J. V. Somayajulu
Jonnalagadda Venkata "J. V." Somayajulu (30 June 1928 – 24 April 2004) was an Indian film actor known for his works in Telugu cinema and a few Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films.[1] In 1980, he received the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu for his work in the classic Sankarabharanam. On the centenary of Indian cinema, Forbes included his performance in the film among the 25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema.[2] He also acted in the most admired Hindi film Jaag Utha Insan with Mithun Chakraborty and Sridevi, directed by K. Vishwanath.
J. V. Somayajulu | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu 30 June 1928 Lukalam Agraharam, near Kameswaripeta NarasannapetaSrikakulam district, Madras Presidency, British India |
| Died | 24 April 2004 (aged 75) Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Occupation | Actor, government officer |
Notable work | Sankara Sastry in Sankarabharanam, Tyagaraja in Tyagayya |
Some of the other films that earned Somayajulu a good reputation as an actor were Allari Pillalu, Nelavanka, Rowdy Alludu, Swatimutyam, Tyagayya, Saptapadi, Vijeta, Appula Appa Rao and Vamsa Vruksham. He portrayed the guru character of Sri Raghavendra (played by Rajinikanth) in the Tamil movie Sri Raghavendrar.[3] He made a 13-episode television serial based on the play Kanyasulkam.[4] He also portrayed A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in the biographical series Abhay Charan.
For the development of Telugu theatre in the twin cities Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Somayajulu established 'Rasaranjani' along with his contemporaries, Chatla Sriramulu, Garimella Rama Murthy and Rallapalli.[4] Somayajulu worked in the Directorate of Cultural Affairs before retiring from government service. He died of heart attack at Hyderabad in 2004 at the age of 76.[4]
Personal life
He was a government official and worked as a Deputy collector for a long time. He hailed from the village of Lukalam Agraharam near Kameswaripeta, Urlam in Srikakulam district. His father worked as an Inspector in the Prohibition & Excise department in Gudivada and other towns. He spent his childhood in Vizianagaram and also participated in stage dramas when he was in Vizianagaram.[4]
His career spanned five decades in stage dramas, films and television. His passion for Gurazada Apparao's play, Kanyasulkam, was such that he, along with his actor brother J V Ramana Murthy, played it about 500 times in 45 years. His exposition of the delightfully notorious character, "Ramappanthulu" in the play, has become legendary. The woman behind the success of Somayajulu was his mother Saradamma. He died of illness at Hyderabad in 2004 at the age of 75. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.[4]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Bhagmati | Hindi film | |
| 2003 | Ondagona Baa | Raghavayya (Ajja) | Kannada film |
| Kabirdas | |||
| 2002 | Raktha Kanneeru | Chandhra's father | Kannada film |
| 2001 | Naranathu Thampuran | Guruji | Malayalam film |
| 1997 | Mannava | Astrologer | Tamil film |
| 1995 | Mutthinantha Hendathi | Kannada film | |
| 1994 | Sarigamalu | ||
| 1993 | Govinda Govinda | TTD Chief Priest | |
| Mutha Mestri | MLA Raghavayya | ||
| Sopanam | Raja Raja Varma Thamburan | Malayalam film | |
| 1992 | Allari Mogudu | ||
| 1991 | Rowdy Alludu | ||
| Aditya 369 | Mahamantri Thimmarusu | ||
| Appula Appa Rao | Sankara Sastri | ||
| 1990 | Pagalil Pournami | A Monk | Tamil film |
| 1990 | Pratibandh | Chief Minister Satyendra | Hindi film |
| 1989 | Swara Kalpana | ||
| Thiruppu Munai | Sathyamoorthy | Tamil film | |
| 1988 | Idhu Namma Aalu | Srinivasa Sastry | Tamil film |
| Sri Venkateshwara Mahime | Kannada film | ||
| Abhinandana | |||
| 1987 | Viswanatha Nayakudu | ||
| Swayam Krushi | |||
| Chakravarthy | Swamiji | ||
| Majnu | |||
| Sankeertana | |||
| Madana Gopaludu | |||
| 1986 | Kaliyuga Pandavulu | ||
| Magadheerudu | |||
| Aalaapana | |||
| Kalyana Tambulam | |||
| Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mahathyam | Nana Chandorkar | ||
| Tandra Paparayudu | |||
| Pyaar Ka Sindoor | Hindi film | ||
| 1985 | Vijetha | Narasimham | |
| Devalayam | |||
| Yaar? | Swamiji | Tamil film | |
| Swati Mutyam | |||
| Sri Raghavendrar | Saint Sudheendra | Debut Tamil film with Rajinikanth | |
| 1984 | Jaag Utha Insan | Panditji | Debut Hindi film with Mithun Chakraborty |
| 1983 | Sitaara | ||
| Nelavanka | Raheem | ||
| Gandharvagiri | Heroine's father | Debut Kannada film with Vishnu Vardhan and Aarathi | |
| 1982 | Pelleedu Pillalu | P V Rao | |
| 1981 | Tyagayya | Tyagayya | |
| 1980 | Vamsa Vruksham | ||
| Saptapadi | Yajulu | ||
| Sankarabharanam | Shankara Sastry | Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu | |
| 1976 | Jyoti |
References
- "The Hindu : An embodiment of Uttarandhra culture". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 June 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
- Prasad, Shishir; Ramnath, N. S.; Mitter, Sohini (27 April 2013). "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema". Forbes. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
- "The Hindu : Metro cultural round-up". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 June 2006. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
- "The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Somayajulu passes away". hinduonnet.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2007.