Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya Sarma (28 March 1904 – 30 December 1973), popularly known as Chittoor Nagayya, was an Indian actor, singer, music composer, and director known for his works in Telugu cinema, Tamil cinema, and Telugu theatre. Nagayya was one of the first multilingual filmmakers in India. Indian film journalist Baburao Patel described Nagayya as "The Paul Muni of India". Nagayya was considered the best character actor in South Indian cinema during 1940s and 1950s. In 1965, he became the first South Indian actor to receive the Padma Shri in Arts from the Government of India for his contributions to Indian cinema.Autobiography – Chittor V. Nagaiah, RK Books, Hyderabad, 2004.
Brought up in Chittoor, Nagayya was closely connected to Rama Vilasa Sabha, a Telugu theatre association in the city. He made his film debut in Gruhalakshmi (1938). He worked in several films of Vauhini Pictures such as Vande Mataram (1939), Sumangali (1940), Devata (1941), Swarga Seema (1945), and Beedhalapatlu (1947).Amazon / Books / Indian actor Chittoor V. Nagaiah: A Monograph, by K. N. T. Sastry (Author) Nagayya was also the protagonist in Viswa Mohini (1940), the first film on the Indian motion picture world.
Nagayya made significant contributions to Telugu cinema, and starred in about two hundred Telugu films. He was a method actor, and his forte was usually playing intense characters, often immersing himself in the study of the real character's traits and mannerisms. His other prominent film roles include the 14th-century poet Pothana in Bhakta Potana (1942), 17th-century saint Tyagaraja in Thyagayya (1946), 12th-century saint Gora Kumbhar in Chakradhari (1948), and Sivaram in the social problem film Naa Illu (1953).
In 1964, Nagayya essayed the 17th-century saint Bhadrachala Ramadasu in the film Ramadasu which he had also co-written, directed and produced. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu. Nagayya also starred in about one hundred and sixty films in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi. In his honour, the Chittoor Nagayya Kalakshetram of Arts was established in Chittoor of Andhra Pradesh.
Early life
Nagayya was born on 28 March 1904 in a Telugu family in a tiny hamlet near Repalle, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. His parents were Ramalinga Sarma and Venkata Lakshmamba. His maternal grandmother adopted him and took him to her native village, Gonugur, near Kuppam and later to Chittoor. He took up studies with a scholarship provided by the Tirupati Devasthanam and took his degree in Chittoor.
After working as a clerk in a government office, Nagayya became a journalist with Andhra Patrika. Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru influenced him and he participated in the freedom struggle (Dandi Satyagraha) in 1930, later going on to work for some gramophone companies including Hutchins as well as attending the Gowhati Congress conclave with S. Srinivasa Iyyengar. He was married to Jaya Lakshmi, but she died giving birth to a daughter a year later. He then married Girija, and she too died due to miscarriage in the eighth month. His first daughter died of an undiagnosed illness. He then participated in long stays at Ramana Maharshi Ashram. He had family in Tirupati, including his brother's (Vuppaladadiyam Subrahmanya Sarma) son, Vuppaladadiyam S. Haragopal and daughters (late Amruthavalli and late Kusuma), Lakshmi Narasimha and their children, Vuppaladadiyam Shyam Sundar and Vuppaladadiyam Pavan Kumar.Chittoor V. Nagaiah: A Monograph
Accolades Civilian Awards Padmashri, Government of India in 1965
National honors Abinava Thyagaraju by the Maharaja of Travancore
National Film Awards National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu (director) – 1964 for Ramadasu
State Awards Best Actor Award by the Andhra Film Journalists Association Felicitated by a life size statue in Panagal Park, Chennai at his demise.
