J. V. Somayajulu
Born
Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu

(1920-07-30)30 July 1920 or c.1928
Died24 April 2004 (2004-04-25)
OccupationActor
Notable workSankara Sastry in Sankarabharanam,
Tyagaraja in Tyagayya
RelativesJ. V. Ramana Murthy (brother)

Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu (30 July 1920[1] or c.1928[2][3] – 24 April 2004) was an Indian actor known for his works in Telugu cinema and a few Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films.[4] In 1981, 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.[5]

Some of the other films that earned Somayajulu a good reputation as an actor were Allari Pillalu, Nelavanka, Rowdy Alludu, Swathi Muthyam, Tyagayya, Saptapadi, Vijeta, Appula Appa Rao, Vamsa Vruksham and the Hindi film Jaag Utha Insan. He portrayed the guru character of Sri Raghavendra in the Tamil film Sri Raghavendrar.[6] He made a 13-episode television serial based on the play Kanyasulkam.[2] He also portrayed A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in the biographical series Abhay Charan.

Personal life and career

Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu was born in Lukalam Agraharam in Srikakulam district of present-day Andhra Pradesh.[1] His father worked as an Inspector in the Prohibition and Excise department in Gudivada and other towns. He spent his childhood in Vizianagaram and also participated in stage dramas when he was in Vizianagaram. He was a government official and worked as a Deputy collector for Mahabub Nagar district.[1][2]

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. Somayajulu had two sons and a daughter.[2]

Other works

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.[2] Somayajulu worked in the Directorate of Cultural Affairs before retiring from government service.

Death

Somayajulu died of heart attack in Hyderabad in 2004 at a reported age of 76.[2][3]

Filmography

List of films and roles
YearTitleRole(s)Notes
2005 Bhagmati Hindi film
2003 Ondagona Baa Raghavayya (Ajja) Kannada film
Raktha Kanneeru Chandhra's father
Kabirdas
2001Naranathu ThampuranGurujiMalayalam film
1997 Mannava Astrologer Tamil film
Itha Oru Snehagatha Hema's Grandfather Malayalam 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
Appula Appa Rao Sankara Sastri
1991 Rowdy Alludu
Aditya 369 Mahamantri Thimmarusu
1990 Pagalil Pournami A Monk Tamil film
Pratibandh Chief Minister Satyendra Hindi film
Jayasimha[7] Mukunda Rao, DFO Telugu film
1989 Swara Kalpana
Thiruppu Munai Sathyamoorthy Tamil film
1988 Idhu Namma Aalu Srinivasa Sastry
Sri Venkateshwara Mahime Kannada film
Abhinandana
1987 Viswanatha Nayakudu
Swayam Krushi
Chakravarthy Swamiji
Majnu
Sankeertana
Madana Gopaludu
1986 Kaliyuga Pandavulu
Magadheerudu
Aalaapana
Ugra Narasimham
Naa Pilupe Prabhanjanam[8] Janakiramaiah
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

  1. 1 2 3 P., Jyosthna Kumari (7 May 2011). "శంకరాభరణం శంకరశాస్త్రిగా పేరుగాంచిన జె.వి.సోమయాజులు". Visalaandhra. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Somayajulu passes away". hinduonnet.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. 1 2 "Actor Somayajulu passes away". The Times of India. 24 April 2004. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  4. "An embodiment of Uttarandhra culture". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 June 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  5. 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.
  6. "Metro cultural round-up". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 June 2006. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  7. JAI SIMHA | FULL MOVIE | SUMAN | BHANUPRIYA | TELUGU CINEMA CLUB, retrieved 13 October 2023
  8. Naa Pilupe Prabhanjanam Full Length Movie || Super Star Krishna, Keerthi, retrieved 18 September 2023
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