B. R. Panthulu

Budaguru Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu (26 July 1910 – 8 October 1974)[1] was an Indian film director, producer and actor. He is best known for directing films in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. His most popular films are Karnan, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Sri Krishnadevaraya, School Master and Kittur Channamma, B. R. Panthulu, is a successful actor and converted Ma. Po. Si.'s biographic works Veerapandiya Kattabomman (a movie about a local chieftain who fought with the British in the 18th century in Tamil Nadu) and Kappalottiya Thamizhan (a movie about a lawyer who rebelled against the British rule that forbade Tamils operating shipping companies) to celluloid.

B. R. Panthulu
Panthulu, pictured in 1948
Born
Boodgur Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu

(1910-07-26)26 July 1910
Rallabudaguru, Santhipuram taluk, North arcot district, Madras State
Died8 October 1974(1974-10-08) (aged 64)
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Actor, director, producer
SpouseB. R Kamalamma (B. R. Andalammal)
ChildrenB. R. Vijayalakshmi, B. R. Ravishankar

Early life

Panthulu was born on 26 July 1910 in the village of Rallabudaguru of Arcot district in the erstwhile Madras state (in present-day Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh ).[2] He began his career as a teacher. Influenced by professional theatre during the time, he joined the troupe Chandrakala Nataka Mandali. He acted in plays Samsara Nouka, Sadarame and Guleba Kavali. He also worked for some time with Gubbi Veeranna's troupe and acted in Sri Krishna Garudi among others. Panthulu then formed his own Kannada professional theatre troupe, the Kalaseva Nataka Mandali, staging plays of his own choice.[2]

Career

He made his debut as an actor in the 1936 Kannada film Samsara Nauka, an adaptation of the play he acted in. It was produced by Devi Films, based in Chennai. Directed by H. L. N. Simha, the film starred Panthulu, M. V. Rajamma, Dikki Madhava Rao, S. K. Padmadevi and M. S. Madhava Rao. The hero marries against his grandfather's wishes and is cast out. His troubles do not end there – he finds no favour with his in-laws, loses his job, and finds himself accused of murdering the bride his grandfather had chosen for him. The film was adapted from a play by the Chadrakala Natak Mandali, and remained true to the original's reformist ideal.

In 1950, he made the Tamil film Macharekhai, partnering with filmmaker P. Pullaiah under a stage company that later came to be known as Sukumar Productions with musician T. R. Mahalingam as his partner. With writer P. Neelakantan, he started the company Padmini Pictures, and produced the Tamil film Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari in 1954. Under the banner, he would go on to produce the Kannada films School Master (1958), Kittur Chennamma (1961) and Sri Krishnadevaraya (1970), that went on to become landmark films. His portrayal of Timmarusu, the Prime minister of the Vijayanagara King Krishnadevaraya, won him the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor.

As director, Panthulu his debut as a director with the Kannada film Rathnagiri Rahasya, a major commercial success during the time.[2] He has produced and directed 57 films in all South Indian languages under the banner of Padmini Pictures.[3]

Filmography

Year Title Credited as Language Role Notes
Director Producer Actor
1936 Samsara Nauka Red XNRed XNGreen tickY Kannada Sundar
1941 Bhaktimala Red XNRed XNGreen tickY Telugu Mohan
1943 Radha Ramana Red XNRed XNGreen tickY Kannada
1944 Tahsildar Red XNRed XNGreen tickY Telugu
1946 Lavangi Red XNRed XNGreen tickY Tamil
1947 Nam Iruvar Red XNRed XNGreen tickY Tamil Jayakumar
1948 Bhaktha Jana Red XNRed XNGreen tickY Tamil Panthoji
1950 Macha Rekai Red XNRed XNGreen tickY Tamil
1953 Ammalakkalu Red XNRed XNGreen tickY Telugu
1954 Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari Red XNGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1954 Jaladurga Red XNRed XNGreen tickY Kannada
1954 Karkottai Red XNRed XNGreen tickY Tamil
1955 Modala Thedi Red XNGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada Shivram
1955 Mudhal Thethi Red XNGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1955 Vadina Red XNGreen tickYGreen tickY Telugu
1955 Shivasharane Nambekka Red XNGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada
1955 Doctor Savithri Red XNRed XNGreen tickY Tamil
1956 Sivasakthi Red XNGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1957 Thangamalai Ragasiyam Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1957 Rathnagiri Rahasya Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada
1958 Sabaash Meena Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1958 School Master Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada Ranganna
1958 Suhag Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Hindi
1959 School Master Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Hindi
1959 Abba! A Hudgi Red XNRed XNGreen tickY Kannada
1959 Veerapandya Kattabomman Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1959 Veerapandya Kattabrahmana Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Telugu
1959 Sabaash Pilla Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Telugu
1959 Amar Shaheed Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Hindi
1960 Makkala Rajya Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada
1960 Kuzhandhaigal Kanda Kudiyarasu Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1960 Pillalu Techina Challani Rajyam Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Telugu
1960 Sangaili Thevan Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1961 Kittur Chennamma Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada
1961 Kappalottiya Thamizhan Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1961 Kaanal Neer Red XNRed XNGreen tickY Tamil Apparao
1962 Gaali Gopura Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada
1962 Bale Pandiya Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1962 Dil Tera Diwana Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Hindi
1962 Gaali Medalu Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Telugu
1963 Pempudu Koothuru Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Telugu
1963 Saaku Magalu Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada
1964 School Master Red XNGreen tickYRed XN Malayalam
1964 Chinnada Gombe Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada
1964 Karnan Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1964 Muradan Muthu Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1965 Aayirathil Oruvan Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1966 Dudde Doddappa Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada Somayya
1966 Nadodi Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1966 Enga Paappa Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil 25th Film
1966 Nammaveetu Lakshmi Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1966 Emme Thammanna Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada
1966 Parakkum Pavai Red XNRed XNGreen tickY Tamil
1967 Gange Gowri Green tickY Kannada
1967 Beedi Basavanna Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada
1968 Ragasiya Police 115 Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1968 Amma Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada Hullalli Ramaraya
1968 Chinnari Puttanna Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada
1969 Gandondu Hennaru Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada
1970 Sri Krishnadevaraya Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada Timmarusu
1970 Thedi Vandha Mappillai Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1971 Aliya Geleya Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada
1971 Malathi Madhava Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada
1972 Ondu Hennina Kathe Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Kannada
1973 Ganga Gowri Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1973 School Master Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil
1974 Kadavul Mama Green tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY Tamil

Awards

International Film Awards for his film "Veerapandia Kattapomman"

Award Ceremony Category Nominee(s) Outcome Ref.
Afro-Asian Film Festival Afro-Asian Film Festival - 1960 Best Film B. R. Panthulu Won
Best Actor Sivaji Ganesan Won
Best Music Director G. Ramanathan Won
National Film Awards
Karnataka State Film Awards
Filmfare Awards South

Book on B.R.Pantulu

A. N. Prahlada Rao has written a Book '"Danivillada Dhani" on B.R.Panthulu in Kannada, consisting of the details of his childhood, theatre, films produced in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam. The book was published by Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy. The book was released in November 2016 by Dr. Bharati Vishnuvardhan. Journalist and short story writer Jogi spoke on Book. S.V. Rajendra Singh Baabu presided.

References

  1. KCA celebrating BR Panthulu's 100th birth anniversary Archived 9 July 2012 at archive.today at Oneindia.in
  2. Khajane, Muralidhara (23 July 2010). "A born showman". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  3. "Hundred years of legendary director BR Panthulu". merinews.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  4. "6th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  5. "7th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  6. "9th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
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