Dasari Kotiratnam | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Died | 21 December 1972 Chilakaluripeta, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Occupations |
|
Dasari Kotiratnam was an Indian actress, singer, and film producer. [1] She was the first female producer of Telugu cinema. [2] [3] [4] She was also the first actress to set up a theatre group in Andhra. [3] Her career as a theatre actor spanned over four decades. [5]
She produced her first film, Sati Anasuya (1935) in collaboration with Aurora Film Corporation. [5] She later acted in films like Lanka Dahanam (1936), Mohini Bhasmasura (1938), Vara Vikrayam (1939), Panduranga Vitala (1939), Paduka Pattabhishekam (1945), Varudhini (1946), Gollabhama (1947). [5]
Dasari Kotiratnam was born in a Kapu family [6] in Prathipadu, Guntur district of present-day Andhra Pradesh. She was born in 1898 or 1910. [7] [1] Her father was a stage actor and she trained under him. She began acting in plays at the age of nine. She also trained in Indian classical music under Rajanala Venkatappayya Sastri. [1]
Kotiratnam played various male characters, along with female characters in theatre. [8] After her mother died, she left Prathipadu and settled in Nakkabokkalapadu, her grandfather's village. There she founded a drama company. [1] She was the first actress to set up a theatre company in Andhra. [3] After five years she shifted to Guntur and continued running the drama company there. They practiced many plays and performed them in various towns and villages. She employed many artists on a payroll. She entered the film industry based on her reputation in theatre. [1]
In 1935 Kotiratnam went to Calcutta along with her theatre troupe artists like B. V. Ramanandam and Tungala Chalapathi Rao. All of them acted in the film Sathi Sakkubai (1935) produced by Bharatalakshmi Films and directed by Charuchandra Roy. Kotiratnam played the title role of Sakkubai, while Tungala Chalapathi Rao played Lord Krishna. She was also the first woman to play a title role in Telugu films. [5]
In collaboration with Aurora Film Corporation, Kotiratnam produced Sati Anasuya under the direction of Ahin Chowdary. She also played the title role in the film. [5] It was released on 4 October 1935. [9] Thus she became the first female producer of Telugu film industry. She later acted in films like Lanka Dahanam (1936), Mohini Bhasmasura (1938), Vara Vikrayam (1939), Panduranga Vitala (1939), Paduka Pattabhishekam (1945), Varudhini (1946), Gollabhama (1947). [5]
In 1958, she fell ill and her voice was damaged. Her acting chances reduced as a result. In 1960, she was felicitated by Andhra Nataka Parishat in Tanuku. [5] Kotiratnam died on 21 December 1972 in Chilakaluripeta. [10]
Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao, popularly known as SVR, was an Indian actor and filmmaker who primarily worked in Telugu and Tamil films. He is regarded as one of the finest actors in the history of Indian cinema. He is known by the epithet "Viswa Nata Chakravarthi" and was the earliest known character actor in South Indian cinema to achieve a star status. In a career spanning nearly three decades, Ranga Rao garnered various national and international honours.
Allu Ramalingaiah was an Indian character actor, comedian, and producer known for his works in Telugu cinema. In 1990, he was honoured with the Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian cinema. In 1998, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award - South, and the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award in 2001. Ramalingaiah appeared in over 1000 films in a variety of roles. The "Allu Ramalingaiah National Award" was instituted in his memory by the "Allu Ramalingaiah Academy of Arts". The award is presented every year to a Telugu film personality for lifetime achievement.
Dhulipala Sitarama Sastry, known mononymously by the surname Dhulipala, was an Indian actor and thespian, known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He was noted for playing mythological roles, particularly the role of Shakuni. He began his acting career at the young age of 13 and went on to work in about 300 films. He shot to fame with Bhishma and Sri Krishna Pandaveeyam, acting alongside N. T. Rama Rao.
Pasupuleti Kannamba was an Indian actress, playback singer and film producer of Telugu cinema, of Andhra Pradesh, India. She acted in more than 170 films and produced about 25 films in Telugu and Tamil languages during the 1930s to the 1960s.
Mannava Balayya was an Indian actor, writer, director, and producer known for his work in Telugu cinema. He appeared in 300 films during his career.
Yaragudipati Varada Rao was an Indian director, producer, actor, screenwriter, and editor known for his works primarily in Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil films. Rao plunged into theatre and did a few stage plays before moving to Kolhapur and Bombay to act in silent films. Rao started his career as a lead actor in many silent films such as Gajendra Moksham (1923), Garuda Garvabhangam (1929), and Rose of Rajasthan (1931). Regarded as one of the greatest filmmaking pioneers of the Cinema of South India, he made motion-pictures across Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Konkani, and Hindi languages, apart from silent films.
