B. Vittalacharya

B. Vittalacharya (28 January 1920 – 28 May 1999) was an Indian film director and producer known for his works in Telugu and Kannada cinema. He was known as Janapada Brahma in the Telugu film industry. Vittalacharya formed his film production company Vittal Productions, which produced the first film directed by him, Rajya Lakshmi.

In 1952, he did his first movie Sri Srinivasa Kalyana in Kannada. He went on to make Kannada movies after the success of Sri Srinivasa Kalyana. In 1954, he produced and directed Kanyadhanam, a revolutionary Kannada film for that time. Wishing to remake the same in Telugu, he moved to Madras and settled there. After making two more Kannada movies, he concentrated on producing and directing. He also directed movies for other producers. He directed a total of 19 movies with N. T. Rama Rao, the doyen of Telugu cinema at the time. Though he did not get any awards, most of his films were box office successes and he was fondly called "Jaanapada Brahma" and "Maayaajala Mannan" by his fans. He was well known for the visual effects shown in most of his movies.

Biography B. Vithalacharya was born into Madhwa Brahmin family on 28 January 1920 in Udayavara, in then Udupi Taluk as a seventh child. He was interested in dramas, Bayalata and Yakshagana since childhood. His father Padmanabhacharya was a noted ayurvedic doctor, who used to treat patients free of cost. He studied only up to third class. He left the house to seek his fortune at the age of nine years. Reaching Arasikere, he did odd jobs and finally bought an Udupi Restaurant from his cousin. He successfully ran the hotel.

He participated in the Quit India Movement against the British Government along with some friends. He was imprisoned. After release from the Jail, he handed over his hotel business to his younger brother. He established One Touring Cinema in Hassan District along with his friend Sri D. Shankar Singh and others.

He was the executive partner running the Touring Talkies on a daily basis. He multiplied the single Touring Talkies into four units. He used to watch each and every film they screened and learnt film making techniques practically. In 1944, he married Jayalakshmi Acharya, the third daughter of U. Ramadasa Acharya of K. R. Pete.

With the same friends and Shankar Singh, they moved to Mysore and formed a film production company under the banner of Mahatma Pictures. They produced 18 Kannada pictures from 1944 to 1953, among them very successful ones like Naga Kanya, Jagan Mohini, and Srinivasa Kalyana. During that period, one by one the partners parted company and finally only D. Shankar Singh and Vittalacharya remained. Some of the films were directed by others, some by D. Shankar Singh and some by Vittalacharya.

In 1953, he parted ways with D. Shankar Singh, and formed his own company under the banner Vittal Productions and produced and directed his first film, Rajya Lakshmi. In 1954, he produced and directed Kanyadhanam, a revolutionary Kannada film for that time. Wishing to remake the same in Telugu, he moved to Madras and settled there till his death.

Filmography

+ List of B. Vittalacharya film credits Year Title Language Notes 1952 Sri Srinivasa Kalyana Kannada Director and producer 1953 Rajya Lakshmi Kannada Director and producer 1954 Kanyadhanam Kannada Director and producer 1956 Muttiyde Baghya Kannada Director and producer 1956 Vaddante Pelli Telugu Director and producer 1957 Jaya Vijaya Kannada Director and producer 1957 Mane Thumbida Hennu Kannada Producer 1958 Anna Chellalu Telugu Director 1958 Mane Thumbida Hennu Kannada Director 1958 Pelli Meeda Pelli Telugu Director and producer 1959 Penn Kulathin Pon Villakku Tamil Director 1960 Anna Chellelu Telugu Director 1960 Kanaka Durga Pooja Mahima Telugu Director and producer 1961 Varalakshmi Vratham Telugu Director and producer 1962 Khaidi Kannayya Kannada Director 1962 Madana Kama Raju Katha Telugu Director and producer 1963 Manthiri Kumaran Tamil Director 1963 Bandipotu Telugu Director 1963 Guruvunu Minchina Sishyudu Telugu Director and producer 1963 Nava Graha Pooja Mahima Telugu Director and producer 1963 Veera Kesari Kannada Director 1964 Aggi Pidugu Telugu Director and producer 1965 Jwaladweepa Rahasyam Telugu Director 1965 Mangamma Sapatham Telugu Director 1965 Vijaya Simha Kannada Director 1966 Aggi Barata Telugu Director and producer 1966 Iddaru Monagallu Telugu Director 1967 Chikkadu Dorakadu Telugu Director 1967 Pidugu Ramudu Telugu Director 1967 Aggi Dora Telugu Director and producer 1968 Bhale Monagadu Telugu Director 1968 Kadaladu Vadaladu Telugu Director 1969 Gandikota Rahasyam Telugu Director 1969 Aggi Veerudu Telugu Director and producer 1970 Ali Baba 40 Dongalu Telugu Director 1970 Lakshmi Kataksham Telugu Director1970 Vijayam ManadeTeluguDirector 1971 Rajakota Rahasyam Telugu Director 1971 C. I. D. Raju Telugu Producer 1972 Beedala Patlu Telugu Director and producer 1973 Palleturi Chinnodu Telugu Director and producer 1974 Aadadani Adrushtam Telugu Director and producer 1975 Kotalo Paga Telugu Director and producer 1978 Jaganmohini Telugu Director and producer 1979 Gandharva Kanya Telugu Director and producer 1980 Madana ManjariTelugu Director and producer 1983 Nava MohiniTelugu Director and producer 1984 Jai Bhetala 3DTelugu Story and Screen Play 1985 Mohini SapadhamTelugu Producer and director 1986 Veera PratapTelugu Director 1987 Sri Devi Kamakshi KatakshamTelugu Director 1991 Srisaila Bhramarambika KatakshamTelugu Director 1992 Karuninchina KanakadurgaTelugu Director