V. N. Reddy

Venkata Narasimha Reddy, professionally known as V. N. Reddy (20 November 1914 – 29 December 1991), was an Indian cinematographer and director who predominantly worked in Hindi and Telugu films for over thirty years starting from 1943. One of the pioneers of Indian cinematography, Reddy was born in Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh and was brought up in Anantapur.

Career He developed a passion for cinematography at a very young age. Badalti Duniya, his debut movie, was released in the year 1943. He first excelled in black-and-white photography and film making and then shifted to colour film making. His noted films are Aag (1948), Hulchul (1951), Baiju Bawra (1952), Meenar (1954), Chori Chori (1956), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), Do Badan (1966), Upkar (1967), Purab Aur Paschim (1970) and Do Chor (1972).

Aag (1948) was made by a group of people in their twenties, Reddy being the oldest. It is considered one of the most significant films of all time. Writing about Reddy's work for the song Dulhan Chali Pehan Chali from the film Purab Aur Paschim (1970), the Indian film review website, Passion for Cinema states

Lakh Tandon and V. Gopi Krishna were Reddy's assistants. Reddy also tried his hand at directing movies like Ganga Gauri Samvadam (Telugu - 1958), Sengottai Singam (Tamil - 1958), Intika Deepam Illalu (Telugu - 1961), Ananda Jyoti (Tamil - 1963), and Zahreeli (1977) among others.

Ravikant Reddy, one of Reddy's six children, who at an early age of 13 to 14 years was trained and apprenticed under his father, is a noted cinematographer himself.

Partial filmography As cinematographer Year Movie name 1943 Badalti Duniya 1945 Krishnarujun Yudh 1946 Omar Khayyam 1946 1857 1946 Dil 1947 Dil-ki-rani 1947 Chittor Vijay 1948 Aag 1949 Sawan Aya Re 1951 Kali Ghata 1951 Hulchul 1952 Baiju Bawra 1953 Puttillu (Telugu) 1953 Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu 1954 Meenar 1956 Chori Chori 1956 Chiranjeevulu (Telugu) 1958Kondaveeti Donga (Telugu) 1963 Ananda Jyoti 1964 Kashmir Ki Kali 1965 Lootera 1966 Do Badan 1967 Upkar 1967 Latt Saheb 1970 Pushpanjali 1970 Yaadgar 1970 Purab Aur Paschim 1972 Zameen Asman 1972 Do Chor 1974 Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye 1975 Jaggu 1977 Zahereeli 1978 College Girl 1986 Khoon Aur Sazaa

As film director Year Title Language 1958 Ganga Gauri Samvadam Telugu 1958 Sengottai Singam Tamil 1961 Intika Deepam Illale Telugu 1963 Anandha Jodhi Tamil 1977 Zahereeli Hindi