Anjali Devi was an Indian actress, model and producer in Telugu and Tamil films. She was well known for her role as the Devi Sita in Lava Kusa as well as for the title roles in movies like Chenchu Lakshmi, Suvarna Sundari and Anarkali.
Jamuna was an Indian actress, director, and politician who appeared mainly in Telugu cinema. She made her acting debut at age 16 in Dr. Garikapati Rajarao's Puttillu (1953), and received her breakthrough with L. V. Prasad'sMissamma (1955). Her filmography also includes Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi films. She won a Filmfare Award and an award at Filmfare Awards South. She was a member of parliament in the 9th Lok Sabha (1989–1991) representing the Rajahmundry constituency.
Vedantam Raghavayya was an Indian film director, dance choreographer, and actor known for his work in Telugu and Tamil cinema. An accomplished Kuchipudi dancer, he was honoured with the title "Bharata Kala Prapurna" by the Andhra Pradesh government in recognition of his expertise.
Ramana Reddy was an Indian character actor, comedian and producer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. In a career spanning 24 years, he acted in more than 200 movies. Ramana Reddy and Relangi were a comedy double act during the era of early Telugu cinema.
Mangalagiri Sriranjani (1906–1939), also known as Sriranjani Senior, was a Telugu theatre and film actress and singer. Born in Narasaraopet Taluk, Andhra Pradesh, she gained fame in the 1930s through her recordings and audio releases with the Gramophone Company of India. Sriranjani was a significant stage actress with Krishna Vilasa Nataka Samajam, known for her portrayal of mythological male roles such as Krishna, Abhimanyu, and Satyavan.
Kadaru Nagabhushanam or K. B. Nagabhushanam was an Indian film director and producer in the 1940s to 1960s, working in Telugu and Tamil cinema. He was the husband of P. Kannamba. They established Rajarajeshwari Films and produced many mythological films starring Kannamba in the lead role including Harischandra. Their social film Navajeevanam on untouchability got the recognition of Madras State and was chosen as the best feature film.
Chittajallu Pullayya was an Indian film director and screenwriter. He is one of the earliest film personalities in Telugu cinema being associated with the industry right from the silent era.
Kalyanam Raghuramaiah (1901–1975), popularly known as Eelapata Raghuramaiah, was an Indian actor, and thespian known for his works in Telugu cinema, and Telugu theatre. A recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and the Padmashri, He was known for the roles of Krishna or Dushyantha, Bhavanisankar, Narada etc. He performed those roles for about 60 years. He indulged in elaborate raga alapana, based on different ragas while rendering padyams.
Sati Anasuya is a story that has been made into many Indian films in different languages. It has been made into the Telugu language in 1935, 1936, 1957 and 1971.
Koccharlakota Satyanarayana was a Telugu film and drama actor and playback singer during the early period of Telugu cinema.
The East India Film Company was an Indian film production company, based in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India. It was the first Indian film company to screen a movie at an international film festival. Started in 1932 in Calcutta, by R. L. Khemka, it went on to be a pioneer in producing films across the several regional film industries, including Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Telugu, and Tamil, in the decade after its founding; till then, production companies were restricted regionally.
Sri Rama Paduka Pattabhishekam is a 1932 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological drama film directed by Sarvottam Badami. It is notable for being the second Telugu talkie film. The film stars renowned stage actor Yadavalli Suryanarayana as Lord Rama, alongside C. S. R. Anjaneyulu and Surabhi Kamalabai.
Gollabhama is a 1947 Indian Telugu-language swashbuckler film directed by C. Pullayya. Krishnaveni and Raghuramaiah played pivotol roles in the film. The film is produced by Mirzapuram Raja through Sobhanachala Pictures. The film is based on the stories of 'Kaasi Majili' written in Telugu by Madhira Subbanna Deekshitulu. It was released on 22 February 1947.
Sati Anasuya is a 1935 Telugu-language mythological film directed by Ahindra Choudhury and produced by Dasari Kotiratnam under the banner of Aurora Film Corporation. The film marks Kotiratnam's debut as the first female producer in Telugu cinema. Released on 4 October 1935, it stars Kotiratnam in the titular role of Anasuya, alongside D. Leelakumari, D. Venkubai, and Tungala Chalapathi Rao in prominent roles.
First woman producer Dasari Kotiratnam produced Anasuya in 1935.
Dasari Kotiratnam was the first actress to set up a theatre group while Venkubai and Kamala of the Surabhi Company were well-known stage artists. Dasari Kotiratnam later became the first woman to produce films.
