B. Vittalacharya

B. Vithalacharya or B. Vittal Acharya[1] (18 January 1920 – 28 May 1999) was an Indian film director and producer known for his works in Telugu cinema, and Kannada cinema. He was known as Jaanapada Brahma in the Telugu film arena.[2] Vittalacharya formed his film production company Vittal Productions, which produced the first film directed by him, Rajya Lakshmi.

B. Vittalacharya
Born(1920-01-20)20 January 1920
Udupi, Karnataka, India
Died28 May 1999(1999-05-28) (aged 79)
Other namesJaanapada Brahma, Maayaajala Mannan
OccupationFilm director, producer
Years active1944–1993
Spouse(s)Jayalakshmi 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 of Sri. N. T. Rama Rao, the leading hero of Andhra Pradesh at that 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.

Biography

B. Vithala Acharya was born into a Kannada Madhwa Brahmin family on 18 January 1920 in Udayavara, in then Udupi Taluk as a seventh child. He was interested in dramas, Bayalata and Yakshagana since childhood. His father 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. 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 Actors 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 Khadhi Kannayya Director
1962 Madana Kama Raju Katha Telugu Director and producer
1963 Bandipotu Telugu NTR Director
1963 Guruvunu Minchina Sishyudu Telugu Director and producer
1963 Nava Graha Pooja Mahima Telugu Kanta Rao Director and producer
1963 Veera Kesari Kannada Director
1964 Aggi Pidugu Telugu NTR Director and producer
1965 Jwala Dweepa Rahasyam Telugu Kanta Rao Director
1965 Mangamma Sapatham Telugu NTR Director
1965 Vijaya Simha Kannada Director
1966 Aggi Bharata Telugu NTR Director and producer
1966 Iddaru Monagallu Telugu Director
1967 Chikkadu Dorakadu Telugu NTR Director
1967 Pidugu Ramudu Telugu NTR Director
1967 Aggi Dora Telugu Director and Producer
1968 Bhale Monagadu Telugu Director
1968 Kadaladu Vadaladu Telugu NTR Director
1969 Gandi Kota Rahasyam Telugu NTR Director
1969 Aggi Veerudu Telugu Director and Producer
1970 Alibaba 40 Dongalu Telugu NTR Director
1970 Lakshmi Kataksham Telugu NTR Director
1970 Vijayam Manade Telugu NTR Director
1971 Raja Kota Rahasyam Telugu NTR Director
1971 C. I. D. Raju Producer
1972 Beedala Patlu Telugu ANR Director and Producer
1973 Palleturi Chinnodu Telugu NTR Director and Producer
1974 Aadadani Adrustam 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 Director and Producer
1983 Nava Mohini Director and Producer
1984 Jai Bhetala 3D Narasimharaju Story and Screen Play
1985 Mohini Shapadham Producer and Director
1986 Veera Pratap Director
1987 Sri Devi Kamakshi Kataksham Telugu K. R. Vijaya, Ramya Krishnan, Aruna Mucherla Director
1991 Sri Saila Bhramarambika Kataksham Telugu Narasimharaju, K. R. Vijaya Director
1992 Karuninchina Kanakadurga Telugu K. R. Vijaya Director

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Jaanapada Brahma Vithalacharya
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