J. V. Somayajulu: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Indian actor}}
{{Short description|Indian actor (d. 2004)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
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| birth_name        = Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu
| birth_name        = Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu
| birth_date        = {{Birth date|1920|7|30|df=yes}} or {{circa|1928}}
| birth_date        = {{Birth date|1920|7|30|df=yes}} or {{circa|1928}}
| birth_place        = [[Srikakulam district]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]] (in present-day [[Andhra Pradesh]], India)
| birth_place        = [[Srikakulam district]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date        = {{Death-date|24 April 2004}}
| death_date        = {{Death-date|24 April 2004}}
| death_place        = [[Hyderabad]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] (now in [[Telangana]]), India
| death_place        = [[Hyderabad]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], India
| yearsactive        =  
| yearsactive        =  
| occupation        = Actor
| occupation        = Actor
| notable works      = Sankara Sastry in ''[[Sankarabharanam (1980 film)|Sankarabharanam]]'',<br>[[Tyagaraja]] in ''[[Tyagayya (1981 film)|Tyagayya]]''
| notable works      = {{indented plainlist| Sankara Sastry in ''[[Sankarabharanam (1980 film)|Sankarabharanam]]'', [[Tyagaraja]] in ''[[Tyagayya (1981 film)|Tyagayya]]''}}
| height            =
| homepage          =
| spouse            =  
| spouse            =  
| relatives          = [[J. V. Ramana Murthy]] (brother)
}}
}}
'''Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu''' (30 July 1920<ref name=":0" /> or {{Circa|1928}}<ref name="hinduonnet.com" /><ref name=":1" /> – 24 April 2004) was an Indian actor known for his works in [[Telugu cinema]] and a few Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2004/05/03/stories/2004050301900300.htm|title=An embodiment of Uttarandhra culture|access-date=2 March 2009|archive-date=11 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611075620/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2004/05/03/stories/2004050301900300.htm|work=[[The Hindu]]|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1980, he received the [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu]] for his work in the classic ''[[Sankarabharanam (1980 film)|Sankarabharanam]]''. On the centenary of Indian cinema, ''[[Forbes (India)|Forbes]]'' included his performance in the film among the ''25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forbesindia.com/article/100-years-of-indian-cinema/25-greatest-acting-performances-of-indian-cinema/35125/0|title=25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema|magazine=[[Forbes (India)|Forbes]]|first1=Shishir|last1=Prasad|first2=N. S.|last2=Ramnath|first3=Sohini|last3=Mitter|date=27 April 2013|access-date=27 January 2015|archive-date=12 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112014841/http://forbesindia.com/article/100-years-of-indian-cinema/25-greatest-acting-performances-of-indian-cinema/35125/0|url-status=dead}}</ref>
'''Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu''' (30 July 1920<ref name=":0" /> or {{Circa|1928}}<ref name=":1" /> – 24 April 2004) was an Indian actor known for his works in [[Telugu cinema]] and a few Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam films. In 1981, he received the [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu]] for his work in the classic ''[[Sankarabharanam (1980 film)|Sankarabharanam]]''. On the centenary of Indian cinema, ''[[Forbes (India)|Forbes]]'' included his performance in the film among the ''25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema''.


Some of the other films that earned Somayajulu a good reputation as an actor were ''Allari Pillalu'', ''Nelavanka'', ''[[Rowdy Alludu]]'', ''[[Swathi Muthyam]]'', ''Tyagayya'', [[Saptapadi (1981 film)|''Saptapadi'']], [[Vijeta (1982 film)|''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]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/05/10/stories/2004051001990200.htm|title=Metro cultural round-up|access-date=2 March 2009|archive-date=29 June 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060629071351/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/05/10/stories/2004051001990200.htm|work=[[The Hindu]]|url-status=dead}}</ref> He made a 13-episode television serial based on the play ''[[Kanyasulkam]]''.<ref name="hinduonnet.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/04/28/stories/2004042806930600.htm|title=The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Somayajulu passes away|work=hinduonnet.com|access-date=22 January 2007|archive-date=12 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612030337/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/04/28/stories/2004042806930600.htm|url-status=usurped}}</ref> He also portrayed A.C. [[Bhaktivedanta Swami]] Prabhupada, in the biographical series ''Abhay Charan''.
Some of the other films that earned Somayajulu a good reputation as an actor were ''Allari Pillalu'', ''Nelavanka'', ''[[Rowdy Alludu]]'', ''[[Swathi Muthyam]]'', ''Tyagayya'', [[Saptapadi (1981 film)|''Saptapadi'']], [[Vijeta (1982 film)|''Vijeta'']], ''[[Appula Appa Rao]],'' ''[[Vamsa Vruksham]]'' and the Hindi film ''[[Jaag Utha Insan (1984 film)|Jaag Utha Insan]]''. He portrayed the guru character of [[Sri Raghavendra]] in the Tamil film ''[[Sri Raghavendrar]]. ''He made a 13-episode television serial based on the play ''[[Kanyasulkam]]''. He also portrayed A.C. [[Bhaktivedanta Swami]] Prabhupada, in the biographical series ''Abhay Charan''.


