Film Industry

Relangi Venkata Ramaiah

(9 August 1910 – 26 November 1975) was a comedian during the golden years of Telugu film . Hailing from the East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, he acted in several films as chief comedian, hero, anti-hero and character artiste.

During his golden days, Relangi was so popular that he was paid the same as the main hero and heroine of the film. He was also a good playback singer in Telugu. The impact of his songs was such that audience started expecting separate songs for his character in the movies although he was a comedian actor. His songs were so popular that people still remember and enjoy them today.

Relangi was born in the village of Ravulapalem in the East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. He was a professional Harikatha performer and also an expert Harmonium player. He grew up in Kakinada ; however, he didn't show interest in education due to his passion for acting.

Career

Relangi started his initial career acting in stage and folk theatre and also took female roles in stage theatre. He started his film career by playing a Vidushaka role in his first Telugu film Sri Krishna Thulaabaaram in 1935 under the direction of C. Pullaiah. Later on, he assisted Pullaiah as a Production Manager until he got a major break with the film Gollabhama released in 1947. Subsequently, he played a comedic role in Vindhyarani, which was a big hit. He was a regular face in all the movies made under the Vijaya Filmsbanner from 1950. He grew so popular that he was given a chance to play a comedic hero role in Pakkinti Ammayi in 1953 under Pullayya opposite Anjali Devi

Notable Ramaiah performances include those from Gunasundari Katha Missamma Mayabazar Nartanasala Donga Ramudu, Iddaru Mitrulu Chaduvukunna Ammayilu Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu Velugu Needalu Vipra Narayana Lava Kusha Kula Gothralu and Preminchi Choodu.

As a comedic actor, he was quite popular when partnered with actress Girija actress ,Suryakantham, and another comedian actor,Ramana Reddy

SUMAN

Suman's full name is Mangalore Suman Talwar.Suman was born on 28th of August 1959 at Chennai. His mother Late Smt. Kesari Chander was the Principal of the prestigious Ethiraj College for women in Chennai. His father Sri. Susheel Chander worked for I.O.C. Chennai. He is now residing at Hyderabad, with his Wife Smt. Sirisha (grand-daughter of well known Play-Wright Sri.D.V.Narasa Raju), his eight-year-old daughter Akilaja Prathyusha, his mother-in-law Smt.Kavita Raju and Sri.D.V.Narasaraju. His mother tongue is Tullu (Mangalore, Karnataka).

Suman did his kinder-garten at Church Park Convent, Chennai. He completed his schooling at The Besant Theosophical High School, Chennai. He joined the Pachayappas College to do his B.A. in English Literature. Suman can converse fluently in Tullu (His Mother Tongue) Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi.

Suman learnt Sanskrit from Sri. H.A.S. Sashtri. Suman also learnt playing the Veena and the Guitar.

He is a Black belt in karate (Shotokan Style). He also learnt Kalari Payiut (Martial Arts of Kerala) from Sri. Gopal Gurukkal.

Suman started his career as a Sensei (Master) in Karate. His family friend Mr. Kittu introduced him to a Tamil producer. He thus started off his film career in the year 1977.In his final year he acted in his first Tamil movie "Neechal kulam" produced by well-known producer in Tamilnadu Late Sri.T.R.Rammanna. His first role was that of a Police officer.

Suman has emerged as a true survivor. A Real Hero, as his fans would like to call him, from real life conspiracy that shattered a career but not his heart. He rose like a Phoenix to make a comeback, resurrecting belief in the minds of his fans and well wishers that nothing is impossible in life if you have Patience, Hard work, and Sincerity as your backbone.

Suman attributes his Patience and Endurance to Martial arts. He is known for his famous stunts in movies, which got him the title of an Action Hero, due to his martial arts background. His film career was thanks to Martial arts, as his potential to be different and trend setting, was noticed by his producer in a Dojo (School), where Suman was teaching Karate.

A Black Belt 1st Dan in karate, from Shotokan Karate Association (affiliated to Japan Karate Association), Suman, is the Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Karate Association. Suman takes an active part in all demonstrations and promotions, in Andhra Pradesh, to popularize martial arts as an effective way of striking a perfect balance, mentally and physically, to defend one's self, with harmony, patience and restraint.Sumun Budokan Karate Association is an extention of his involvement in promoting Martial Arts.

