Jaggayya | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Jaggayya | |
| Born | Kongara Jaggayya (1928-12-31)31 December 1928[1][2][a] |
| Died | 5 March 2004(2004-03-05) (aged 75) Chennai,Tamil Nadu, India |
| Other names |
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| Alma mater | Andhra Christian College |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1952-1994 |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan (1992) |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 1967–1970 | |
| Preceded by | Madala Narayanaswamy |
| Succeeded by | Puli Venkata Reddy |
| Constituency | Ongole |
Kongara Jaggayya (31 December 1928 – 5 March 2004[1][2][a]) was an Indian actor, littérateur, journalist, lyricist, dubbing artist and politician known for his works predominantly inTelugu cinema andTelugu theatre. He was known asKanchu Kantam Jaggayya (Telugu) for his booming voice. In a film career spanning forty years as amatinee 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 fourthLok Sabha, from the constituency ofOngole, becoming the first Indian film actor to be elected as a member of theParliament.
During his early career he portrayed breakthrough characters in works such asDonga Ramudu (1955), which was archived by the Film and Television Institute of India, He starred in award-winning works such asBangaru Papa (1954),Ardhangi (1955),Edi Nijam (1956),Todi Kodallu (1957),Dr. Chakravarti (1964),Antastulu (1965), theCannes Film Festival featuredMeghasandesam (1982), andSeethakoka Chiluka (1981); all of which won theNational Film Award for Best Feature Films in Telugu. In 1962, he co-produced and starred in the political drama filmPadandi Munduku based onSalt March, the film was screened at theInternational Film Festival of India, the Tashkent Film Festival, and got a special mention at the 5thMoscow International Film Festival.[3]
As acharacter actor he received critical appreciation for his performance in notable works such asVelugu 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 filmAlluri Sita Rama Raju (1974), and essayedPontius Pilate in the hagiographical filmKarunamayudu (1978). He then appeared in works such asVeta (1986),Chantabbai (1986),Pasivadi Pranam (1987),Dharma Kshetram (1992) andBobbili Simham (1994). He won the Andhra Pradesh stateNandi Award for Best Character Actor for his works in some of these films. A recipient of theTamil Nadu state'sKalaimamani, the Government of India honored him with thePadma Bhushan in 1992 for his contributions towardsIndian cinema.[1]
Jaggayya was born on 31 December 1928 to Seetaramaih and Rajya Lakshmamma in Morampudi village nearTenali inGuntur 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 ofLava in aHindi play during his high school days inDuggirala. He was trained inpainting under the guidance ofAdivi Bapiraju, a noted painter, during his college days.[4]
As a student, he joined theCongress Socialist party in Tenali, which was involved in theIndian Independence Movement at that time.
He joined theAndhra-Christian College, in 1942, inGuntur for his higher studies. He used to be a member of Navya Sahitya Parishath in Guntur. Later he joined a periodical namedDesabhimani (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 withN. T. Rama Rao, acted in several plays. He also used to be a part of Navajyothi Artists, a cultural organisation run byMukkamala. After working as a teacher in Duggirala for a brief while, he became a news announcer inAkashavani for three years.[2] Jaggayya won the best actor award in three successive years forChesina Papam andTelangana.
Jaggayya made his cinematic debut in 1952 drama filmPriyuralu directed byTripuraneni Gopichand.[6] 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 moviePaleru did not even see light of the day.
Bangaru Papa, directed byB 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 veteranSivaji Ganesan. He was the narrator, and dubbing artist for internationally recognized works such asMaa Bhoomi, andRichard Attenborough's character of John Hammond in the Telugu-dubbed version of the Hollywood filmJurassic 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 ofVB Rajendra Parasad'sJagapathi Pictures,K B Tilak'sAnupama Pictures andRamavijeta Films owned by brothers Prabhakar and Baburao. His last film as an actor wasKunthi Putrudu, which starredMohan Babu as lead and was directed byDasari Narayana Rao.
He turned into producer with a filmPadandi Munduku, under the banner ofJagruthi 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.[citation needed]
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 joinedJayaprakash Narayan'sPraja Socialist Party, but returned to Congress in 1956, heeding the call ofJawaharlal Nehru. In 1967, he was elected as a member of the fourthLok Sabha, the lower house of theParliament of India from the constituency ofOngole on a Congress Party ticket.[7] He was the first Indian film actor to be elected as a member of parliament.[8][9]
He translated Nobel laureateRabindranath Tagore'sGeetanjali and multiple poems into Telugu under the nameRavindra Geetha. He also translated Tagore's play "Sacrifice" into Telugu under the nameBalidaanam. He also co-foundedManasvini Charitable Trust to honor the film literature ofAcharya Aatreya. The lyrics of all the film songs written by Athreya was consolidated into seven volumes.
Due to complications after ahip replacement surgery, Jaggayya died on 5 March 2004 atChennai,Tamilnadu.[1]