Vijay (director)

B. Vijaya Reddy (15 July 1936 – 9 October 2020), better known as Vijay Reddy or Vijay, was an Indian film director who worked primarily in Kannada cinema with over 50 movies to his credit. His debut directorial venture was Rangamahal Rahasya (1970). He was known for his collaborations with leading Kannada actor Rajkumar for movies like Gandhada Gudi (1973), Mayura (1975), Naa Ninna Mareyalare (1976) and Sanaadi Appanna (1977) which are considered among the classic movies of Kannada cinema.[1][2]

This article is about the Kannada film director. For the Tamil director, see A. L. Vijay.

Vijay
Born
B. Vijaya Reddy

(1936-07-15)15 July 1936
Tadepalligudem, West Godavari, Madras Presidency, British India
Died9 October 2020(2020-10-09) (aged 84)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Film director, producer and screenwriter

Early life

Reddy was born in Tadepalligudem in the West Godavari district of Madras Presidency in British India to a farming family.[2][3] He subsequently went to Madras (now Chennai) to look for work.[3]

Career

Reddy started his career in the cinema industry as an assistant editor for B. Vittalacharya's Kannada directorial Mane Tumbida Hennu.[2]

His directorial debut was Rangamahal Rahasya (1970), starring Srinath, the success of which earned him recognition in the industry. It was followed by Modala Rathri (1970) with the same lead actor but the movie was not a commercial success. His third directorial venture, Cow Boy Kulla (1973), with Dwarakish was a reasonable success. His career took a turning point in 1973 when he directed his fourth movie, Gandhada Gudi which was the 150th movie of Rajkumar, who was the leading actor of Kannada films at that time, and the third movie of Vishnuvardhan, who had become a popular actor with the success of his debut movie Naagarahaavu.[4] Gandhada Gudi became a milestone in Kannada films.[5] Vijay's next five movies, Sri Srinivasa Kalyana, Mayura, Naa Ninna Mareyalare, Badavara Bandhu and Sanaadi Appanna, all of which starred Rajkumar were huge commercial successes.[6][7][8] He achieved national recognition with the 1977 movie Sanaadi Appanna which had acclaimed shehnai player Bismillah Khan playing the instrument for the lead actor Rajkumar.[9][10] He directed Rajkumar in nine movies (excluding two cameo appearances) in varied genres including mythological, historical, novel based, folklore and social dramas.[11]

Reddy had the distinction of having directed the 150th movies of both Rajkumar (Gandhada Gudi) [12] and Vishnuvardhan (Mojugara Sogasugara).[13]

He was also instrumental in giving Shankar Nag a mass image through Auto Raja.[14] Prior to that, he had directed Anant Nag in Naa Ninna Bidalaare which had made people take note of Anant's acting prowess.[15] He directed two movies of Shiva Rajkumar - Shiva Mecchida Kannappa and Gandhada Gudi Part 2 both of which had Rajkumar in cameo appearances. He was the director of V. Ravichandran's debut movie Khadeema Kallaru in which he played a negative role.[16]

He had also directed movies in other languages - Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam - with the prominent one being the Hindi remake of Naa Ninna Mareyalare titled Pyar Kiya Hai Pyar Karenge starring Anil Kapoor. His other Hindi movies were - Teri Meherbaniyan - remake of Thaliya Bhagya, Jawab Hum Denge, Ganga Tere Desh Mein - remake of Huli Hebbuli and Paap Ka Ant. His debut Telugu movie was Srimathi.

He also produced two movies - Mullina Gulabi and Kunthiputra. Vijay floated a production house — Vijaya Shekhar Productions — with another director V. Somashekhar and went on to produce several films. Vijay also directed 17 Hindi and six Telugu films, where he worked with the reigning stars of the time such as Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Shatrughan Sinha and Mithun Chakraborty.[17] He also had 48 Kannada films to his credit.[18] His last directorial was the Vishnuvardhan starrer Karnataka Suputhra (1996). In 2000, he was selected to direct Rajkumar's ambitious mythological movie Bhakta Ambareesha which was subsequently shelved.[19]

Death

Reddy died on 9 October 2020 at the Apollo Hospital in Chennai.[20][21]

Filmography

The following is a list of Kannada movies involving Vijay:[22]

