Chiranjeevi

Chiranjeevi
Born	Konidela Shiva Shankara Vara Prasad
Occupation(s)	Actor, Politician
Years active	1977 to present
Spouse	Surekha
Children	Sushmitha, Ram Charan Teja, Sreeja,
Parent(s)	Venkata Rao, Anjana Devi
Awards	Padma Bhushan, Doctorate from ANDHRA UNIVERSITY.

Chiranjeevi (Telugu: చిరంజీవి) (born Konidela Shiva Shankara Vara Prasad on August 22, 1955), is a popular Tollywood film personality. He has received the Padma Bhushan award, the third highest padma award bestowed by the Government of India. He is the only Tollywood actor to receive seven Filmfare Best actor awards. He has a huge fan following in Andhra Pradesh. He announced his formal entry into politics on August 26 and founded the political party named Praja Rajyam.

Early Life

Vara Prasad is the son of Late Sri Venkat Rao and Srimathi Anjana Devi. He was born on 22 August 1955 in Mogallturu, a town on the Banks of River Godavari in the West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh in India. His father worked as a constable and got transferred on a regular basis. He spent his childhood in his native village with his grand parents. He has two sisters and two brothers. His younger brother, Nagendra Babu is a film producer and an actor. His youngest brother, Pawan Kalyan, is also an actor. Chiranjeevi did his schooling in Nidadavolu, Gurajala, Bapatla, Ponnuru, Mangalagiri and Mogalturu. After high school he studied in C.S.R.Sharma Junior College at Ongole. He then graduated from Y.N. College in Narasapur with a B.Com degree.[3] Chiranjeevi known as annayya, chiru, Megastar of telugu cinema is considered legend in film arena. Chiranjeevi founded Chiranjeevi Charitable trust (CCT) in 1998 later the trust extended its wings to Blood bank and Eye bank . He and his CCT is always close to people of Andhra Pradesh. He was an NCC cadet. Chiranjeevi had participated in the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi as an NCC cadet in the early 70s. [4] In 1977, after his graduation at Y.N. College in Narsapuram, Chiranjeevi moved to Chennai to seek a career in acting

Chiranjeevi was a student at the Madras Film Institute and an amateur stage actor. Before completing his training at the film institute, he attended auditions and selected for the film Punaadi Raallu(1978).However, Pranam Khareedu was his first film released in theaters. His first public performance was in the Republic Day parade ballet of Andhra Pradesh on 26 January, 1976.In the film Paleru Narsayya, he acted without makeup and impressed the prominent members of the industry. Famous directors Bapu and K Balachandar, who had attended the preview of this film, offered the roles in their respective movies. In Balachander’s Idi Katha Kaadu he acted in a negative role, but in Bapu’s Manavoori Pandavulu he played one important role. For this movie he received a remuneration of Rs.1116.Towards the end of 1979, Chirajeevi started gaining pace in the industry with eight releases in the year. In Kothala Rayudu, a film released during this period, he played the title role for the first time. In 1980, a record fourteen films starring Chiranjeevi hit the theaters, establishing a solid base for him in the industry. In the next two years Chiranjeevi acted in several films in leading, supporting and even in negative roles.

Most notably, his performances in Punnami Naagu(1980) and Nyayam Kavali(1981), albeit having negative shades, were acclaimed by critiques and audience alike. The year 1983 was a major turning point in Chiranjeevi’s career. Khaidi, which was released in October of this year, brought immediate stardom to Chiranjeevi and marked the beginning of his dominance in the industry. Many film critiques believe that the film has influenced the Telugu Cinema much the same way as the Hindi film Sholay influenced Bollywood. Inspired heavily by the Hollywood flick “First Blood”, Khaidi increased the demand for the director and writers also, besides turning the combination of the duo - director A Kodanda Rami Reddy and Chiranjeevi – into one of the most successful combinations in the industry. This duo went on to work together in 23 films in total, most of them being huge box office blockbusters. Also in this year, with the Telugu film star NTR entering politics, the unofficial number one position in the industry is left vacant.

