V. Nagayya
{{Short description|Indian actor (1904–1973)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{infobox person
| name = Chittoor Nagayya
| image = Chittor V. Nagaiah actor.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name = Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya Sarma
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1904|03|28}}
| birth_place = Repalle, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Andhra Pradesh, India)
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1973|12|30|1904|03|28}}
| death_place =
| occupation = Actor, composer, director, producer, writer and playback singer
| awards = Padma Shri (1965)
| years_active = 1938–1973}}
Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya Sarma (28 March 1904 – 30 December 1973), popularly known as Chittoor Nagayya, was an Indian actor, singer, music composer, and director known for his works in Telugu cinema, Tamil cinema, and Telugu theatre. Nagayya was one of the first multilingual filmmakers in India.{{Cite web |date=8 April 2005 |title=Nagaiah — noble, humble and kind-hearted |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125162147/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/04/08/stories/2005040800220400.htm}} Indian film journalist Baburao Patel described Nagayya as "The Paul Muni of India".{{Cite news |last=Muthiah |first=S. |date=2010-05-23 |title=Madras miscellany |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/Madras-miscellany/article16303661.ece |access-date=2022-08-07 |issn=0971-751X}}{{cite web |url=http://bharatjanani.com/paul-muni-of-india-chittoor-v-nagayya/ |title=Paul Muni of India – Chittoor V.Nagayya |publisher=Bharatjanani.com |date=6 May 2011 |access-date=21 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326135647/http://bharatjanani.com/paul-muni-of-india-chittoor-v-nagayya/ |archive-date=26 March 2012 |df=dmy-all}} Nagayya was considered the best character actor in South Indian cinema during 1940s and 1950s. In 1965, he became the first South Indian actor to receive the Padma Shri in Arts from the Government of India for his contributions to Indian cinema.{{cite web |title=Acting Mentor |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/article411771.ece |work=The New Indian Express |access-date=21 October 2014 |archive-date=27 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327021933/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/article411771.ece |url-status=dead }}Autobiography – Chittor V. Nagaiah, RK Books, Hyderabad, 2004.
Brought up in Chittoor, Nagayya was closely connected to Rama Vilasa Sabha, a Telugu theatre association in the city. He made his film debut in Gruhalakshmi (1938). He worked in several films of Vauhini Pictures such as Vande Mataram (1939), Sumangali (1940), Devata (1941), Swarga Seema (1945), and Beedhalapatlu (1947).Amazon / Books / Indian actor Chittoor V. Nagaiah: A Monograph, by K. N. T. Sastry (Author) Nagayya was also the protagonist in Viswa Mohini (1940), the first film on the Indian motion picture world.{{Cite web |date=22 August 2003 |title=A revolutionary filmmaker |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/08/22/stories/2003082201400400.htm |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=The Hindu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040117021114/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/08/22/stories/2003082201400400.htm |archive-date=17 January 2004 }}
Nagayya made significant contributions to Telugu cinema, and starred in about two hundred Telugu films.{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/chittoor-nagaiah-statue-to-be-installed-in-tirupati/article3106604.ece |title=Chittoor Nagaiah statue to be installed in Tirupati |work=The Hindu |date=18 July 2006}} He was a method actor, and his forte was usually playing intense characters, often immersing himself in the study of the real character's traits and mannerisms. His other prominent film roles include the 14th-century poet Pothana in Bhakta Potana (1942), 17th-century saint Tyagaraja in Thyagayya (1946), 12th-century saint Gora Kumbhar in Chakradhari (1948), and Sivaram in the social problem film Naa Illu (1953).
In 1964, Nagayya essayed the 17th-century saint Bhadrachala Ramadasu in the film Ramadasu which he had also co-written, directed and produced. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/18/stories/2006071807130200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805004446/http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/18/stories/2006071807130200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2011 |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu |title=Chittoor Nagaiah statue to be installed in Tirupati |date=18 July 2006}} Nagayya also starred in about one hundred and sixty films in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi.
