Jaggayya
Jaggayya | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Jaggayya | |
| Born | Kongara Jaggayya 31 December 1928 |
| Died | 5 March 2004 (aged 75) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Other names | Kalavachaspati Kanchu Kantam |
| Alma mater | Andhra Christian College |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, dubbing artist, littérateur, journalist, poet, politician |
| Years active | 1952-1994 |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan 1992 |
| Member of the Lok Sabha | |
| In office 1967–1970 | |
| Constituency | Ongole |
Kongara Jaggayya (31 December 1928 – 5 March 2004) 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.[1] 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.[2]
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.[3]
Early life
Jaggayya was born on 31 December 1928 to Seetaramaih and Rajya Lakshmamma in Morampudi village near Tenali in Guntur district.[1] 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.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6] Jaggayya won the best actor award in three successive years for Chesina Papam and Telangana.
Film career
He made his cinematic debut in 1952 drama film Priyuralu directed by Tripuraneni Gopichand.[7] 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.[8]
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.[9] He was the first Indian film actor to be elected as a member of parliament.[10][11]
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 passed away on 5 March 2004 at Chennai, Tamilnadu.[1]
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
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References
- ^ a b c "Jaggayya passes away". The Hindu. 6 March 2004. Archived from the original on 13 April 2004.
- ^ "Profile of Gummadi - Telugu film actor".
- ^ Correspondent, By Our Special (3 May 2004). "Jaggayya passes away". The Hindu. p. 06. Archived from the original on 13 April 2004 – via The Hindu (old).
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ krshychait (12 December 2011). ""Kalaa Vachaspati", "Kanchu Kantham": Kongara Jaggayya".[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Movie Review". Archived from the original on 26 December 2005. Retrieved 23 April 2006.
- ^ telugucinema.com/c/stars/KJaggayya.shtml
- ^ "Rutherford of Telugu cinema".
- ^ earlytollywood.blogspot.in/2008/02/kongara-jaggaiah.html
- ^ "ప్రచారం చేయకుండానే జగ్గయ్య గెలుపు". Sakshi (in Telugu). 21 March 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "Everything you wanted to know about filmstars in Lok Sabha, but didn't know whom to ask - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "Star power in south India: Reel life actors don't always make for real life statesmen". The News Minute. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "Jarigina Katha (1969)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "Nindu Kutumbam on Moviebuff.com". Moviebuff.com. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "Mangalya Bhagyam (1974)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ^ "Raaja (1976)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ "Palnati Simham (1985)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ PREMA SAMRAT Telugu Movie SUMAN,BHANU PRIYA, TIGER PRABHAKAR, retrieved 16 April 2023
- ^ "Brahma (1992)". IMDb. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- ^ "Repati Rowdy (1993)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
External links
- 1926 births
- 2004 deaths
- People from Tenali
- Telugu male actors
- Indian actor-politicians
- Nandi Award winners
- Indian male voice actors
- Indian male screenwriters
- Indian socialists
- Male actors from Andhra Pradesh
- Indian male film actors
- India MPs 1967–1970
- 20th-century Indian male actors
- Male actors in Telugu cinema
- Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts
- Indian male dramatists and playwrights
- Indian National Congress politicians from Andhra Pradesh
- 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights
- Praja Socialist Party politicians
- Lok Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh
- Dramatists and playwrights from Andhra Pradesh
- 20th-century Indian translators
- 20th-century Indian screenwriters