
  12. Autobiography – Chittor V. Nagaiah, RK Books, Hyderabad, 2004.
  13. "Special story on veteran actor Chittor Nagaiah Part 1". YouTube.
  14. "Chittoor V. Nagaiah – A Monograph". Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  15. "Nagaiah – noble, humble and kind-hearted". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 8 April 2005.
  16. Chittoor V. Nagaiah: A Monograph
  17. "National Film Awards (1964)". Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
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