In his honour, the Chittoor Nagayya Kalakshetram of Arts was established in Chittoor of Andhra Pradesh.{{cite news |last1=Umashanker |first1=K. |date=9 September 2014 |title=Mahati Kalakshetram to retain Chittoor Nagaiah's name |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/mahati-kalakshetram-to-retain-chittoor-nagaiahs-name/article6394814.ece}}
Early life
Nagayya was born on 28 March 1904 in a Telugu family in a tiny hamlet near Repalle, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. His parents were Ramalinga Sarma 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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.publicationsdivision.nic.in/Eng-Pub/Au-Wise/EN19.HTM |title=Chittoor V. Nagaiah – A Monograph |access-date=20 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101184058/http://publicationsdivision.nic.in/Eng-Pub/Au-Wise/EN19.HTM |archive-date=1 January 2019 |url-status=dead}}
After working as a clerk in a government office, Nagayya 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/04/08/stories/2005040800220400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125162147/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/04/08/stories/2005040800220400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 November 2005 |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu |title=Nagaiah – noble, humble and kind-hearted |date=8 April 2005}} He was married to Jaya Lakshmi, but she died giving birth to a daughter a year after. He then married Girija, and she too died due to miscarriage in the eighth month. His first daughter died of an undiagnosed illness. He then participated in long stays at Ramana Maharshi Ashram. He had family in Tirupati who are his brother's (Vuppaladadiyam Subrahmanya Sarma) son, Vuppaladadiyam S. Haragopal and daughters (Late Amruthavalli and Late Kusuma), Lakshmi Narasimha and their children, Vuppaladadiyam Shyam Sundar and Vuppaladadiyam Pavan Kumar.[http://www.exoticindia.co.in/book/details/chittoor-v-nagaiah-monograph-IDG495/ Chittoor V. Nagaiah: A Monograph]
Accolades
;Civilian Awards
- Padmashri, Government of India in 1965
;National honors
- Abinava Thyagaraju by the Maharaja of Travancore
- National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu (director) – 1964 for Ramadasu
;State Awards
- Best Actor Award by the Andhra Film Journalists Association
- Felicitated by a life size statue in Panagal Park, Chennai at his demise.
Selected filmography
= Actor =
class="wikitable sortable" |
Year
! Title ! Role ! Language ! Notes |
---|
1938
| Gopinath | Telugu | |
1939
| Raghu | Telugu | |
1940
| A Film Director | Telugu | |
1940
| Panthulu | Telugu | |
1941
| Devatha | Venu | Telugu | |
1941
| King Ashoka | Tamil | |
1943
| Pothana | Telugu | |
1943
| Srinivasa Rao | Telugu | |
1944
| Chenchu Lakshmi's Father | Telugu | |
1945
| Murthy | Telugu | |
1945
| Meera | King of Mewar | Hindi / Tamil | |
1946
| Tyagayya | Tyagayya | Telugu | |
1947
| Vemana | Telugu | |
1948
| Korakumbar | Tamil | |
1948
| Namadeva | Tamil | |
1949
| | Telugu | |
1949
| Mahadevan | Tamil | |
1950
| Kandan | Tamil | |
1950
| | Telugu | |
1951
| | Tamil | |
1952
| | Tamil | |
1953
| Ulagam | | Tamil | |
1953
| Prapancham | |Telugu | |
1953
| Penn | | Tamil | |
1953
| Panakkari | | Tamil | |
1953
| Naa Illu | Sivaram | Telugu | |
1953
| Ladki | Kamini's father | Hindi | |
1953
| Gumastha | Ranganatham | Tamil | |
1953
| Gumasta | Ranganatham | Telugu | |
1953
| En Veedu | Shivram | Tamil | |
