Jaggayya

Kongara Jaggayya (31 December 1926 – 5 March 2004) was an Indian film actor, littérateur, journalist, lyricist, dubbing artist and politician known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre.[1] Regarded as one of the finest method actors of Indian cinema,[2] he was known as Kanchu Kantham Jaggayya (Telugu) for his booming voice. In a film career spanning forty years as a matinee idol, he starred in eighty films, as a lead actor, and lead antagonist in a variety of genres.[2]

Jaggayya
Born
Kongara Jaggayya

(1926-12-31)31 December 1926
Died5 March 2004(2004-03-05) (aged 77)
Other namesKalavachaspati
Kanchu Kantham
Super star
Alma materAndhra Christian College
OccupationActor, dubbing artist, littérateur, journalist, poet, politician
AwardsPadma Bhushan 1992

During his early career he portrayed breakthrough characters in works such as Donga Ramudu (1955), which was archived by the Film and Television Institute of India, He starred in award-winning works such as Bangaru Papa (1954), Ardhangi (1955), Edi Nijam (1956), Todi Kodallu (1957), Dr. Chakravarti (1964), Antastulu (1965), the Cannes Film Festival featured Meghasandesam (1982), and Seethakoka Chiluka (1981); all of which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Films in Telugu. In 1962, he co-produced and starred in the political drama film Padandi Munduku based on Salt March, the film was screened at the International Film Festival of India, the Tashkent Film Festival, and got a special mention at the 5th Moscow International Film Festival.[3][4]

As a character actor he received critical appreciation for his performance in notable works such as Velugu 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 film Alluri Sita Rama Raju (1974), and essayed Pontius Pilate in the hagiographical film Karunamayudu (1978). He then appeared in works such as Veta (1986), Chantabbai (1986), Pasivadi Pranam (1987), and Dharma Kshetram (1992).Bobbili Simham (1994) .He has won the Andhra Pradesh state Nandi Award for Best Character Actor for his works in some of these films. A recipient of the Tamil Nadu state's Kalaimamani, the Government of India has honored him with the Padma Bhushan in 1992 for his contributions towards Indian cinema.[5]

Early life

Jaggayya was born to Kongara Seetaramaih and Rajya Lakshmamma. He was born in a well-to-do family in Morampudi village near Tenali in Guntur district. 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 of Lava in a Hindi play during his high school days in Duggirala. He got trained in the art of painting under the guidance of Adivi Bapiraju, a noted painter, during his college days.

As a student, he joined the Congress Socialist party in Tenali, which was involved in the Indian Independence Movement at that time.

He joined the Andhra-Christian College, in 1942, in Guntur for his higher studies. He used to be a member of Navya Sahitya Parishath in Guntur. Later he joined a periodical named Desabhimani (meaning "Patriot") as a journalist.[6] Later he worked as an editor for the weekly Andhra Republic. During his B.A. days in A-C College, he along with N. T. Rama Rao, acted in several plays. He also used to be a part of Navajyothi Artists, a cultural organisation run by Mukkamala. After working as a teacher in Duggirala for a brief while, he became a news announcer in Akashavani for three years.[7] Jaggayya won the best actor award in three successive years for Chesina Papam and Telangana.

Film career

He made his cinematic debut in 1952 drama film Priyuralu directed by Tripuraneni Gopichand.[8] 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 movie Paleru did not even see light of the day.

Bangaru Papa, directed by B 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 veteran Sivaji Ganesan. He was the narrator, and dubbing artist for internationally recognized works such as Maa Bhoomi, and Richard Attenborough's character of John Hammond in the Telugu-dubbed version of the Hollywood film Jurassic 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 of VB Rajendra Parasad's Jagapathi Pictures, K B Tilak's Anupama Pictures and Ramavijeta Films owned by brothers Prabhakar and Baburao. His last film as an actor was Kunthi Putrudu, which starred Mohan Babu as lead and was directed by Dasari Narayana Rao.

He turned into producer with a film Padandi Munduku, under the banner of Jagruthi 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.[9]

Political career

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 joined Jayaprakash Narayan's Praja Socialist Party, but returned to Congress in 1956, heeding the call of Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1967, he was elected as a member of the fourth Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India from the constituency of Ongole on a Congress Party ticket. He was the first Indian film actor to be elected as a member of parliament.[10]

Literary achievements

He translated Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's Geetanjali and multiple poems into Telugu under the name Ravindra Geetha. He also translated Tagore's play "Sacrifice" into Telugu under the name Balidaanam. He also co-founded Manasvini Charitable Trust to honor the film literature of Acharya Athreya. The lyrics of all the film songs written by Athreya was consolidated into seven volumes.

