Chittoor Nagaiah

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. Indian film journalist Baburao Patel described Nagayya as "The Paul Muni of India". Nagayya was considered the best character actor in South Indian cinema during 1940s and 1950s.

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). Nagayya was also the protagonist in Viswa Mohini (1940), the first film on the Indian motion picture world.

Nagayya made significant contributions to Telugu cinema, and starred in about two hundred Telugu films. 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. Nagayya also starred in about one hundred and sixty films in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi.

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.

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. 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.

Accolades Civilian Awards Padmashri, Government of India in 1965

National honors Abinava Thyagaraju by the Maharaja of Travancore

National Film Awards 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

Composer and play back singer Year Title Song 1938 Gruhalakshmi 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 Tenali Ramakrishna Gandupilli Menu Marichi 1956 Tenali Ramakrishna "Putrile Pambirukkum...Kottaiyile Oru Kaalatthile" 1957 Nala Damayanti Ghorambaina Daavagni Keelakerayai 1957 Panduranga Mahatyam Jaya Jaya Gokula Bala, Sannuti Seyave Manasa 1962 Swarnamanjari Madhuramaina Guru Deevena 1967 Maa Vadina Suthudilu Peeda Mandiramu (poem) 1967 Poola Rangadu 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) Ramadasu (Telugu, 1964) En Veedu (Tamil, 1953) Naa Illu (Telugu, 1953) Thyagayya (Telugu, 1946)

Producer (partial filmography) Naa Illu (1953)

Writer (partial filmography) Thyagayya (1946)