Year Title Credited as Notes
Director Story writer Screenplay writer Producer Presenter
1970 Rangamahal Rahasya Yes No No No No Debut
1970 Modala Rathri Yes No No No No
1973 Cow Boy Kulla Yes No No No No
1973 Gandhada Gudi Yes No Yes No No
1974 Sri Srinivasa Kalyana Yes No No No No
1975 Mayura Yes No No No No
1976 Naa Ninna Mareyalare Yes No Yes No No
1976 Badavara Bandhu Yes No No No No
1977 Sanaadi Appanna Yes No No No No
1979 Naa Ninna Bidalaare Yes No No No No
1979 Huliya Haalina Mevu Yes No No No No
1980 Rama Parushurama Yes No No No No
1980 Auto Raja Yes No No No No
1980 Aarada Gaaya No No No No Yes
1981 Hanabalavo Janabalavo Yes No No No No
1981 Nee Nanna Gellalare Yes No No No No
1982 Mullina Gulabi Yes No No Yes No
1982 Khadeema Kallaru Yes No No No No
1982 Chalisada Sagara Yes No No No No
1983 Bhakta Prahlada Yes No No No No
1984 Thaliya Bhagya Yes No No No No
1985 Pavithra Paapi Yes No No No No
1985 Veeradhi Veera Yes No No No No
1985 Thayiya Hone Yes No No No No
1985 Thayi Kanasu Yes No No No No
1985 Mareyada Manikya Yes No No No No
1985 Kiladi Aliya Yes No No No No
1986 Thayiye Nanna Devaru Yes No No No No
1987 Sathva PareeksheNoNoNoNoYes
1987 Nyayakke ShiksheNoNoNoNoYes
1987 Huli HebbuliYesNoNoNoNo
1988 Shiva Mecchida KannappaYesNoNoNoNo
1989 DevaYesNoNoNoNo
1990 Kempu GulabiYesNoNoNoNo
1992 Kaliyuga SeetheYesNoNoNoNo
1992 Goonda RajyaYesNoNoNoNo
1994 Kunti PuthraYesYesYesYesNo
1994 Gandhada Gudi Part 2YesNoYesNoNo
1995 Mojugara SogasugaraYesYesYesNoNo
1996 Karnataka SuputhraYesNoNoNoNo
2003 HrudayanjaliNoNoNoNoYesFinal film credit

References
  1. "Rajkumar: Mayura - 1". 25 March 2012. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012.
  2. "Kannada filmmaker Vijay Reddy of 'Gandada Gudi' fame passes away at 87". The News Minute. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  3. "Kannada film director Vijay Reddy dies at 84, celebrities pay condolences". India TV News. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  4. "Born winner". Frontline. January 2010. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  5. "Gandhada Gudi: The secret of the gun that pulled apart Dr Raj, Vishnuvardhan". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  6. Tekur, Sumaa (11 April 2010). "Destiny's children". DNA India. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  7. "Teachers, do not denigrate profession by begging for awards". Deccan Herald. 8 September 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  8. "When his divine sanadi came our way". The Hindu. 14 July 2003. Archived from the original on 1 September 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  9. "When Ustad Bismillah Khan inspired Dr Raj Kumar". Rediff.com. 21 August 2006. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  10. "UNI India - Bismillah Khan Death Anniversary". UNI India. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  11. "Chitratara - Legendary Vijay Reddy Belli Hejje". Chitratara. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  12. "The best of Dr Rajkumar".
  13. "Kannada Cinema's Greatest Actor". Vishnuvardhan.com. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  14. "Celebrating Shankar Nag as Auto Raja". The Times of India. 24 March 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  15. "Na Ninna Bidalaare - Top Kannada horror movies that you must watch". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  16. "Kannada star V Ravichandran gets emotional on reality TV show". 29 November 2017.
  17. Bharadwaj, K.V. Aditya (10 October 2020). "Director Vijay passes away". thehindu.com. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  18. "Kannada film director Vijay Reddy passes away". Bangalore Mirror. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  19. Kumar, Janani (10 October 2020). "Kannada director Vijay Reddy dies at 84 in Chennai". India Today. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  20. "Kannada film director Vijay Reddy passes away". Big News Network.com. Retrieved 10 October 2020 – via ANI. Renowned Kannada film director Vijay Reddy has passed away at the age of 84, his son Tripan Reddy confirmed on Saturday.
  21. Bharadwaj, K.V. Aditya (10 October 2020). "Director Vijay passes away". The Hindu.
  22. "Vijay (Old Kannada Director)".
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