B. Vittalacharya

B. Vittalacharya (28 January 1920 – 28 May 1999) was an Indian film director and producer known for his works in Telugu and Kannada cinema.[1] He was known as Janapada Brahma in the Telugu film industry. Vittalacharya formed his film production company Vittal Productions, which produced the first film directed by him, Rajya Lakshmi.[2]

B. Vittalacharya
Born(1920-01-20)20 January 1920
Udupi, Madras Presidency, British India (now in Karnataka, India)
Died28 May 1999(1999-05-28) (aged 79)
Other namesJaanapada Brahma, Maayaajala Mannan
Occupation(s)Film director, producer
Years active1944–1993
SpouseJayalakshmi Acharya

In 1954, he produced and directed Kanyadhanam, a revolutionary film for that time. Wishing to remake the same in Telugu, he moved to Madras and settled there. After making two more Kannada movies, he concentrated on producing and directing only Telugu movies. He also directed movies for other producers. He directed a total of 19 movies with N. T. Rama Rao, the doyen of Telugu cinema at the time. Though he did not get any awards, most of his films were box office successes and he was fondly called "Jaanapada Brahma" and "Maayaajala Mannan" by his fans. He was well known for the visual effects shown in most of his movies.[3]

Biography

B. Vithala Acharya was born into a Tulu speaking Shivalli Madhwa Brahmin family on 28 January 1920 in Udayavara, in then Udupi Taluk as a seventh child. He was interested in dramas, Bayalata and Yakshagana since childhood. His father Padmanabhacharya was a noted ayurvedic doctor, who used to treat patients free of cost. He studied only up to third class. He left the house to seek his fortune at the age of nine years. Reaching Arasikere, he did odd jobs and finally bought an Udupi Restaurant from his cousin.[4] He successfully ran the hotel.

He participated in the Quit India Movement against the British Government along with some friends. He was imprisoned. After release from the Jail, he handed over his hotel business to his younger brother. He established One Touring Cinema in Hassan District along with his friend Sri D. Shankar Singh and others.

He was the executive partner running the Touring Talkies on a daily basis. He multiplied the single Touring Talkies into four units. He used to watch each and every film they screened and learnt film making techniques practically. In 1944, he married Jayalakshmi Acharya, the third daughter of Sri. U. Ramadasa Acharya of K. R. Pete.

With the same friends and Shankar Singh, they moved to Mysore and formed a film production company under the banner of Mahatma Pictures. They produced 18 Kannada pictures from 1944 to 1953, among them very successful ones like Naga Kanya, Jagan Mohini, and Srinivasa Kalyana. During that period, one by one the partners parted company and finally only D. Shankar Singh and Vittala Acharya remained. Some of the films were directed by others, some by D. Shankar Singh and some by Vittala Acharya.

In 1953, he parted ways with D. Shankar Singh, and formed his own company under the banner Vittal Productions and produced and directed his first film, Rajya Lakshmi. In 1954, he produced and directed Kanyadhanam, a revolutionary film for that time. Wishing to remake the same in Telugu, he moved to Madras and settled there till his death. After making two more Kannada movies, he concentrated on producing and directing only Telugu and Tamil movies. He directed movies for other producers also.

Filmography
Year Film Language Remarks
1953 Rajya Lakshmi Director and producer
1954 Kanyadhanam Director and producer
1956 Muttiyde Baghya Director and producer
1956 Vaddante Pelli Telugu Director and producer
1957 Jaya Vijaya Kannada Director and producer
1957 Mane Thumbida Hennu Kannada Producer
1958 Anna Chellalu Telugu Director
1958 Mane Thumbida Hennu Kannada Director
1958 Pelli Meeda Pelli Telugu Director and producer
1959 Penn Kulathin Pon Villakku Tamil Director
1960 Anna Chellelu Telugu Director
1960 Kanaka Durga Pooja Mahima Telugu Director and producer
1961 Varalakshmi Vratham Telugu Director and producer
1962 Khaidi Kannayya Director
1962 Madana Kama Raju Katha Telugu Director and producer
1963 Bandipotu Telugu Director
1963 Guruvunu Minchina Sishyudu Telugu Director and producer
1963 Nava Graha Pooja Mahima Telugu Director and producer
1963 Veera Kesari Kannada Director
1964 Aggi Pidugu Telugu Director and producer
1965 Jwaladweepa Rahasyam Telugu Director
1965 Mangamma Sapatham Telugu Director
1965 Vijaya Simha Kannada Director
1966 Aggi Barata Telugu Director and producer
1966 Iddaru Monagallu Telugu Director
1967 Chikkadu Dorakadu Telugu Director
1967 Pidugu Ramudu Telugu Director
1967 Aggi Dora Telugu Director and Producer
1968 Bhale Monagadu Telugu Director
1968 Kadaladu Vadaladu Telugu Director
1969 Gandikota Rahasyam Telugu Director
1969 Aggi Veerudu Telugu Director and Producer
1970 Ali Baba 40 Dongalu Telugu Director
1970 Lakshmi Kataksham Telugu Director
1970 Vijayam Manade Telugu Director
1971 Rajakota Rahasyam Telugu Director
1971 C. I. D. Raju Producer
1972 Beedala Patlu Telugu Director and Producer
1973 Palleturi Chinnodu Telugu Director and Producer
1974 Aadadani Adrushtam Telugu Director and Producer
1975 Kotalo Paga Telugu Director and Producer
1978 Jaganmohini Telugu Director and Producer
1979 Gandharva Kanya Telugu Director and Producer
1980 Madana Manjari Telugu Director and Producer
1983 Nava Mohini Telugu Director and Producer
1984 Jai Bhetala 3D Telugu Story and Screen Play
1985 Mohini Sapadham Telugu Producer and Director
1986 Veera Pratap Telugu Director
1987 Sri Devi Kamakshi Kataksham Telugu Director
1991 Srisaila Bhramarambika Kataksham Telugu Director
1992 Karuninchina Kanakadurga Telugu Director

References
  1. "Janapada Brahma Vithalacharya Directors - Kinema2Cinema.com". Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  2. "B. Vittalacharya". actiononframes.com. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  3. "A Face to the Faceless: The B Vittalacharya Tribute". Silverscreen India. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  4. "B Vittalacharya | V CINEMA - Biography, Photos, Movies, Age, Height, Family". www.vcinema.com. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
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