1954
| Periaswamy | Tamil | |
1954
| | Tamil | |
1954
| Maa Gopi | | Telugu | |
1954
| Dayaparar | Tamil | |
1954
| Prapancham | | Telugu | |
1954
| Sangham | | Telugu | |
1955
| | Tamil | |
1955
| Anarkali |Raja Mansingh | Telugu | |
1955
| | Tamil | |
1956
| Mahamantri Thimmarusu | Telugu | |
1956
| | Telugu | |
1956
| Zamindar, father of Ragunathan / Nagendran | Tamil | |
1956
| | Telugu | |
1956
| | Telugu | |
1956
| | Tamil | |
1956
| Asai | | Tamil | |
1956
| | Tamil, Kannada | |
1956
| |Tamil | |
1956
| Appaji | Tamil | |
1957
| | Tamil | |
1957
| | Tamil | |
1957
| | Telugu | |
1957
| Jahnavi | Telugu | |
1957
| | Tamil | |
1957
| Nala Damayanti | | Telugu | |
1957
| Raja Kulothunga Chola I, the father of Amaravathi | Tamil | |
1958
| Piya Milan | |Hindi | |
1958
| | Telugu | |
1958
| Butha Bhikshu | Tamil | guest appearance |
1958
| Parvati Kalyanam | | Telugu | |
1958
| Ettuku Pai Ettu | | Telugu | |
1958
| Perayya | Telugu | |
1958
| Bommai Kalyanam | Varadarajan | Tamil | |
1958
| | Tamil | |
1959
| Viswambhara Sastri | Telugu | |
1959
| Pazhani, father of Chandiran and Meena | Tamil | |
1959
| | Tamil | |
1959
| Shukracharya | Kannada | |
1959
| Kalaivanan | | Tamil | |
1959
| | Telugu | |
1960
| Bhavaji | Telugu | |
1960
| | Telugu | |
1961
| Dasarathudu | Telugu | |
1961
| | Telugu | |
1961
| Vagdanam | Vishwanatham (Vijaya's father) | Telugu | |
1961
| | Telugu | |
1961
| | Tamil | |
1961
| Ramanna, a teacher who is the father of Seetha (Jamuna) | Tamil | |
1961
| | Telugu | |
1961
| Ulaganatha Pillai | Tamil | |
1961
| | Tamil | |
1961
| | Tamil | |
1961
| | Tamil | |
1961
| | Tamil | |
1962
| Ranganatham the father of Krishna (NTR) | Telugu | |
1962
| Dadhichi | Tamil | |
1962
| Dadhichi | Telugu | |
1962
| Swarnamanjari | | Telugu | |
1962
| | Tamil | |
1962
| | Tamil | |
1962
| | Tamil | |
1962
| Aasa Jeevulu | | Telugu | |
1962
| Nayudu | Telugu | |
1962
| Ramadasu the father of four children | Telugu | |
1962
| | Telugu | |
1963
| Akroora | Telugu | |
1963
| Valmiki Maharshi | Telugu | |
1963
| Amarshilpi Jakanachari | | | |
1963
| | Tamil | |
1963
| | Tamil | |
1963
| Mani Osai | | | |
1963
| Valmiki | Hindu | |
1963
| Karpagam | The father of Amudha (Savitri) | Tamil | |
1963
|Saluva Dharmanayaka |Telugu | |
1963
| Anuragam | | Telugu | |
1963
| Lakshadhikari Rangaiah | Telugu | |
1964
| | Telugu | |
1964
| Ramadasu | Ramadasu | Telugu | |
1964
| Gopalayya | Tamil | |
1964
| Father of Latha | Tamil | |
1964
| | Telugu | |
1964
| | Telugu | |
1964
| Aatma Balam | | Telugu | |
1964
| | Kannada | |
1964
| Chandavalliya Tota | | Kannada | |
1964
| Father of Annapurna | Kannada | |
1964
| Devatha | Father of Prasad | Telugu | |
1964
| | Telugu | |
1964
| Doctor | Tamil | |
1965
| Venkata Chalam | Telugu | |
1965
| Vasistha Maharshi | Telugu | |
1965
| Devatha | | Telugu | |
1965
| Santhi | | Tamil | |
1965
| | Telugu | |
1965
| | Tamil | |
1965
| Sri Simhachala Kshetra Mahima | Father of Pururava | Telugu | |
1965
| | Telugu | |
1965
| | Telugu | |
1966
| | Telugu | |
1966
| Selvam | | Tamil | |
1966
| | Telugu | |
1966
| Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha | Paramanandaiah | Telugu | |
1966
| | Tamil | |
1966
| | Telugu | |
1966
| | Tamil | |
1966
| Vyasa Maharshi | Telugu | |
1966
| | Telugu | |
1966
| Diwan to Zamindar | Telugu | |
1966
| Priest Micheal | Tamil | (Special Appearance) |
1966
| Vidhyapathy father | Tamil | |
1966
