Company type | Limited |
---|---|
Industry | Motion pictures |
Predecessor | Vauhini Productions Vauhini Pictures Rohini Pictures |
Founded | 1948 |
Founder | Moola Narayana Swamy B. N. Reddy |
Fate | Liquidated |
Headquarters | , |
Area served | India |
Key people | Moola Narayana Swamy B. N. Reddy K. V. Reddy Moola Venkata Rangaiah |
Vauhini Studios was an Indian film production company and studio facility in Madras. It was founded by Moola Narayana Swamy and B. N. Reddy (Bommireddy Narasimha Reddy). In later years, Nagi Reddi, owner of Vijaya Productions, acquired Vauhini studios on lease. In 1961, Nagi Reddi purchased Vauhini Studios from Narayana Swamy's son Moola Venkata Rangaiah and merged it with his Vijaya Productions and named it Vijaya Vauhini Studios. [1] [2] [3]
Rohini Pictures was formed by the partnership of H. M. Reddy along with B. N. Reddy and Moola Narayana Swamy. The latter two had differences with H. M. Reddy and split themselves from Rohini Pictures and established Vauhini Pictures. [1] [4] Narayana Swamy was the Chairman and B. N. Reddy was the Managing Director of the company. [5] K. V. Reddy, a close friend of Narayana Swamy also joined Vauhini Pictures along with them and was also made a partner in the company. [6] [7] Films like Vande Mataram (1939), Sumangali (1940), Devatha (1941) were made on the Vauhini Pictures banner in the direction of B. N. Reddy. [1] [8] [9]
K. V. Reddy directed Bhakta Pothana (1943) for the company as his maiden directorial venture. After the huge success of the film, Narayana Swamy who had interests in other business ventures focused on film production. He made a proposal to the board to confine Vauhini Pictures to film distribution and start Vauhini Productions for film production. The proposal was approved, and Narayana Swamy invested ₹2 lakh out of the total capital of ₹2.5 lakh. The rest of the ₹50,000 was provided by the family of B. N. Reddy and K. V. Reddy. [1] It was decided that B. N. Reddy and K. V. Reddy would alternately direct films for the production house. [10]
When Vauhini Productions made Swargaseema (1945) as its first production under the direction of B. N. Reddy, K. V. Reddy worked as a production manager for the film. [6] Later, K. V. Reddy directed Yogi Vemana (1947) under Vauhini Productions banner. [11]
Around the same time, Vauhini Productions' films were getting delayed due to a lack of studio facilities. And so, they decided to build a studio of their own. [1] Narayana Swamy invested the capital required for building the studio while B. N. Reddy took up the responsibility of managing the construction work. [3] Thus, Vauhini Studios came into being. [12] The first film produced by Vauhini Studios was Gunasundari Katha (1949). [1]
Narayana Swamy's properties and businesses were seized due to income tax problems. He was fined around ₹30 lakh. Vauhini studio was hence leased, to Vijaya Productions, to save it from income tax department's attachment. [1] In 1961, Nagi Reddi, the Managing Director of Vijaya Productions, purchased Vauhini Studios for ₹10 lakh from Narayana Swamy's son Moola Venkata Rangaiah and merged it with his Vijaya Productions and named it as Vijaya Vauhini Studios. [1] [2] [3]
Vauhini Pictures
Vauhini Productions
Missamma is a 1955 Indian Telugu-language romantic comedy film directed by L. V. Prasad. It was produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani on Vijaya Productions banner. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao, Savitri, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Jamuna. The script was adapted by Chakrapani from Rabindranath Maitra's Bengali play Manmoyee Girls' School. It revolves around two unemployed people — M. T. Rao and Mary — who pose as a married couple to obtain employment in a high school founded by Gopalam, a zamindar. As Rao and Mary fall in love, Gopalam's nephew A. K. Raju learns that Mary is Gopalam's missing elder daughter Mahalakshmi; she is unaware of her true identity.
Aluru Venkata Subbarao, popularly known by his pen name Chakrapani, was an Indian screenwriter, film producer, studio owner, and director in Telugu cinema. He received two Filmfare Awards and was notable for his association with Vijaya Vauhini Studios, one of Asia's largest studios at the time. Chakrapani was also a partner at Vijaya Productions alongside B. Nagi Reddi and co-founded Chandamama, the children's magazine.
Bommireddy Nagi Reddi was an Indian film producer and director mainly in Telugu cinema. He set up Vijaya Vauhini Studios in Chennai, which was then Asia's biggest film studio. As his elder brother had the same initials and was known as B. N. Reddi, Nagi Reddi was popularly known as B. Nagi Reddi. Some of the movies produced by Nagi Reddi include Patala Bhairavi (1951), Missamma (1955), Maya Bazaar (1957), Gundamma Katha (1962), Maduve Maadi Nodu (1965-Kannada), Enga Veetu Pillai (1965), Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Nam Naadu (1969-Tamil),Shriman Shrimati (1982), Julie (1975), and Swarg Narak (1978), the latter two of which were in Hindi. Reddi has served as the president of Film Federation of India twice, in 1960–61 and 1962–63.