Awards

Civilian honours
Nandi Awards
State Awards
Other honours

Selected filmography

S NoYear of releaseMovie NameNotes / Character
11952Priyuralu
21952Adarsam
31954Bangaru PapaNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu / Manohar
41955ArdhangiNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu / Chinna Babu
51955Donga RamuduArchived at the Film and Television Institute of India / Dr. Mohan
61956Muddu Bidda
71956Edi NijamNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
81957Veera Kankanam
91957Varudu Kavali
101957Thodi KodalluNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu / Vaikuntam
111957MLA
121957Bhale Bava
131957Aalu Magalu
141958Mundadugu
151958Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu
161959Bhagya Devata
171960Pelli Kanuka
181961Velugu Needalu
191961Pellikani Pillalu
201961Kalasi unte Kaladu Sukham
211961Intiki Deepam Illalu
221962Chitti Tammudu
231962Aradhana
241962Padandi MundukuProducer
251963Constable Koothuru
26 1963 Anubandhalu
271963Eedu Jodu
28 1963 Manchi rojulu vasthayi
291964Pooja Phalam
301964Manchi Manishi
311964Dr. ChakravarthiNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
321964Aathma Balam
331965Uyyala Jampala
341965Sumangali
331965Preminchi Choodu
341965Manasulu Mamatalu
351965Gudi Gantalu
361965AntastuluNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
371966Navarathri
381966Manase Mandiram
391966Aame Evaru?
401966Aastiparulu
411967Prana Mithrulu
421968Bandipotu Dongalu
431969Adrustavanthulu
441969Ardha Rathri
451970Thalli Thandrulu
461971Srimanthudu
471971Ramalayam
481971Naa Thammudu
491971Chinnanati Snehitulu
501972Badi Panthulu
511972Bharya Biddalu
521973Devudu Chesina Manushulu
531974Bhoomi Kosam
541974Deeksha
551974Alluri Sita Rama Raju
561976Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club
571976Paadipantalu
581976Ramarajyamlo Rakthapasam
591977Adavi RamuduForest Officer
601977Chanakya ChandraguptaVoice double for Sivaji Ganesan
611977Manassakshi
621978KarunamayuduAs Pontius Pilate, then Prefect of the Roman Province of Judaea, known today for the trial and crucifixion of Jesus
631978KD No:1
641979VetagaduBoopathi
651979Maavari Manchitanam
661980Ram Robert Rahim
671981Nyayam Kavali
681981Seethakoka ChilakaNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
691982Bobbili Puli
701982Yamakinkarudu
711983MeghasandesamNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
721984Disco King
731984Anubandham
741985Swathi
751985Adavi Donga
761985Agni ParvatamJagannadha Rao
771985Vijetha
781985Pachani Kapuram
791986Kiraathakudu
801986Veta
811986Chantabbai
821987Ramu
831987President Gari Abbayi
841987Aradhana
851987Pasivadi Pranam
861987Viswanatha NayakuduVoice double for Sivaji Ganesan
871988Jeevana Ganga
881989Ajatha Satruvu
891990Alludugaru
901991Assembly Rowdy
911992Dharma Kshetram
921993Joker
931993Detective Narada

Death

He underwent a Hip Replacement surgery and complications after the surgery resulted in his death.[2]

References

  1. krshychait (12 December 2011). ""Kalaa Vachaspati", "Kanchu Kantham": Kongara Jaggayya".
  2. "The Hindu : Jaggayya passes away". www.thehindu.com.
  3. "Tollywood's Glorious Journey at Chitramala". Archived from the original on 30 January 2010.
  4. "Profile of Gummadi - Telugu film actor".
  5. Correspondent, By Our Special (3 May 2004). "Jaggayya passes away". p. 06 via The Hindu (old).
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 December 2005. Retrieved 23 April 2006.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. telugucinema.com/c/stars/KJaggayya.shtml
  8. "Rutherford of Telugu cinema".
  9. earlytollywood.blogspot.in/2008/02/kongara-jaggaiah.html
  10. tollywood.info/actor/k/kongara_jaggayya.htm
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