B. R. Panthulu | |
|---|---|
 Panthulu, pictured in 1948 | |
| Born | Boodgur Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu (1910-07-26)26 July 1910 Rallabudaguru,North Arcot,Madras Presidency,British India (present-dayChittoor district,Andhra Pradesh) |
| Died | 8 October 1974(1974-10-08) (aged 64) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, director, producer |
| Spouse | B. R Kamalamma (B. R. Andalammal) |
| Children | 2, includingB. R. Vijayalakshmi |
Budaguru Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu (26 July 1910 – 8 October 1974)[1] was an Indian film director, producer and actor. He is best known for directing films in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi. His most popular films areKarnan,Veerapandiya Kattabomman,Sri Krishnadevaraya,School Master andKittur Channamma, B. R. Panthulu, is a successful actor and convertedMa. Po. Si.'s biographic worksVeerapandiya Kattabomman (a movie about a local chieftain who fought with the British in the 18th century in Tamil Nadu) andKappalottiya Thamizhan (a movie about a lawyer who rebelled against the British rule that forbade Tamils operating shipping companies) to celluloid.
Panthulu was born on 26 July 1910 in the village of Rallabudaguru ofNorth Arcot in the erstwhileMadras Presidency ofBritish India (in present-dayChittoor district ofAndhra Pradesh, India).[2] He began his career as a teacher. Influenced by professional theatre during the time, he joined the troupe Chandrakala Nataka Mandali. He acted in playsSamsara Nouka,Sadarame andGuleba Kavali. He also worked for some time withGubbi Veeranna's troupe and acted inSri Krishna Garudi among others. Panthulu then formed his own Kannada professional theatre troupe, the Kalaseva Nataka Mandali, staging plays of his own choice.[2]
He made his debut as an actor in the 1936 Kannada filmSamsara Nauka, an adaptation of the play he acted in. It was produced by Devi Films, based in Chennai. Directed byH. L. N. Simha, the film starred Panthulu,M. V. Rajamma, Dikki Madhava Rao, S. K. Padmadevi and M. S. Madhava Rao. The hero marries against his grandfather's wishes and is cast out. His troubles do not end there – he finds no favour with his in-laws, loses his job, and finds himself accused of murdering the bride his grandfather had chosen for him. The film was adapted from a play by the Chadrakala Natak Mandali, and remained true to the original's reformist ideal.
In 1950, he made theTamil filmMacharekhai, partnering with filmmakerP. Pullaiah under a stage company that later came to be known as Sukumar Productions with musicianT. R. Mahalingam as his partner. With writer P. Neelakantan, he started the company Padmini Pictures, and produced the Tamil filmKalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari in 1954. Under the banner, he would go on to produce the Kannada filmsSchool Master (1958),Kittur Chennamma (1961) andSri Krishnadevaraya (1970), that went on to become landmark films. His portrayal ofTimmarusu, the Prime minister of theVijayanagara KingKrishnadevaraya, won him theKarnataka State Film Award for Best Actor.