Suman joined as a supporter in the year 1999, to the Telugu Desam Supremo, our very own Chief Minister Sri. N. Chandra Babu Naidu. Inspired by his Dynamic administrative and Leadership qualities, Suman saw in him a path to give back to those people who gave him a place in their hearts, and to the society at large. As an ardent admirer of Sri. Chandra Babu Naidu's qualities of hard -work and perseverance.

Suman seeks to follow his ideals of - "Dare to Dream, Care To Achieve."

Relangi Narasimha Rao

Relangi Narasimha Rao (30 September 1951) is an Indian Film director and screenwriter predominantly known in Telugu Cinema. He is well known for his comedy films especially in combination with actors Chandra Mohan and Rajendra Prasad. His notable movies include Iddaru Pellala Muddula Police, Edurinti Mogudu Pakkinti Pellam, Police Bharya, Chinnodu Peddodu, Dabbevariki Chedu, Samsaaram, Mama Alludu, and Gundammagari Krishnulu.

He has directed over 70 films mostly in Telugu and others in Kannada, as well as one film in Tamil. He also director two TV series in Telugu. He won a Nandi Award for screenwriting for the film Sundari Subbarao which he directed too. He introduced writers like Diwakar Babu and Sankaramanchi Parthasarathy. He also introduced Telugu cinema actors like Suman, Revathy, and Kinnera.

Narasimha Rao was born on 30 September 1951 to Late Relangi Sri Ranganayakulu and Late Siva Ramayamma in Palakol, a town in West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh.

Narasimha Rao entered the Telugu film industry in 1971 as an apprentice to the director Late. B V Prasad for the film Mohammad Bin Tughluq. He worked as an Assistant Director under the director Late K S R Das for the movie Ooriki Upakari in 1972. He then joined under Dasari Narayana Rao for the filmSamsaram Sagaram in 1973. He continued to work under the tutelage of Dasari Narayana Rao as an Assistant Director, Associate Director and Co-Director till the year 1980 when he turned director.

Director of Comedy Films

Narasimha Rao made his directorial debut in 1980 with the film Chandamama in Telugu. It was a family drama. But the release of the film was delayed and was not released until the year 1982. His second, third and fourth films Nenu Maa Avida, Evandoi Sreemathigaru, Illantha Sandadi were all successful comedies and he earned a reputation for directing clean comedies. The films also incidentally started a successful combination with the actor Chandra Mohan with whom he went on to direct a total of 18 films.

Narasimha Rao directed over 70 films most of them in Telugu. He became known for his low budget clean comedies. He had also worked with icons like like Akkineni Nageswara Rao (film Daagudu Moothala Dampathyam, 1990), Sobhan Babu (film Samsaaram,1988), Krishnam Raju (film Yama Dharma Raju, 1990).

Entry into Kannada and Tamil Cinema

Two of the biggest hit comedies of Narasimha Rao were the Telugu films Iddaru Pellala Muddula Police and Edurinti Mogudu Pakkinti Pellam both in the year 1991. These hits paved way for him to foray into the Kannada and Tamil Cinema. He was invited to remake the two Telugu hits into Kannada in the year 1992. Both the films starred Kannada actor Shashi Kumar and both were runaway hits in Kannada.

Over the next five years, Narasimha Rao directed 7 films in Kannada including two films with the popular Kannada actor Shivrajkumar namely Raja and Ibbara Naduve Muddina Aata. Incidentally, another of his Kannada film Geluvina Saradara was produced by Shivrajumar’s father and icon of Kannada Cinema Dr.Rajkumar and starred Dr. Rajkumar’s second son Raghavendra Rajkumar.

He directed one Tamil film Rendu Pondatti Kaavalkaran in the year 1992 with the actor Nagesh’s son Anand Babu in the lead role.

Successful Collaboration

Narasimha Rao teamed up with the comedy actor Rajendra Prasad for 32 films including hits like Gundammagari Krishnulu, Dabbevariki Chedu, Chinnodu Peddodu, Mama Alludu, Iddaru Pellala Muddula Police, and Edurinti Mogudu Pakkinti Pellam.

