Muthal Mariyathai is a 1985 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film produced, directed and co-written by Bharathiraja. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Radha, with Vadivukkarasi, newcomers Deepan and Ranjini, Janagaraj, Sathyaraj, Aruna, Veerasami and Ramanathan in supporting roles. It revolves around the relationship between an unhappily married village chief and a young boatwoman.
Budaguru Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu was an Indian film director, producer and actor. He is best known for directing films in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi. His most popular films are Karnan, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Sri Krishnadevaraya, School Master and Kittur Channamma, B. R. Panthulu, is a successful actor and converted Ma. Po. Si.'s biographic works Veerapandiya Kattabomman and Kappalottiya Thamizhan to celluloid.
Thiruchirappalli Govindarajulu Lingappa was an Indian music director who worked predominantly in Kannada language films. He also worked in Tamil and Telugu movies. He was the son of G. Govindarajulu Naidu who was also a musician.
School Master is a 1958 Indian Kannada-language film produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Panthulu himself in the lead role along with Dikki Madhava Rao, M. V. Rajamma, Udaykumar, Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi in key roles. This was the first Kannada film to complete a silver jubilee. The film features a children's dance drama in Gevacolor, filmed by cinematographer W. R. Subba Rao. It was later remade in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi in spite of it being dubbed in Tamil and Telugu as Engal Kudumbam Perisu and Badi Pantulu respectively.
Thangamalai Ragasiyam is a 1957 Indian Tamil-language adventure film produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, T. R. Rajakumari and Jamuna. It was simultaneously made in Kannada as Rathnagiri Rahasya. The film was released on 29 June 1957 and emerged a success.
Kappalottiya Thamizhan is a 1961 Indian Tamil-language historical drama film produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan and Savitri. It is based on the 1944 book of the same name by M. P. Sivagnanam, a biography of V. O. Chidambaram Pillai who founded the Swadeshi Stream Navigation Company to break the monopoly of the British over maritime trade out of India.
Gaali Gopura is a 1962 Kannada-language film directed and produced by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Rajkumar, Kalyan Kumar, Leelavathi and R. Nagendra Rao, with Udaya Kumar making a brief guest appearance. Acclaimed director Puttanna Kanagal served as an assistant to Panthulu during this film's production.
Abba Aa Hudugi is a 1959 Indian Kannada-language film written, directed and produced by H. L. N. Sinha based on his own play of the same name. It stars Rajashankar in his debut role, Rajkumar in an extended cameo along with Narasimharaju, Mynavathi and Pandari Bai. It is considered a landmark film in Kannada cinema. Critics have noted that the theme of the movie is loosely based on William Shakespeare 's The Taming of the Shrew. The film was dubbed in Tamil with the title Mangaikku Maangalyame Pradhaanam and was released in 1960. Dialogues were written by S. A. Subbaraman. Jeevan composed the music; while Puratchidasan wrote the lyrics. In short, this film also marked the only Kannada film for Malayalam actress Sukumari.
Rathnagiri Rahasya is a 1957 Indian Kannada-language adventure film, directed and produced by B. R. Panthulu, starring Udaykumar and Jamuna. it was simultaneously made in Tamil as Thangamalai Ragasiyam, which was also released in 1957, with Jamuna reprising her role. Most of the technical crew worked on both the Tamil and Kannada versions of the film.
Saaku Magalu is a 1963 Kannada language romantic drama film directed and produced by B. R. Panthulu and starring Rajkumar and Sowcar Janaki. The film marked the entry of acclaimed actress Kalpana, who went on to become one of the most sought-after actresses in Kannada cinema.
Kitturu Chennamma is a 1961 Indian Kannada-language historical drama film directed and produced by B. R. Panthulu. It stars B. Saroja Devi as Kittur Chennamma, an Indian freedom fighter who led an armed rebellion against the British East India Company in 1824, and died in captivity in 1829. Dr. Rajkumar played the role of Raja Mallasarja whereas Raja Shankar played the role of his son.
M. V. Rajamma was an Indian actress, producer and playback singer of films mostly in Tamil, Kannada and Telugu languages from the 1930s through 1970s. She has the distinction of having acted as both heroine and mother to stalwart South Indian actors such as Dr. Rajkumar, Sivaji Ganesan, MGR and NTR. Karnataka Government established M. V. Rajamma Award in her honor.
Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari is a 1954 Indian Tamil-language comedy film, directed by P. Neelakantan and produced by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars T. R. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini and Ragini. It was released on 13 April 1954 and became a box office success.
Pillalu Thechina Challani Rajyam is a 1960 Indian Telugu-language film directed by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Panthulu, M. V. Rajamma, and Valluri Balakrishna. It was simultaneously made in Tamil as Kuzhandhaigal Kanda Kudiyarasu and in Kannada as Makkala Rajya. Narasimharaju and Balakrishna play pivotal roles in the Kannada version while Javar Seetharaman and K. Sarangapani play supportive roles in the Tamil version. This film was partly coloured by Gevacolor and processed at the Film Centre, Mumbai. Umesh made his film debut with this film.
Muradan Muthu is a 1964 Indian Tamil-language film, directed and produced by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Devika, M. V. Rajamma and Chandrakantha. It was released on 3 November 1964. The film was simultaneously shot in Kannada as Chinnada Gombe. This was the last collaboration between Panthulu and Ganesan.
Emme Thammanna is a 1966 Indian Kannada-language film produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu. It stars Rajkumar, Dikki Madhava Rao, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan. The supporting cast features Narasimharaju, Subbanna, Krishna Shastry, B. R. Panthulu, Papamma, Jaya and M. V. Rajamma. The film was remade in Telugu as Govula Gopanna (1968), in Hindi as Jigri Dost (1969) and in Tamil as Mattukara Velan (1970). This was the first social drama movie of Rajkumar where he played dual roles in a full-fledged manner excluding Malli Maduve where his second character appears only for three seconds. The core plot was loosely based on a Marathi play.
Samsara Nauke is a 1936 Indian Kannada language social drama film directed by H. L. N. Simha and produced by K. Nanjappa. This film was the fourth sound film produced in Kannada cinema and the first melodrama film based on social issues. The film met with huge success at the box-office upon release and was subsequently released in Tamil in 1948 with the same star cast. The investment was Rs.33000 and became a commercial success as it earned Rs. 2.5 lakhs.
Chinnada Gombe is a 1964 Indian Kannada-language film, directed and produced by B. R. Panthulu. A remake of Bengali film Maane Naa Maane (1944), the film stars Panthulu, Kalyan Kumar, Kalpana, M. V. Rajamma and Jayalalitha. The film has musical score by T. G. Lingappa. The film was simultaneously shot in Tamil as Muradan Muthu, and remade into Hindi as Gopi and in Telugu as Palleturi Chinnodu. This was Jayalalitha's leading debut, having previously acted as a child artiste.
Shivasharane Nambekka is a 1955 Indian Kannada-language film directed by P. Neelakantan.
Dikki Madhava Rao was an Indian actor and singer known for his work as a character actor in Kannada-language films. He spent much of his early years as a stage actor in the 1920s and 1930s before appearing in Kannada films. He gained popularity with his role as the antagonist Kanyakumari Dikshit "Dikki" in the 1936 film Samsara Nauka. Subsequently, the name stuck to him as prefix.