Bommireddi Narasimha Reddi, professionally known as B. N. Reddi, was an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was an early figure in the Telugu cinema. Many of his earlier films like Vande Mataram (1939), Devatha (1941) had V. Nagayya as the lead. His Malliswari (1951) starring N. T. Rama Rao and Bhanumathi is considered a timeless Indian film classic. Reddi was the first film personality to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award from South India the highest honorary award of Indian cinema. He was awarded India's third highest civilian honour the Padmabhushan, and the Doctor of Letters.
Kadiri Venkata Reddy, commonly known as K. V. Reddy, was an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer, primarily known for his work in Telugu cinema. Renowned as one of the most influential filmmakers in South Indian cinema, he directed 14 feature films during his career. His contributions earned him several prestigious accolades, including three National Film Awards and a Filmfare Award South.
Moola Narayana Swamy was an Indian businessman and film producer known for his works in Telugu cinema. He owned several businesses such as Rayalaseema Bank, Rayalaseema Textiles, Cuddapah Ceramics, Cuddapah Electric Company, oil mills, milk co-operative societies, arrack contracting, market yards. He was also known by the moniker Andhra Birla.
Reddy/Reddi is a surname that has independent origins in both India and Ireland.
Gundamma Katha is a 1962 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao and co-produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani under their banner Vijaya Productions. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri, and Jamuna, with S. V. Ranga Rao, Suryakantham, and Ramana Reddy in supporting roles.
Pedda Manushulu is a 1954 Indian Telugu-language drama film produced and directed by K. V. Reddy. It stars Jandhyala Gaurinatha Sastry, Mudigonda Lingamurthy, Relangi, Vangara, Sriranjani Jr. in prominent roles. The film portrays corruption among so called respectable persons of the society. It was loosely based on The Pillars of Society, a 1877 play by famous Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen.
Marcus Bartley was an Anglo-Indian cinematographer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema along with a few Hindi, Malayalam, and Tamil films. He was the cinematographer of all time classics like Shavukaru (1950), Pathala Bhairavi (1951), Missamma (1955), Maya Bazaar (1957), Gundamma Katha (1962), Chemmeen (1965), Ram Aur Shyam (1967). He won the National Film Award for Best Cinematography in 1970 for Shanti Nilayam. He also won the Gold Medal at the Cannes Film Festival for Best Cinematography, becoming the first Indian to win the award.
Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu is a 1959 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film directed and co-written by L. V. Prasad. The film was produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani of Vijaya Productions; the latter co-wrote its script with Prasad and Vempati Sadasivabrahmam. It is the Telugu version of Prasad's Tamil film Kadan Vaangi Kalyaanam (1958). Starring N. T. Rama Rao, Relangi and Savitri, Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu features Jaggayya, C. S. R. Anjaneyulu, S. V. Ranga Rao, and Jamuna in supporting roles. The conflict between two older men with different mindsets—Ramadasu and Mukundarao —is the film's centrepiece.
Malliswari is a 1951 Indian Telugu-language historical romance film produced and directed by B. N. Reddi under his banner Vauhini Studios. P. Bhanumathi and N. T. Rama Rao star as a couple – Nagaraju and Malliswari – who are separated by Malliswari's greedy mother. Malliswari is sent to the king's palace according to the custom of "Rani Vasam", a tradition during the Vijayanagara Empire wherein young women were fetched to the palace with an offering of gold and jewellery to their parents. The rest of the film focuses on the consequences faced by Nagaraju when he, against all rules, surreptitiously enters the palace to meet Malliswari.
Sumangali is a 1940 Telugu-language film written, directed and produced by B. N. Reddy. The film stars V. Nagayya, A. S. Giri, Kumari and Malathi. The main concept of the film widow remarriage is inspired by Kandukuri Veeresalingam.
Kamalakara Kameswara Rao was an Indian film director known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema, and a few Tamil and Hindi films. Widely known as Pauranika Chitra Brahma, Kameswara Rao directed fifty feature films in a variety of genres.
Vijaya Vauhini Studios is one of the premier motion picture movie studios in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is the combination of Vijaya Productions and Vauhini Studios. B. Nagi Reddy was the founder of Vijaya Productions and Moola Narayana Swamy founded Vauhini Studios.
Raavi Kondala Rao was an Indian actor, screenwriter, playwright, and journalist who worked in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. He acted in over 400 films. He won Nandi Award for Best Story Writer for Pelli Pusthakam (1991) and won Nandi Award for Best Book on Telugu Cinema for Black and White.
Missamma is the soundtrack of the 1955 Indian Telugu-language film of the same name directed by L. V. Prasad. Composed by S. Rajeswara Rao, the soundtrack contains 11 songs with lyrics by Pingali. The film was written by Chakrapani, who co-produced it with B. Nagi Reddi for Vijaya Productions. N. T. Rama Rao and Savitri played the lead roles the Telugu version, with Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jamuna, S. V. Ranga Rao, Rushyendramani, Relangi and Ramana Reddy in supporting roles.
Moola Venkata Rangaiah was an Indian film producer, known for his works in Telugu cinema, and Tamil cinema. He was the co-owner Vauhini Studios, along with his father Moola Narayana Swamy, which became one of the largest production companies in South Asia at that time.
Bhale Rangadu is a 1969 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by N. N. Bhatt and directed by T. Rama Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Vanisri and music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. Released on 14 August 1969, the film was a critical and commercial success.