|Srimathi{{Cite web |title=Srimathi (1966) |url=https://indiancine.ma/MFI |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Indiancine.ma}} |Himself |Telugu | |
1967
| Raja Rajendra Bhupathi | Telugu | |
1967
| Telugu | |
1967
| | Telugu | |
1967
| Veera Pooja | | Telugu | |
1967
| Rahasyam | | Telugu | |
1967
| Veeraiya | Telugu | |
1967
| Pattukunte Padivelu{{Cite web |title=Pattukunte Padivelu (1967) |url=https://indiancine.ma/MPR |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Indiancine.ma}} | |Telugu | |
1967
| Sivasamy | Tamil | |
1967
| | Telugu | |
1967
| Maa Vadina | | Telugu | |
1967
| Father of Private Master | Telugu | |
1967
| Telugu | |
1968
| | Telugu | |
1968
| Ramu | | Tamil / Telugu | |
1968
| | Telugu | |
1968
| Shanmugasundaram's Nadaswara Guru | Tamil | |
1968
| | Telugu | |
1968
| Swamiji the director of an orphanage | Telugu | |
1968
| | Telugu | |
1968
|Veeranjaneya{{Cite web |title=Veeranjaneya (1968) |url=https://indiancine.ma/NEJ |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=Indiancine.ma}} |Telugu | |
1968
| Manickam | Tamil | |
1969
|Sri Rama Katha{{Cite web |title=Sri Rama Katha (1969) |url=https://indiancine.ma/NQE |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Indiancine.ma}} |Telugu | |
1969
| | Telugu | |
1969
| The school master Kandhaya | Tamil | |
1969
| | Telugu | |
1969
| | Tamil | |
1969
|Jarigina Katha{{Cite web |title=Jarigina Katha (1969) |url=https://indiancine.ma/NJU |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=Indiancine.ma}} |Jagannatham |Telugu | |
1969
|Muhurtha Balam{{Cite web |title=Muhurtha Balam Cast and Crew |url=https://www.cinemaazi.com/film/muhurtha-balam}} |Dharmaiah |Telugu | |
1969
| | Tamil | |
1969
| | Telugu | |
1969
| Adiseshayya | Telugu | |
1970
| Second judge | Telugu | |
1970
| Kaalam Vellum | |Tamil | (Guest Appearance) |
1970
|Amma Kosam{{Cite web |title=Amma Kosam (1970) |url=https://indiancine.ma/NSW |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=Indiancine.ma}} |Zamindar Dharma Rao |Telugu | |
1970
|Vidhi Vilasam{{Cite web |title=Vidhi Vilasam (1970) |url=https://indiancine.ma/OEQ |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=Indiancine.ma}} |Retd. Engineer, Nirmala's father |Telugu | |
1970
|Thaali Bottu | |Telugu | |
1970
| Dharmalingam | Tamil | |
1970
| Raobahadur Perumallu | Telugu | |
1970
| | Tamil | |
1970
| Director Nagaiya | Tamil | |
1970
| Kanmalar | | Tamil | |
1970
| Sorgam | Judge | Tamil | |
1971
| | Telugu | |
1971
|Doctor |Telugu | |
1971
| Vichithra Dampathyam | |Telugu | |
1971
| |Telugu | |
1971
|Anuradha{{Cite web |title=Anuradha Movie (1971) |url=https://www.etvwin.com/telugu-movies/anuradha-1?media=movie&layout=movies}} |Judge |Telugu | |
1971
|Rowdilaku Rowdilu{{Citation |title=Rowdeelaku Rowdeelu Telugu Full Movie {{!}} Ramakrishna {{!}} Vijayalalitha {{!}} Sridhar {{!}} TVNXT Telugu |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc8GnIhqfqA |access-date=2023-05-08 |language=en}} |Kailasam |Telugu | |
1971
|Vintha Samsaram{{Cite web |title=Vintha Samsaram on Moviebuff.com |url=https://www.moviebuff.com/vintha-samsaram |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=Moviebuff.com}} |Church Father and mentor to 'Prestige' Padmanabham |Telugu | |
1971
| | Telugu | |
1971
| | Telugu | |
1971
| | Kannada | |
1971
| Father of Raja (NTR) | Telugu | |
1971
| Teacher | Tamil | |
1971
| C.I.D.Raju | | Telugu | |
1971
| | Tamil | |
1971
| Temple priest | Telugu | |
1971
|Zamindar Bhujanga Rao | Telugu | |
1972
