Jaggayya
{{short description|Indian actor, politician (1926–2004)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Jaggayya
| birth_name = Kongara Jaggayya
| image = Kongara Jaggayya.jpg
| caption = Portrait of Jaggayya
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1926|12|31}}{{efn|name="DOB"}}
| birth_place = Tenali, Madras Presidency, British India
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2004|03|05|1926|12|31}}
| death_place = Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| occupation = {{Hlist | Actor | littérateur | journalist | lyricist | dubbing artist | politician}}
| years_active = 1952-1994
| awards = Padma Bhushan (1992)
| spouse =
| alma mater = Andhra Christian College
| othername = {{Hlist | Kalavachaspati | Kanchu Kantam}}
| party = Indian National Congress
| module = {{Infobox officeholder
|embed = yes
| office = Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
| term_start = 16 March 1967
| term_end = 27 December 1970
| predecessor = Madala Narayana Swamy
| successor = P. Ankineedu Prasada Rao
| constituency = Ongole
}}
}}
Kongara Jaggayya (31 December 1926 – 5 March 2004{{efn|name="DOB"}}) was an Indian actor, littérateur, journalist, lyricist, dubbing artist and politician known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. He was known as Kanchu Kantam 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.{{cite web|date=2004-03-06|title=Jaggayya passes away|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/03/06/stories/2004030602830600.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040413000753/http://www.hindu.com/2004/03/06/stories/2004030602830600.htm |archive-date=13 April 2004|newspaper=The Hindu}} In 1967, he was elected as a member of the fourth Lok Sabha, from the constituency of Ongole, becoming the first Indian film actor to be elected as a member of the Parliament.
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/profile-gummadi.html |title=Profile of Gummadi - Telugu film actor |website=Idlebrain.com |date=9 July 2006 |orig-date=20 March 2000 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718071108/https://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/profile-gummadi.html |archivedate=18 July 2006 |url-status=live}}
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), Dharma Kshetram (1992) and Bobbili Simham (1994). He 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 honored him with the Padma Bhushan in 1992 for his contributions towards Indian cinema.
Early life
Jaggayya was born on 31 December 1926 to Seetaramaiah and Rajya Lakshmamma 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 was trained in painting under the guidance of Adivi Bapiraju, a noted painter, during his college days.{{cite web|last=krshychait|date=12 December 2011|title="Kalaa Vachaspati", "Kanchu Kantham": Kongara Jaggayya|url=https://26lettersto24frames.wordpress.com/2011/12/12/kalaa-vachaspati-kanchu-kantham-kongara-jaggayya/}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.filmchamber.com/tmpl.asp?it=prfbjagaya |title=Movie Review |access-date=23 April 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051226162504/http://www.filmchamber.com/tmpl.asp?it=prfbjagaya |archive-date=26 December 2005 |url-status=dead }} 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.{{Cite web |url=https://telugucinema.com/c/stars/KJaggayya.shtml |title=Kongara Jaggayya - A Tribute |first1=Sri |last1=Atluri |website=Telugu Cinema |date=5 March 2004 |accessdate=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051221232122/https://telugucinema.com/c/stars/KJaggayya.shtml |archivedate=21 December 2005 |url-status=dead}} Jaggayya won the best actor award in three successive years for Chesina Papam and Telangana.
Film career
Jaggayya made his cinematic debut in 1952 drama film Priyuralu directed by Tripuraneni Gopichand.{{cite web|url=http://www.apherald.com/Movies/ViewArticle/3671|title=Rutherford of Telugu cinema |date=29 August 2012 |first1=Cheruku |last1=Raja}} 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.{{Citation needed |date=May 2024}}
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.{{Cite web|date=2019-03-21|title=ప్రచారం చేయకుండానే జగ్గయ్య గెలుపు|url=https://www.sakshi.com/news/politics/kongara-jaggayya-elected-mp-ongole-without-campaign-1172061|access-date=2021-08-05|website=Sakshi|language=te}} He was the first Indian film actor to be elected as a member of parliament.{{Cite news|title=Everything you wanted to know about filmstars in Lok Sabha, but didn't know whom to ask - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/lok-sabhas-star-parivar-a-blockbuster-saga/articleshow/68517965.cms|access-date=2021-08-05|website=The Times of India}}{{Cite web|date=2016-04-01|title=Star power in south India: Reel life actors don't always make for real life statesmen|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/star-power-south-india-reel-life-actors-don%E2%80%99t-always-make-real-life-statesmen-41015|access-date=2021-08-05|website=The News Minute|language=en}}
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 Aatreya. The lyrics of all the film songs written by Athreya was consolidated into seven volumes.
Death
Due to complications after a hip replacement surgery, Jaggayya died on 5 March 2004 at Chennai, Tamilnadu.
Awards
;Civilian honours
- Padma Bhushan, Government of India in 1992
;Nandi Awards
;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
Filmography
Notes
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=0415582}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1990–99|state=collapsed}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jaggayya, Kongara}}
Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights
Category:20th-century Indian male actors
Category:20th-century Indian screenwriters
Category:20th-century Indian translators
Category:Dramatists and playwrights from Andhra Pradesh
Category:Indian actor-politicians
Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights
Category:Indian male film actors
Category:Indian male screenwriters
Category:Indian male voice actors
Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Andhra Pradesh
Category:Lok Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh
Category:Male actors from Andhra Pradesh
Category:Male actors in Telugu cinema
Category:Actors from Guntur district
Category:Praja Socialist Party politicians