Jaggayya (actor)

Kongara Jaggaiah
Born (1926-12-31)31 December 1926
Tenali, Guntur district,
Madras Presidency, British India
Died 5 March 2004(2004-03-05) (aged 77)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Other names Kalavachaspati, Kanchu Kantam, Super star
Occupation Actor, dubbing artist, littérateur, journalist, poet
Awards Padma Bhushan 1992

Kongara Jaggaiah (31 December 1926 – 5 August 2004) was an Indian film actor known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema and theatre.[1] He was popularly known as Kanchu Kantam Jaggaiah (Telugu) for his booming voice. He was starred in eighty films, as a lead actor doing versatile characters in lead and supporting roles. In 1962, he produced Padandi Munduku, the first Telugu film to be screened in Soviet Russia at the Moscow International Film Festival.[2][3] The recipient of Kalaimamani, In 1992, the Government of India has honored him with the Padma Bhushan for his contributions towards Indian cinema.[4]

Early life

Jaggayya was born on a well-to-do Telugu speaking Kamma family in Morampudi village near Tenali in Guntur district. He started acting at the age of 11, with the role of Lava in a Hindi play. As a student, he joined the Congress party in Tenali, which was involved in the Indian Independence Movement at that time. After his school education, he joined a periodical named Desabhimani (meaning "Patriot") as a journalist.[5]

Later he worked as an editor for the weekly Andhra Republic. He joined the Andhra-Christian College in Guntur for his higher studies, where N. T. Rama Rao, (in his later days) also happened to study at the same time. Both of them acted together in several plays. Jaggaiah won the best actor award in three successive years. He got trained in the art of painting under the guidance of Adivi Bapiraju, a famous painter. After working as a teacher for a brief while, he became a news anchor.[6]

Cinema

He debuted in movies with the role of lead actor in Tripuraneni Gopichand's Priyuralu. He came back into reckoning when two of his successive movies, Ardhangi and Bangaru Paapa did very well. He was very active in Telugu films from 1950s to 1970s and later, acted occasionally till his death. He played several roles such as hero, second lead, comedian and villain in several movies.[7]

Voice

The voice of Jaggaiah filled theatres paleing the dialogue rendition of others into insignificance. He was distinguished for his voice and gave voice-over (dubbed) in almost 100 films. He gave his voice to Sivaji Ganesan in many Telugu movies that the latter acted in, apart from being the voice for his movies dubbed from Tamil. The narrator's voice in Maa Bhoomi (Gautam Ghose,1979) is his. He also dubbed for Richard Attenborough's character of Hammond in the Telugu-dubbed version of the film Jurassic Park. He was given the title 'Kala Vachaspathi' (Vachaspathi= Lord of Speech) for his sonorous voice.[8]

Politics

Jaggaiah 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.[9]

Literary achievements

He translated Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's Geetanjali into Telugu under the name Ravindra Geetha. He also translated Tagore's play "Sacrifice" into Telugu under the name Balidaanam.

Awards

Civilian honours
Nandi Awards
State Awards
Other honours

Filmography

S No Movie Name Year of release Notes / Character
1 Priyuralu 1952
2 Adarsam 1952
3 Bangaru Papa 1954 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu / Manohar
4 Ardhangi 1955 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu / Chinna Babu
5 Donga Ramudu 1955 Archived at the Film and Television Institute of India / Dr. Mohan
6 Muddu Bidda 1956
7 Edi Nijam 1956 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
8 Veera Kankanam 1957
9 Varudu Kavali 1957
10 Thodi Kodallu 1957 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu / Vaikuntam
11 MLA 1957
12 Bhale Bava 1957
13 Aalu Magalu 1957
14 Mundadugu 1958
15 Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu 1958
16 Bhagya Devata 1959
17 Pelli Kanuka 1960
18 Velugu Needalu 1961
20 Pellikani Pillalu 1961
21 Kalasi unte Kaladu Sukham 1961
21 Intiki Deepam Illalu 1961
22 Chitti Tammudu 1962
23 Aradhana 1962
24 Padandi Munduku 1962 Producer
25 Constable Koothuru 1963
26 Pooja Phalam 1964
27 Manchi Manishi 1964
28 Eedu Jodu 1964
29 Dr. Chakravarthi 1964 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
30 Aathma Balam 1964
31 Uyyala Jampala 1965
32 Sumangali 1965
33 Preminchi Choodu 1965
34 Manasulu Mamatalu 1965
35 Gudi Gantalu 1965
36 Antastulu 1965 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
37 Navarathri 1966
38 Manase Mandiram 1966
39 Aastiparulu 1966
40 Prana Mithrulu 1967
41 Bandipotu Dongalu 1968
42 Adrustavanthulu 1969
43 Ardha Rathri 1969
44 Thalli Thandrulu 1970
45 Srimanthudu 1971
46 Ramalayam 1971
47 Naa Thammudu
48 Chinnanati Snehitulu 1971
49 Badi Panthulu 1972
50 Devudu Chesina Manushulu 1973
51 Bhoomi Kosam 1974
52 Deeksha 1974
53 Alluri Sita Rama Raju 1974
54 Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club 1976
55 Paadipantalu 1976
56 Ramarajyamlo Rakthapasam 1976
57 Adavi Ramudu 1977 Forest Officer
58 Chanakya Chandragupta 1977
59 Manassakshi 1977
60 Karunamayudu 1978 Pontius Pilate
61 Ram Robert Rahim 1980
62 Nyayam Kavali 1981
63 Seethakoka Chilaka 1981 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
64 Bobbili Puli 1982
65 Yamakinkarudu 1982
66 Meghasandesam 1983 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
67 Disco King 1984
68 Anubandham 1984
69 Swathi 1985
70 Adavi Donga 1985
71 Agni Parvatam 1985
72 Vijetha 1985
73 Kiraathakudu 1986
74 Veta 1986
75 Chantabbai 1986
76 Ramu 1987
77 President Gari Abbayi 1987
78 Aradhana 1987
79 Pasivadi Pranam 1987
80 Viswanatha Nayakudu 1987
81 Jeevana Ganga 1988
82 Alludugaru 1990 Ramachandra Prasad
83 Assembly Rowdy 1991
84 Dharma Kshetram 1992
85 Joker 1993
86 Detective Narada 1993

Death

He had undergone a Hip Replacement surgery and complications after the surgery resulted in his death.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Kala Vachaspathi", "Kanchu Kantam": Kongara Jaggaiah | 26lettersto24frames
  2. ↑ Tollywood's Glorious Journey at Chitramala.
  3. ↑ "Profile of Gummadi - Telugu film actor".
  4. 1 2 The Hindu : Jaggayya passes away
  5. ↑ http://www.filmchamber.com/tmpl.asp?it=prfbjagaya
  6. ↑ telugucinema.com/c/stars/KJaggayya.shtml
  7. ↑ http://www.apherald.com/Movies/ViewArticle/3671
  8. ↑ earlytollywood.blogspot.in/2008/02/kongara-jaggaiah.html
  9. ↑ tollywood.info/actor/k/kongara_jaggayya.htm

External links

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