V. Nagaiah


Chittoor V. Nagaiah 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. In his honour, the Chittoor Nagaiah Kalakshetram of arts was established in Chittoor city of Andhra Pradesh.
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, Sumangali, Devata, Swarga Seema and Beedhalapatlu..
Nagaiah made significant contributions to Telugu cinema, and starred in about two hundred Telugu films. 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. 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. He was the producer, director, composer and actor for pioneering works; he essayed 14th-century poet Pothana in Bhakta Potana, 17th-century saint Tyagaraja in Thyagayya, 12th-century saint Gora Kumbhar in Chakradhari, and the social problem film Naa Illu. In 1964, Nagaiah essayed 17th-century saint Kancharla Gopanna in Ramadasu for which he won the National Film Award. Nagaiah also starred in about one hundred and sixty films in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi. He received the Padma Shri from the Government of India in 1965 for his contributions to Indian cinema.

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.
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 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. 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 son, Vuppaladadiyam S. Haragopal and daughters , Lakshmi Narasimha and their children, Vuppaladadiyam Shyam Sundar and Vuppaladadiyam Pavan Kumar.

Civilian honours

;National Film Awards
;State Awards

Actor

;Composer and play back singer
YearFilmSong
1938GruhalakshmiLendu Bharata Veerulara
1953GumastaOyi Parugekkadikoyi
1953PrapanchamAnta Kooleelam Manamanta Kooleelam, Premasudha Sarasilo Hamsalamai
1953SanghamJati Bhedam Samasipoda
1954Maa GopiSanubhoothiye Leda Jagatini, Amma Krishnamma Apacharamemitamma
1956Bhakta MarkandeyaOm Namashivaya, Jaya Jaya Shankara Sambasadashiva
1956Naga PanchamiSambho Mahadeva
1956Muddu BiddaItulela Chesavaya O Devadeva
1956Tenali RamakrishnaGandupilli Menu Marichi
1957Nala DamayantiGhorambaina Daavagni Keelakerayai
1957Panduranga MahatyamJaya Jaya Gokula Bala, Sannuti Seyave Manasa
1962SwarnamanjariMadhuramaina Guru Deevena
1967Maa VadinaSuthudilu Peeda Mandiramu
1967Poola RangaduChillara Rallaku Mokkutu Unte Chedipoduvura

;Playback singer
;Director
;Producer
;Writer