Other Languages

Besides in Andhra Pradesh, Chiru is famous in other parts of India and world as well. In fact, Manjunatha and Sipayi were first made in Kannada which were blockbusters and later were dubbed into Telugu. In Mappillai the Tamil version of Attaki Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu, produced by home banner Geetha Arts Chiru played a guest actor. (Rajinikanth and Amala have starred in this movie.) He played hero in the Hindi remakes of Ankusham (Pratibandh), Gang Leader (Aaj ka Goondaraj) and Gentleman (The Gentleman). The blockbuster Gharaana Mogudu was dubbed into Malayalam as Hey Hero.

Actor to 'Megastar'

With several other super hits in the year like Abhilasha apart from Khaidi, Chiranjeevi appeared to be an obvious choice for this position. Indeed, he would occupy this position within the next few years and, as even his competitors agree, he remained there for more than two decades. Leading Telugu Actor Venkatesh said in an Interview to India Today that Chiranjeevi has been the undisputed No. 1 since 1987. Chiranjeevi continued to enjoy commercial success in the following years with hits like Challenge, Rustum and Jwala.

However, the ‘85 released film Adavi Donga was another important movie in his career in that it marked the beginning of his association with another senior director K Raghavendra Rao. Chiranjeevi acted in his direction for most number of films, after A Kodanda Rami Reddy. In '87 release Pasivadi Pranam, Chiranjeevi introduced Break Dance to Telugu Cinema, a dance that drove his fans into craziness. While the industry obsessed with break dance for several years, the film has increasedperiod, he was promoted with what is now a popular title “Megastar” in his movies, replacing his old title Supreme Hero. Chiranjeevi’s mass following continued to grow bigger and bigger with each passing year and so did his remuneration.

Bigger than Bachchan(1992)

Extending through the early 90s, Chiranjeevi delivered two super duper blockbusters movies Kondaveeti Donga and Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari in 1990. And in next continue three major blockbusters Gang Leader, Rowdi Alludu, and Gharana Mogudu in succession. These films have collected and created box office records, while turning the Telugu film industry a multi-crore business. At this point, his remuneration crossed ten million first, and later turned more, making Chiranjeevi is the highest paid actor in India. Befittingly, Film Fare magazine published about him a cover story “Higher than Amithab Bachan” in 1992. The film Mutha Mesthri released in the following year did created many commercial records, but it also shown Chiranjeevi as a political power, raising the speculation of his entry into politics.

The mid 90s, much to the surprise of everyone and contrary to his golden period in the early 90s, witnessed biggest flops of his career. Films like Mechanic Alludu, Big Boss and Rikshavodu have not only disappointed his fans but also have utterly failed at the box office. Although the ’95 film Alluda Mazaka was a commercial success, it was severely censured by common public and critiques alike for its excessive sexual scenes and double-entendres.

These films remained as indelible stains in his otherwise glorious career. Successive failures have forced Chiranjeevi to rethink on his films, which until then used to have overdose of mass elements and weak scripts. Taking a break of more than one year, he came out with a family and sentiment story Hitler in 1997, a remake of Malayalam Megastar Mammootty's film, of the same name. The film revived his box office success, marking the second innings of his career, allowed to find his lost image and even closer to family people. Since then, Chiranjeevi started to work in selective films, one or at most two in a year, to suit to the changes that are rapidly coming in the industry and in the tastes of audience. Same year, in his next movie Master, for the first time he turned to a playback singer for "Thammudu Thammudu" song. Though this movie was different from Hitler but it was well received by people. The Next movies in 1998 Bavagaru Bagunnara,Choodalani Undi were block busters which won many accolades as both were complete family entertainers.

