V. N. Reddy
{{Short description|Indian cinematographer and director}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| name = V. N. Reddy
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1914|11|20}}
| birth_place = Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India
| occupation = Cinematographer
Director
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1991|12|29|1914|11|20}}
| death_place =
| othername =
| yearsactive = 1943-1977
| spouse =
}}
Venkata Narasimha Reddy, professionally known as V. N. Reddy{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia of Hindi cinema|year=2003|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica|location=India|isbn=81-7991-066-0|page=659}} (20 November 1914 – 29 December 1991), was an Indian cinematographer and director who predominantly worked in Hindi and Telugu films for over thirty years starting from 1943. One of the pioneers of Indian cinematography, Reddy was born in Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh and was brought up in Anantapur.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110725211838/http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/277DCF0E5674053CE5256CEF006F9421 V.N.Reddy gariki Madras film journalistulu, editorlu samarpinchina swagahatha pathram (Journalists and Editors in Madras extend invitation to V.N.Reddy), May 1952, Radio News from Rupavahini]
Career
He developed a passion for cinematography at a very young age. Badalti Duniya, his debut movie, was released in the year 1943. He first excelled in black-and-white photography and film making and then shifted to colour film making. His noted films are Aag (1948), Hulchul (1951), Baiju Bawra (1952), Meenar (1954), Chori Chori (1956), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), Do Badan (1966), Upkar (1967), Purab Aur Paschim (1970) and Do Chor (1972).
Aag (1948) was made by a group of people in their twenties, Reddy being the oldest.{{cite news|last=Bamzai|first=Kaveree|title=Back To The Future|newspaper=Indian Express|date=18 July 1999}}{{cite web|title=Aag (Fire)(1948) Directed by Raj Kapoor. Raj Kapoor, Nargis, Premnath|url=http://www.moviediva.com/MD_root/reviewpages/MDAag.htm|publisher=Moviediva|access-date=9 March 2011}} It is considered one of the most significant films of all time.{{cite web|title=Cinema - The Era Of Talking Movies - 1940 - 1950|url=http://asia.isp.msu.edu/wbwoa/south_asia/india/Films.htm|publisher=Windows on Asia|access-date=9 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107214524/http://asia.isp.msu.edu/wbwoa/south_asia/india/Films.htm|archive-date=7 November 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Writing about Reddy's work for the song Dulhan Chali Pehan Chali from the film Purab Aur Paschim (1970), the Indian film review website, Passion for Cinema states
{{blockquote|VN Reddy's camera under the direction and instructions of Manoj Kumar presents this song and dance event in [a] very interesting and beautiful manner. Camera peeps through the space left by the four daflis and it is such a nice way to show something to audiences.{{cite web|title=Purab Aur Paschim : Dulhan Chali Pehan Chali teen rang ki Choli|url=http://passionforcinema.com/purab-aur-paschim-dulhan-chali-pehan-chali-teen-rang-ki-choli/|publisher=Passion For Cinema|access-date=9 March 2011}}}}
Lakh Tandon and V. Gopi Krishna were Reddy's assistants. Reddy also tried his hand at directing movies like Ganga Gauri Samvadam (Telugu - 1958),{{cite web|title=Ganga Gauri Samvadam|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282514/|publisher=IMDB|access-date=9 March 2011}} Sengottai Singam (Tamil - 1958),{{cite news|title=மன்னனான எம்.ஜி.ஆர்|url=http://cinema.dinakaran.com/cinema/oldisgold-cinema-Detail.aspx?id=4150&id1=16|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707142558/http://cinema.dinakaran.com/cinema/oldisgold-cinema-Detail.aspx?id=4150&id1=16|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-07|newspaper=Dinakaran|language=ta}} Intika Deepam Illalu (Telugu - 1961), Ananda Jyoti (Tamil - 1963),{{cite web|title=Ananda Jyoti|date=5 July 1963|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0268929/|publisher=IMDB|access-date=9 March 2011}} and Zahreeli (1977) among others.{{cite web|title=V. N. Reddy|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0714782/|publisher=IMDB|access-date=10 March 2011}}
Ravikant Reddy,{{cite web|title=Ravikant Reddy|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1803874/|publisher=IMDB|access-date=9 March 2011}} one of Reddy's six children, who at an early age of 13 to 14 years was trained and apprenticed under his father, is a noted cinematographer himself.
Partial filmography
===As cinematographer===
| class="wikitable" | |
| Year | Movie Name |
|---|---|
| 1943 | Badalti Duniya |
| 1945 | Krishnarujun Yudh |
| 1946 | Omar Khayyam |
| 1946 | 1857 |
| 1946 | Dil |
| 1947 | Dil-ki-rani |
| 1947 | Chittor Vijay |
| 1948 | Aag |
| 1949 | Sawan Aya Re |
| 1951 | Kali Ghata |
| 1951 | Hulchul |
| 1952 | Baiju Bawra |
| 1953 | Puttillu (Telugu) |
| 1953 | Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu |
| 1954 | Meenar |
| 1956 | Chori Chori |
| 1956 | Chiranjeevulu (Telugu) |
| 1963 | Ananda Jyoti |
| 1964 | Kashmir Ki Kali |
| 1965 | Lootera |
| 1966 | Do Badan |
| 1967 | Upkar |
| 1967 | Latt Saheb |
| 1970 | Pushpanjali |
| 1970 | Yaadgar |
| 1970 | Purab Aur Paschim |
| 1972 | Zameen Asman |
| 1972 | Do Chor |
| 1974 | Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye |
| 1975 | Jaggu |
| 1977 | Zahereeli |
| 1978 | College Girl |
| 1986 | Khoon Aur Sazaa |
=As film director=
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Year | Title | Language |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Ganga Gauri Samvadam | Telugu |
| 1958 | Sengottai Singam | Tamil |
| 1961 | Intika Deepam Illale | Telugu |
| 1963 | Anandha Jodhi | Tamil |
| 1977 | Zahereeli | Hindi |
References
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Category:Telugu film cinematographers
Category:Cinematographers from Andhra Pradesh
Category:Telugu film directors