Nagi Reddi | |
|---|---|
 Reddy on a 2018 stamp of India | |
| Born | Bommireddy Nagi Reddy (1912-12-02)2 December 1912 |
| Died | 25 February 2004(2004-02-25) (aged 91) Chennai,Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1950–89 |
| Awards | Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1986) |
Bommireddy Nagi Reddi (2 December 1912 – 25 February 2004) was an Indian film producer primarily associated withTelugu cinema, along with notable contributions toTamil andHindi films. He co-foundedVijaya Vauhini Studios inMadras, which was once the largest film studio in Asia by floor space.[1][2] To distinguish him from his elder brother, filmmakerB. N. Reddi, he was popularly known as B. Nagi Reddi.
Over his career, Nagi Reddi produced several acclaimed films, includingPatala Bhairavi (1951),Missamma (1955),Mayabazar (1957),Gundamma Katha (1962),Enga Veetu Pillai (1965), andNam Naadu (1969). He also produced Hindi films such asRam Aur Shyam (1967),Julie (1975), andSwarg Narak (1978). His work spanned multiple languages and genres, earning him recognition across Indian cinema.
Nagi Reddi served as the president of theFilm Federation of India twice, during 1960–61 and 1962–63.[3]
Nagi Reddi along with his friend and partnerAluri Chakrapani produced over fifty films in four decades in the four South Indian languages and also in Hindi.[4] He made mythological, devotional, and historicalTelugu movies. Some of his more notable films includePathala Bhairavi,Maya Bazaar, andMissamma. He made most of his films in association with screenwriterChakrapani. Nagi Reddi closed down Vijaya-Vahini after the Telugu film industry moved out of studios in the 1970s, and started the Vijaya Hospital and Vijaya Health Centre.
A new award was incorporated, commemorating his 100th birth year, the Nagi Reddi, memorial Award for the best Telugu and Tamil family entertainers.[5][6]
B. Nagi Reddi was born in Pottipadu, a village in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, and was raised by his maternal grandparents during the first 14 years of his life.
He was married and had four sons and two daughters. One of his sons,B. Venkatarama Reddi, was a film producer. Another son, B. Viswanatha Reddi, was the publisher ofChandamama.[7]
Nagi Reddi served as chairman of the board of Trustees ofTirumala Tirupati Devasthanams between 1980 and 1983, and is credited for building theVaikuntam Queue Complex that now serves to regulate pilgrims for darshan in theTirumala Venkateswara Temple.[4] Nagi Reddi founded the Vijaya Medical & Educational Trust in 1972.[11] The trust runs the Vijaya Hospital (1972), Vijaya Health Center (1987) and Vijaya Heart Foundation (1996). Nagi Reddi headed the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce four times and the All-India Film Sammelan for two terms.
He established the children's magazineChandamama in July 1947.[12] The magazine was eventually printed in nearly a dozen different languages.
He was the founder of Vijaya Hospitals in Vadapalani, Chennai.[citation needed]