| Vasishta Mahamuni | Telugu | |
1972
| Doctor | Telugu | |
1972
| | Tamil | |
1972
| Pedda Koduku | | Telugu | |
1972
| |Telugu | |
1972
| Neethi | Judge | Tamil | |
1972
|Nijam Nirupistha{{Cite web |title=Nijam Nirupistha (1972) |url=https://indiancine.ma/PEX |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=Indiancine.ma}} |Zamindar Jaggayya |Telugu | |
1972
| Iddaru Ammayilu | Laxman Rao | Telugu | |
1972
| Goodu Putani | | Telugu | |
1972
| Beedala Patlu | | Telugu | |
1972
| | Telugu | |
1972
| Raja | Haridass | Tamil | |
1972
| Guruji | Tamil | |
1972
| Ganga Gauri | | Tamil | |
1972
| Inti Kodalu | | Telugu | |
1973
| Vishali | | Telugu | |
1973
| Sampoorna Ramayan | Vashisht Muni | | |
1973
| |Telugu | |
1973
| | Tamil | |
1973
| Panjaramlo Pasipapa | |Telugu | |
1973
| | Telugu | |
1974
| Lav Kush | Valmiki |Hindi | |
1974
|Uttama Illalu{{Cite web |title=Uttama Illalu (1974) |url=https://indiancine.ma/QPG |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Indiancine.ma}} |Narayana Rao |Telugu | |
1974
| Church Father | Tamil | |
1974
| Inti Kodalu | |Telugu | |
1975
|Mallela Manasulu{{Cite web |title=Mallela Manasulu on Moviebuff.com |url=https://www.moviebuff.com/mallela-manasulu |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Moviebuff.com}} |Do-gooder who helps Annapurna and her children |Telugu | |
1976
| Tu Hi Ram Tu Hi Krishna | |Hindi | |
1976
| | Tamil | |
1978
| Sundaramoorthy's Father | Tamil | (final film role) |
;Composer and play back singer
class="wikitable" |
Year
! Title ! Song |
---|
1938
| 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 Namasivaya, Jaya Jaya Sankara Sambasadasiva |
1956
| Naga Panchami | Sambho Mahadeva |
1956
| Muddu Bidda | Itulela Chesavaya O Devadeva |
1956
| Gandupilli Menu Marichi |
1956
| "Putrile Pambirukkum...Kottaiyile Oru Kaalatthile" |
1957
| Nala Damayanti | Ghorambaina Daavagni Keelakerayai |
1957
| Jaya Jaya Gokula Bala, Sannuti Seyave Manasa |
1962
| Swarnamanjari | Madhuramaina Guru Deevena |
1967
| Maa Vadina | Suthudilu Peeda Mandiramu (poem) |
1967
| 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)
- Viswa Mohini (1940) (playback singer)
- Vande Mataram (1939) (playback singer and composer)
- Gruhalakshmi (1938) (playback singer)
;Director (partial filmography)
;Producer (partial filmography)
- Naa Illu (1953)
;Writer (partial filmography)
- Thyagayya (1946)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=0619101}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nagayya, V.}}
Category:20th-century Indian composers
Category:20th-century Indian male actors
Category:20th-century Indian male singers
Category:20th-century Indian screenwriters
Category:20th-century Indian singers
Category:Film directors from Andhra Pradesh
Category:Film musicians from Andhra Pradesh
Category:Film producers from Andhra Pradesh
Category:Indian arts administrators
Category:Indian male film actors
Category:Indian male stage actors
Category:Indian theatre directors
Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema
Category:Male actors in Kannada cinema
Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema
Category:Male actors in Telugu cinema
Category:Indian male film score composers
Category:People from Chittoor district
Category:Actors from Guntur district
Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts
Category:Screenwriters from Andhra Pradesh
Category:Singers from Andhra Pradesh
Category:Telugu film directors
Category:Telugu film producers