Return to success: 2002

The 2002 release Indra (BlockBuster movie), a film that largely focuses on his ‘mass’ image and bases on the then successful ‘Seema Formula’, broke all previous box office records, proving yet again his dominance over Telugu Cinema. Released with a record number of prints, the film went on run 100days in most number of theaters, a record that, albeit peculiar, is extensively popular in Andhra Pradesh to measure a film’s success. Growing in age and bearing the larger-than-life image, Chiranjeevi tried to intermix entertainment with an underlying message and a social cause in his later films such as Tagore(2003) and Stalin(2006).

His last film Shankar Dada Zindabad(2008) before entering politics, was, however, a commercial failure. Arguably the greatest Telugu ‘mass’ hero of all-time, Chiranjeevi, setting his unparalleled ‘mass’ image aside, has acted in several art-oriented films like Subhalekha, Aaradhana, Swayamkrushi, Rudraveena Apadbhandavudu, that were highly creative but lacked commercial elements. Although these films have won several awards for the star, they had mixed opinions by the audience and fared well at the box office.

Personal life

Chiranjeevi married Surekha, daughter of eminent yesteryear comedian Allu Rama Lingaiah, on February 20, 1980. He has 3 children, eldest daughter Susmitha, son Ram Charan Teja and youngest Srija.

Philanthropy

Besides acting, he is widely known for his charity services. On October 2 1998,he founded the Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust (CCT), which includes Chiranjeevi Blood and Eye Banks. It is the state's largest recipient of Blood and Eye Donations. The Blood Bank of the CCT helped over 80,000 people and the Eye Bank has helped about 1000 people in the state of Andhra Pradesh since its opening. So far around 3.5 lakh people have pledged their eyes to CCT, giving 1600 people eye sight through CCT. CCT has also won the "Best Voluntary Blood Bank Award" by the AP State Government for the past 4 years.

On June 10, 2006, The President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam, inaugurated the Chiranjeevi Charitable Foundation (CCF) at the Jubilee Hills Check post in Hyderabad.

Recently CCT has reached one more landmark by crossing the one lakh mark in collecting the blood and more than 96,000 people were helped with blood by this blood bank.

Politics

Chiranjeevi's political party(Praja Rajyam)Flag

Chiranjeevi's foray into politics was highly anticipated in the media and political circles . While it was reported that he was seeking opinion of people during the latter half of 2007, the media also suggested that he would announce the decision in January 2008. Even before the party's launch, several political leaders from the Andhra Pradesh such as Harirama Jogaiah from Congress Party and K. Vidyadhar Rao , B. Nagi Reddy , Tammineni Seetharam , Ganta Srinivasa rao and many more from the Telugu Desam Party openly declared that they would join the party.

Chiranjeevi inaugurated his party office in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad on August 10, 2008.On August 17, 2008 Chiranjeevi has addressed a press conference in his party office to announce his entry into politics.

On August 26, 2008 in the public meeting held at Avilala near Tirupati, he announced the party name as Praja Rajyam saying the Rajyam(Rule) belongs to Praja (People). He unveiled the party flag in this meeting.

In the 2009 Elections, He was declared elected as MLA from Tirupathi assembly seat with majority of 10,800 votes on his nearest rival B Karunakar Reddy. Chiranjeevi is now the PRP legislative party leader of the Assembly.

Awards

Chiranjeevi received Padma Bhushan (India's third highest civilian award) from President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam in New Delhi.

Filmfare Awards

• 1982—Filmfare Best Actor (Telugu) for Punnami Naagu
• 1984—Filmfare Best Actor (Telugu) for Subhalekha
• 1993—Filmfare Best Actor (Telugu) for Muta Mesthri
• 1999—Filmfare Best Actor (Telugu) for Sneham Kosam
• 2002—Filmfare Best Actor (Telugu) for Indra
• 2004—Filmfare Best Actor (Telugu) for Shankar Dada MBBS
• 2007- Filmfare Life Time Achievement Award

Special honours

• 2006—Padma Bhushan By Govt of India
• 2006—Doctorate By Andhra University

2009 Elections

He had contested from two assembly constituencies, Pallakollu and Tirupati.

Filmography

Main article: Chiranjeevi filmography

External links

• Chiranjeevi at IMDb