As director, Panthulu made his debut with the Kannada filmRathnagiri Rahasya (1957), a major commercial success during the time.[2] He produced and directed a total of 57 films in all South Indian languages under the banner of Padmini Pictures.[3]
| Year | Title | Credited as | Language | Role | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Producer | Actor | |||||
| 1936 | Samsara Nauka |  N | N |  Y | Kannada | Sundar | |
| 1941 | Bhaktimala | N | N | Y | Telugu | Mohan | |
| 1943 | Radha Ramana | N | N | Y | Kannada | ||
| 1944 | Tahsildar | N | N | Y | Telugu | ||
| 1946 | Lavangi | N | N | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1947 | Nam Iruvar | N | N | Y | Tamil | Jayakumar | |
| 1948 | Bhaktha Jana | N | N | Y | Tamil | Panthoji | |
| 1950 | Macha Rekai | N | N | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1953 | Ammalakkalu | N | N | Y | Telugu | ||
| 1954 | Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari | N | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1954 | Jaladurga | N | N | Y | Kannada | ||
| 1954 | Karkottai | N | N | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1955 | Modala Thedi | N | Y | Y | Kannada | Shivram | |
| 1955 | Mudhal Thethi | N | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1955 | Vadina | N | Y | Y | Telugu | ||
| 1955 | Shivasharane Nambekka | N | Y | Y | Kannada | ||
| 1955 | Doctor Savithri | N | N | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1956 | Sivasakthi | N | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1957 | Thangamalai Ragasiyam | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1957 | Rathnagiri Rahasya | Y | Y | Y | Kannada | ||
| 1958 | Sabaash Meena | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1958 | School Master | Y | Y | Y | Kannada | Ranganna | |
| 1958 | Suhag | Y | Y | Y | Hindi | ||
| 1959 | School Master | Y | Y | Y | Hindi | ||
| 1959 | Abba! A Hudgi | N | N | Y | Kannada | ||
| 1959 | Veerapandya Kattabomman | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1959 | Veerapandya Kattabrahmana | Y | Y | Y | Telugu | ||
| 1959 | Sabaash Pilla | Y | Y | Y | Telugu | ||
| 1959 | Amar Shaheed | Y | Y | Y | Hindi | ||
| 1960 | Pillalu Techina Challani Rajyam | Y | Y | Y | Telugu | ||
| 1960 | Kuzhandhaigal Kanda Kudiyarasu | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1960 | Makkala Rajya | Y | Y | Y | Kannada | ||
| 1960 | Sangaili Thevan | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1961 | Kittur Chennamma | Y | Y | Y | Kannada | ||
| 1961 | Kappalottiya Thamizhan | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1961 | Kaanal Neer | N | N | Y | Tamil | Apparao | |
| 1962 | Gaali Gopura | Y | Y | Y | Kannada | ||
| 1962 | Bale Pandiya | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1962 | Dil Tera Diwana | Y | Y | Y | Hindi | ||
| 1962 | Gaali Medalu | Y | Y | Y | Telugu | ||
| 1963 | Pempudu Koothuru | Y | Y | Y | Telugu | ||
| 1963 | Saaku Magalu | Y | Y | Y | Kannada | ||
| 1964 | School Master | N | Y | N | Malayalam | ||
| 1964 | Chinnada Gombe | Y | Y | Y | Kannada | ||
| 1964 | Karnan | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1964 | Muradan Muthu | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1965 | Aayirathil Oruvan | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1966 | Dudde Doddappa | Y | Y | Y | Kannada | Somayya | |
| 1966 | Nadodi | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1966 | Enga Paappa | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | 25th Film | |
| 1966 | Nammaveetu Lakshmi | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1966 | Emme Thammanna | Y | Y | Y | Kannada | ||
| 1966 | Parakkum Pavai | N | N | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1967 | Gange Gowri | Y | Y | Kannada | |||
| 1967 | Beedi Basavanna | Y | Y | Y | Kannada | ||
| 1968 | Ragasiya Police 115 | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1968 | Amma | Y | Y | Y | Kannada | Hullalli Ramaraya | |
| 1968 | Chinnari Puttanna | Y | Y | Y | Kannada | ||
| 1969 | Gandondu Hennaru | Y | Y | Y | Kannada | ||
| 1970 | Sri Krishnadevaraya | Y | Y | Y | Kannada | Timmarusu | |
| 1970 | Thedi Vandha Mappillai | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1971 | Aliya Geleya | Y | Y | Y | Kannada | ||
| 1971 | Malathi Madhava | Y | Y | Y | Kannada | ||
| 1972 | Ondu Hennina Kathe | Y | Y | Y | Kannada | ||
| 1973 | Ganga Gowri | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1973 | School Master | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
| 1974 | Kadavul Mama | Y | Y | Y | Tamil | ||
International Film Awards for his film"Veerapandia Kattapomman"
| Award | Ceremony | Category | Nominee(s) | Outcome | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afro-Asian Film Festival | Afro-Asian Film Festival - 1960 | Best Film | B. R. Panthulu | Won | |
| Best Actor | Sivaji Ganesan | Won | |||
| Best Music Director | G. Ramanathan | Won |
Pathulu's biography in Kannada titledDanivillada Dhani was written byA. N. Prahlada Rao, and published in 2016 by theKarnataka Chalanachitra Academy.[7]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