Other Works and Achievements

He was awarded Nandi Award for Best Screenwriter[2] along with writer Adi Vishnu for the film Sundari Subbarao. The film starred Chandra Mohan and Vijayashanti. It was produced by Ramoji Rao under the banner Ushakiron Movies. Incidentally it was the second movie for the banner.

He was also adjudged Best Low Budget Director in the year 1991 by the Delhi Telugu Academy.

He acted as the Asian Panorama Jury Member for the 15th International Children’s Film Festival by CFSI in 2007. He was also a Jury Chairman for the Nandi Television Awards for the years 2005-2006.

He directed a few TV series in Telugu including Bujji Bujjibabu

Moola Narayana Swamy

Moola Narayana Swamy founded Vauhini Studios (references are below), which was supposed to be the largest cine studio in Asia at that time (1940s). Moola Narayana Swamy's native was Tadipatri, Anatapur (Dist), Andhra Pradesh, India. Narayana Swamy's father died at very young age. His father was big in arrack business and was very rich. After the death of his father Narayana Swamy took over the arrack business at a very young age. He started several businesses such as Rayalaseema Textiles, Oil mills, Milk Co-op societies, Arrack contracting etc.

Movies produced

1. Vande Mataram (1939)

2. Gruhalakshmi (1938)

3. Sumangali (1940)

4. Devatha (1941)

5. Bhakta Potana (1942)

6. Pedda Manushulu

7. Vaddante Dabbu (1944)

8. Swargaseema (1945)

9. Yogi Vemana (1947)

10. Guna Sundari Katha (1949)

Narayana Swamy met Bommireddi Narasimha Reddy (father of B.N.Reddy and B.Nagi Reddy) through some business connections. Both of them became business partners and started exporting onions to Rangoon in Burma. Narayana Swamy and B.N.Reddy joined as partners in Rohini Pictures owned by H.M.Reddy. Under Rohini pictures banner they produced some movies like Gruhalakshmi. Later H.M.Reddy and B.N.Reddy had differences and B.N.Reddy and Narayana Swamy separated and decided to start their own production company. With Narayana Swamy as a major share holder Vauhini Pictures was started. Several movies were produced under this banner like Vandemataram, Sumangali, Devatha and Swarga Seema. Swarga Seema movie was shot mainly in Newtone studio in Madras. But there were so many difficulties with the studio and younger B.N.Reddy who was also director for the movie was very upset and expressed this to Narayana Swamy. So Narayana Swamy suggested that they could build a new studio.

Vauhini Studio was started under the chairmanship of Narayana Swamy. Narayana Swamy was the major share holder. Out of two and half lakh rupees investment, Narayana Swamy's share was two lakhs and rest were B.N.Reddy, Nagi Reddy and others. As part of inheritance from their father Narasimha Reddy, B.N.Reddy and Nagi Reddy got these shares.

Narayana Swamy also built theatres, Vauhini Talkies in his native place Tadipatri and Raghuveer Talkies in Anatapur.

Narayana Swamy got his childhood friend K.V.Reddy as cashier in Vahuini Pictures and later made him direct the movie Bhakta Potana. Bhakta Potana was a very big hit at that time. K.V.Reddy later directed many other movies for Vauhini and Vijaya studios.

In 1948 Narayana Swamy properties and businesses were seized due to income tax problems. Vauhini studio was also leased to Vijaya Productions to save from income tax.

Narayana Swamy died in 1950. He was 38 years old at the time of his death. At the time of his death all his sons were minors. His eldest son Moola Venkata Rangaiah was 11 years old. His family went into deep financial trouble.

In 1961, after Narayana Swamy's son became major. His eldest son with the help of Damodaram Sanjeevaiah (whom Narayana Swamy helped for his education) sold the studio to B.Nagi Reddy as part of an agreement that they'll clear all the income tax dues that need to be paid by Narayana Swamy family. B.Nagi Reddy later renamed the studio to Vijaya Vauhini Studios.

Narayana Swamy had 4 sons and 4 daughters. His eldest son Moola Venkata Rangaiah was also Municipal Chairman for Tadipatri for one term.