Selected filmography Actor Year Title Role Language Notes 1938 Gruhalakshmi Gopinath Telugu 1939 Vande Mataram Raghu Telugu 1940 Viswa Mohini A Film Director Telugu 1940 Sumangali Panthulu Telugu 1941 Devatha Venu Telugu 1941 Ashok Kumar King Ashoka Tamil 1943 Bhakta Potana Pothana Telugu 1943 Bhagyalakshmi Srinivasa Rao Telugu 1944Chenchu Lakshmi Chenchu Lakshmi's Father Telugu 1945 Swargaseema Murthy Telugu 1945 Meera King of Mewar Tamil 1946 Tyagayya Tyagayya Telugu 1947 Yogi Vemana Vemana Telugu 1948 Chakradhari Korakumbar Tamil 1948 Bhaktha Jana Namadeva Tamil 1949 Mana Desam Telugu 1949 Navajeevanam Mahadevan Tamil 1950 Ezhai Padum Padu Kandan Tamil 1950 Beedala Patlu Telugu 1951 Sarvadhikari Tamil 1952 Thai Ullam Tamil 1953 Ulagam Tamil 1953 PrapanchamTelugu 1953 Penn Tamil 1953 Panakkari Tamil 1953 Naa Illu Sivaram Telugu 1953 Ladki Kamini's father Hindi 1953 Gumastha Ranganatham Tamil 1953 Gumasta Ranganatham Telugu 1953 En Veedu Shivram Tamil 1954 Viduthalai Periaswamy Tamil 1954 Thuli Visham Tamil 1954 Maa Gopi Telugu 1954 Edhir Paradhathu Dayaparar Tamil 1954 Prapancham Telugu 1954 Sangham Telugu 1955 Kanavaney Kankanda Deivam Tamil 1955 AnarkaliRaja Mansingh Telugu 1955 Nam Kuzhandai Tamil 1956 Tenali Ramakrishna Mahamantri Thimmarusu Telugu 1956 Uma Sundari Telugu 1956 Pennin Perumai Zamindar, father of Ragunathan / Nagendran Tamil 1956 Naga Panchami Telugu 1956 Muddu Bidda Telugu 1956 Marmaveeran Tamil 1956 Asai Tamil 1956 Bhaktha Markandeya Tamil, Kannada 1956 Amara DeepamTamil 1956 Tenali Raman Appaji Tamil 1957 Yaar Paiyyan Tamil 1957 Vanangamudi Tamil 1957 Sati Savitri Telugu 1957 Panduranga Mahatyam Jahnavi Telugu 1957 Nala Damayanthi Telugu 1957 Ambikapathy Raja Kulothunga Chola I, the father of Amaravathi Tamil 1958 Piya MilanHindi 1958 Sampoorna Ramayanam Telugu 1958 Pathi Bhakti Butha Bhikshu Tamil guest appearance 1958 Parvati Kalyanam Telugu 1958 Ettuku Pai Ettu Telugu 1958 Bommala Pelli Perayya Telugu 1958 Bommai Kalyanam Varadarajan Tamil 1958 Illarame Nallaram Tamil 1959 Jayabheri Viswambhara Sastri Telugu 1959 Sahodhari Pazhani, father of Chandiran and Meena Tamil 1959 Nalla Theerpu Tamil 1959 Mahishasura Mardini Shukracharya Kannada 1959 Kalaivanan Tamil 1959 Banda Ramudu Telugu 1960 Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam Bhavaji Telugu 1960 Abhimanam Telugu 1961 Seetha Rama Kalyanam Dasarathudu Telugu 1961 Intiki Deepam Illale Telugu 1961 Vagdanam Vishwanatham (Vijaya's father) Telugu 1961 Sabash Raja Telugu 1961 Paava Mannippu Tamil 1961 Nichaya Thamboolam Ramanna, a teacher who is the father of Seetha (Jamuna) Tamil 1961 Nagarjuna Telugu 1961 Kappalottiya Thamizhan Ulaganatha Pillai Tamil 1961 Ellam Unakkaga Tamil 1961 Thirudathe Tamil 1961 Palum Pazhamum Tamil 1961 Manapanthal Tamil 1962 Gaali Medalu Ranganatham the father of Krishna (NTR) Telugu 1962 Dakshayagnam Dadhichi Tamil 1962 Dakshayagnam Dadhichi Telugu 1962 Swarnamanjari Telugu 1962 Aalayamani Tamil 1962 Valar Pirai Tamil 1962 Thendral Veesum Tamil 1962 Aasa Jeevulu Telugu 1962 Siri Sampadalu Nayudu Telugu 1962 Shantinivasam Ramadasu the father of four children Telugu 1962 Padandi Munduku Telugu 1963 Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham Akroora Telugu 1963 Lava Kusa Valmiki Maharshi Telugu 1963 Amarshilpi Jakanachari 1963 Naan Vanangum Dheivam Tamil 1963 Naanum Oru Penn Tamil 1963 Mani Osai 1963 Lava Kusa Valmiki Hindu 1963 Karpagam Subramanian Tamil1963BandipotuSaluva DharmanayakaTelugu 1963 Anuragam Telugu 1963 Lakshadhikari Lakshadhikari Rangaiah Telugu 1964 Bobbili Yudham Telugu 1964 Ramadasu Ramadasu Telugu 1964 Pachai Vilakku Gopalayya Tamil 1964 Kai Koduttha Dheivam Father of Latha Tamil 1964 Amarsilpi Jakanna Telugu 1964 Aggi Pidugu Telugu 1964 Aatma Balam Telugu 1964 Amarashilpi Jakanachari Kannada 1964 Chandavalliya Tota Kannada 1964 Annapoorna Father of