J. V. Somayajulu

Jonnalagadda Venkata "J. V." Somayajulu (30 June 1928 – 24 April 2004) was an Indian film actor known for his works in Telugu cinema and a few Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films.[1] In 1980, he received the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu for his work in the classic Sankarabharanam. On the centenary of Indian cinema, Forbes included his performance in the film among the 25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema.[2] He also acted in the most admired Hindi film Jaag Utha Insan with Mithun Chakraborty and Sridevi, directed by K. Vishwanath.

J. V. Somayajulu
Born
Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu

(1928-06-30)30 June 1928
Lukalam Agraharam, near Kameswaripeta
NarasannapetaSrikakulam district, Madras Presidency, British India
Died24 April 2004(2004-04-24) (aged 75)
OccupationActor, government officer
Notable work
Sankara Sastry in Sankarabharanam,
Tyagaraja in Tyagayya

Some of the other films that earned Somayajulu a good reputation as an actor were Allari Pillalu, Nelavanka, Rowdy Alludu, Swatimutyam, Tyagayya, Saptapadi, Vijeta, Appula Appa Rao and Vamsa Vruksham. He portrayed the guru character of Sri Raghavendra (played by Rajinikanth) in the Tamil movie Sri Raghavendrar.[3] He made a 13-episode television serial based on the play Kanyasulkam.[4] He also portrayed A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in the biographical series Abhay Charan.

For the development of Telugu theatre in the twin cities Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Somayajulu established 'Rasaranjani' along with his contemporaries, Chatla Sriramulu, Garimella Rama Murthy and Rallapalli.[4] Somayajulu worked in the Directorate of Cultural Affairs before retiring from government service. He died of heart attack at Hyderabad in 2004 at the age of 76.[4]

Personal life

He was a government official and worked as a Deputy collector for a long time. He hailed from the village of Lukalam Agraharam near Kameswaripeta, Urlam in Srikakulam district. His father worked as an Inspector in the Prohibition & Excise department in Gudivada and other towns. He spent his childhood in Vizianagaram and also participated in stage dramas when he was in Vizianagaram.[4]

His career spanned five decades in stage dramas, films and television. His passion for Gurazada Apparao's play, Kanyasulkam, was such that he, along with his actor brother J V Ramana Murthy, played it about 500 times in 45 years. His exposition of the delightfully notorious character, "Ramappanthulu" in the play, has become legendary. The woman behind the success of Somayajulu was his mother Saradamma. He died of illness at Hyderabad in 2004 at the age of 75. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.[4]

Filmography

YearFilmCharacterNotes
2005 Bhagmati Hindi film
2003 Ondagona Baa Raghavayya (Ajja) Kannada film
Kabirdas
2002 Raktha Kanneeru Chandhra's father Kannada film
2001Naranathu ThampuranGurujiMalayalam film
1997 Mannava Astrologer Tamil film
1995 Mutthinantha Hendathi Kannada film
1994 Sarigamalu
1993 Govinda Govinda TTD Chief Priest
Mutha Mestri MLA Raghavayya
Sopanam Raja Raja Varma Thamburan Malayalam film
1992 Allari Mogudu
1991 Rowdy Alludu
Aditya 369 Mahamantri Thimmarusu
Appula Appa Rao Sankara Sastri
1990 Pagalil Pournami A Monk Tamil film
1990 Pratibandh Chief Minister Satyendra Hindi film
1989 Swara Kalpana
Thiruppu Munai Sathyamoorthy Tamil film
1988 Idhu Namma Aalu Srinivasa Sastry Tamil film
Sri Venkateshwara Mahime Kannada film
Abhinandana
1987 Viswanatha Nayakudu
Swayam Krushi
Chakravarthy Swamiji
Majnu
Sankeertana
Madana Gopaludu
1986 Kaliyuga Pandavulu
Magadheerudu
Aalaapana
Kalyana Tambulam
Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mahathyam Nana Chandorkar
Tandra Paparayudu
Pyaar Ka Sindoor Hindi film
1985 Vijetha Narasimham
Devalayam
Yaar? Swamiji Tamil film
Swati Mutyam
Sri Raghavendrar Saint Sudheendra Debut Tamil film with Rajinikanth
1984 Jaag Utha Insan Panditji Debut Hindi film with Mithun Chakraborty
1983 Sitaara
Nelavanka Raheem
Gandharvagiri Heroine's father Debut Kannada film with Vishnu Vardhan and Aarathi
1982 Pelleedu Pillalu P V Rao
1981 Tyagayya Tyagayya
1980 Vamsa Vruksham
Saptapadi Yajulu
Sankarabharanam Shankara Sastry Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu
1976 Jyoti

References

  1. "The Hindu : An embodiment of Uttarandhra culture". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 June 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  2. Prasad, Shishir; Ramnath, N. S.; Mitter, Sohini (27 April 2013). "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema". Forbes. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  3. "The Hindu : Metro cultural round-up". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 June 2006. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  4. "The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Somayajulu passes away". hinduonnet.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2007.
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