Annapurna Kannada 1964 Devatha Father of Prasad Telugu 1964 Gudi Gantalu Telugu 1964 Aandavan Kattalai Doctor Tamil 1965 Sumangali Venkata Chalam Telugu 1965 Satya Harishchandra Vasistha Maharshi Telugu 1965 Devatha Telugu 1965 Santhi Kailasam Pillai Tamil 1965 Preminchi Choodu Telugu 1965 Enga Veetu Penn Tamil 1965 Sri Simhachala Kshetra Mahima Father of Pururava Telugu 1965 Veerabhimanyu Telugu 1965 Dorikithe Dongalu Telugu 1966 Sri Krishna Pandaviyam Telugu 1966 Selvam Tamil 1966 Shakuntala Telugu 1966 Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha Paramanandaiah Telugu 1966 Parakkum Paavai Tamil 1966 Navarathri Telugu 1966 Motor Sundaram Pillai Tamil 1966 Bhakta Potana Vyasa Maharshi Telugu 1966 Adugu Jaadalu Telugu 1966 Aastiparulu Diwan to Zamindar Telugu 1966 Sadhu Mirandal Priest Micheal Tamil (Special Appearance) 1966 Saraswati Sabatham Vidhyapathy father Tamil1966SrimathiHimselfTelugu 1967 Kanchukota Raja Rajendra Bhupathi Telugu 1967 Sri Krishnavataram Dhritarashtra Telugu 1967 Punyavathi Telugu 1967 Veera Pooja Telugu 1967 Rahasyam Telugu 1967 Poola Rangadu Veeraiya Telugu 1967 Pattukunte PadiveluTelugu 1967 Iru Malargal Sivasamy Tamil 1967 Bhama Vijayam Telugu 1967 Maa Vadina Telugu 1967 Private Master Father of Private Master Telugu 1967 Marapurani Kadha Madhava Rao Telugu 1968 Brahmachari Telugu 1968 Ramu Tamil / Telugu 1968 Deva kanya (1968 film) Telugu 1968 Thillana Mohanambal Shanmugasundaram's Nadaswara Guru Tamil 1968 Nindu Samsaram Telugu 1968 Niluvu Dopidi Swamiji the director of an orphanage Telugu 1968 Bandhavyalu Telugu1968VeeranjaneyaValmikiTelugu 1968 Uyarndha Manithan Manickam Tamil1969Sri Rama KathaDasarathaTelugu 1969 Saptaswaralu Telugu 1969 Nam Naadu The school master Kandhaya Tamil 1969 Mooga Nomu Telugu 1969 Deiva Magan Tamil1969Jarigina KathaJagannathamTelugu1969Muhurtha BalamDharmaiahTelugu 1969 Annaiyum Pithavum Tamil 1969 Aadarsa Kutumbam Telugu 1969 Natakala Rayudu Adiseshayya Telugu 1970 Akka Chellelu Second judge Telugu 1970 Kaalam VellumTamil (Guest Appearance)1970Amma KosamZamindar Dharma RaoTelugu1970Vidhi VilasamRetd. Engineer, Nirmala's fatherTelugu1970Thaali BottuTelugu 1970 Engirundho Vandhaal Dharmalingam Tamil 1970 Thalli Thandrulu Raobahadur Perumallu Telugu 1970 Thabalkaran Thangai Tamil 1970 Raman Ethanai Ramanadi Director Nagaiya Tamil 1970 Kanmalar Tamil 1970 Sorgam Judge Tamil 1971 Srimanthudu Telugu1971Prema NagarDoctorTelugu 1971 Vichithra DampathyamTelugu1971Pavitra BandhamTelugu1971AnuradhaJudgeTelugu1971Rowdilaku RowdiluKailasamTelugu1971Vintha SamsaramChurch Father and mentor to 'Prestige' PadmanabhamTelugu 1971 Sri Krishna Satya Telugu 1971 Raitu Kutumbam Telugu 1971 Kula Gourava Kannada 1971 Jeevitha Chakram Father of Raja (NTR) Telugu 1971 Iru Thuruvam Teacher Tamil 1971 C.I.D.Raju Telugu 1971 Thangaikkaaga Tamil 1971 Ramalayam Temple priest Telugu 1971 Pavitra HrudayaluZamindar Bhujanga Rao Telugu 1971 Sampoorna Ramayanam Vasishta Mahamuni Telugu 1972 Papam Pasivadu Doctor Telugu 1972 Shakti Leelai Tamil 1972 Pedda Koduku Telugu1972Muhammad bin TughluqTelugu 1972 Neethi Judge Tamil1972Nijam NirupisthaZamindar JaggayyaTelugu 1972 Iddaru Ammayilu Laxman Rao Telugu 1972 Goodu Putani Telugu 1972 Beedala Patlu Telugu 1972 Bala Bharatam Telugu 1972 Raja Haridass Tamil 1972 Shakthi Leelai Guruji Tamil 1972 Ganga Gauri Tamil 1972 Inti Kodalu Telugu 1973 Vishali Telugu1973DesoddharakuluTelugu 1973 Pattikaattu Ponnaiya Tamil 1973 Panjaramlo PasipapaTelugu 1973 Puttinillu Mettinillu Telugu 1974 Lav Kush ValmikiHindi1974Uttama IllaluNarayana RaoTelugu 1974 Sivagamiyin Selvan Church Father Tamil 1974 Inti KodaluTelugu1975Mallela ManasuluDo-gooder who helps Annapurna and her childrenTelugu 1976 Tu Hi Ram Tu Hi KrishnaHindi 1976 Kula Gowravam Tamil 1978 Ennai Pol Oruvan Sundaramoorthy's Father Tamil (final film role)
Composer and play back singer