==Personal life and career==
==Personal life and career==
Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu was born in Lukalam Agraharam in [[Srikakulam district]] of present-day [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=P.|first=Jyosthna Kumari|date=7 May 2011|title=శంకరాభరణం శంకరశాస్త్రిగా పేరుగాంచిన జె.వి.సోమయాజులు|url=http://www.visalaandhra.com/movieworld/article-46827|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304204218/http://www.visalaandhra.com/movieworld/article-46827|archive-date=4 March 2016|access-date=29 July 2021|website=[[Visalaandhra]]}}</ref> 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]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name="hinduonnet.com"/>
Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu was born in Lukalam Agraharam in [[Srikakulam district]] of present-day [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=P. |first=Jyosthna Kumari |date=7 May 2011 |title=శంకరాభరణం శంకరశాస్త్రిగా పేరుగాంచిన జె.వి.సోమయాజులు |url=http://www.visalaandhra.com/movieworld/article-46827|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304204218/http://www.visalaandhra.com/movieworld/article-46827|archive-date=4 March 2016|access-date=29 July 2021 |website=[[Visalaandhra]]}}</ref> 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 there. He was a government official and worked as a Deputy collector for [[Mahabub Nagar district]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name="hinduonnet.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/04/28/stories/2004042806930600.htm |title=The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Somayajulu passes away |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=22 January 2007|archive-date=12 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612030337/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/04/28/stories/2004042806930600.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>


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|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.<ref name="hinduonnet.com"/>
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|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.<ref name="hinduonnet.com"/>
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== Death ==
== Death ==
Somayajulu died of heart attack in [[Hyderabad]] in 2004 at a reported age of 76.<ref name="hinduonnet.com" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=24 April 2004|title=Actor Somayajulu passes away|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/actor-somayajulu-passes-away/articleshow/643968.cms|access-date=2021-06-21|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>
Somayajulu died of heart attack in [[Hyderabad]] in 2004 at a reported age of 76.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=24 April 2004 |title=Actor Somayajulu passes away |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/actor-somayajulu-passes-away/articleshow/643968.cms|access-date=2021-06-21 |website=The Times of India |language=en|archive-date=26 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626225020/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/actor-somayajulu-passes-away/articleshow/643968.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="hinduonnet.com" />


== Filmography ==
== Filmography ==
===Telugu films===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+List of films and roles
|+List of Telugu films and roles
|-
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role(s) !! class="unsortable" | Notes
! Year !! Title !! Role(s) !! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|-
|2005
|1976
|''[[Bhagmati (2005 film)|Bhagmati]]''
|''[[Jyothi (1976 film)|Jyoti]]''
|
|
|
|Hindi film
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |2003
| rowspan="2" |1980
|''[[Ondagona Baa]]''
|''[[Sankarabharanam (1980 film)|Sankarabharanam]]''
|Raghavayya (Ajja)
|Shankara Sastry
|Kannada film
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu]]
|-
|-
|''Kabirdas''
|''[[Vamsa Vruksham]]''
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|2002
|rowspan="2"|1981
|''[[Raktha Kanneeru]]''
|''[[Tyagayya (1981 film)|Tyagayya]]''
|Chandhra's father
|Tyagayya
|Kannada film
|
|-
|-
|2001||''[[Naranathu Thampuran]]''||Guruji||Malayalam film
|''[[Saptapadi (1981 film)|Saptapadi]]''
|Yajulu
|
|-
|-
|1997
|1982
|''[[Mannava (film)|Mannava]]''
|''[[Pelleedu Pillalu]]''
|Astrologer
| P V Rao
|Tamil film
|
|-
|-
|1997
| rowspan="2" |1983
|''[[Itha Oru Snehagatha]]''
|''[[Nelavanka (film)|Nelavanka]]''
| Hema's Grandfather
|Raheem
| Malayalam film
|
|-
|-
|1995
|''[[Sitaara]]''
|''Mutthinantha Hendathi''
|
|
|
|Kannada film
|-
|-
|1994
| rowspan="3" |1985
|''[[Sarigamalu]]''
|''Devalayam''
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |1993
|''Aalapaana''
|''[[Govinda Govinda]]''
|
|TTD Chief Priest
|
|
|-
|-
|''[[Mutha Mestri]]''
|''[[Vijetha (1985 film)|Vijetha]]''
|MLA Raghavayya
|Narasimham
|
|
|-
|-
|''[[Sopanam (film)|Sopanam]]''
| rowspan="8" |1986
|Raja Raja Varma Thamburan
|''[[Tandra Paparayudu (film)|Tandra Paparayudu]]''
|Malayalam film
|
|
|-
|-
|1992
|''[[Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mahathyam]]''
|''[[Allari Mogudu]]''
|Nana Chandorkar
|
|
|
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |1991
|''Kalyana Tambulam''
|''[[Rowdy Alludu]]''
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|''[[Aditya 369]]''
|''[[Naa Pilupe Prabhanjanam]]''<ref>{{Citation |title=Naa Pilupe Prabhanjanam Full Length Movie {{!}}{{!}} Super Star Krishna, Keerthi |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIlQzaweMiE |work=Shalimar Telugu & Hindi Movies |date=9 December 2014 |access-date=2023-09-18 |language=en |via=YouTube |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002122209/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIlQzaweMiE |url-status=live }}</ref>
|Mahamantri Thimmarusu
|Janakiramaiah
|
|
|-
|-
|''[[Appula Appa Rao]]''
|''[[Ugra Narasimham]]''
|Sankara Sastri
|
|
|
|-
|-
|1990
|''[[Swathi Muthyam]]''
|''[[Pagalil Pournami]]''
|
|A Monk
|
|Tamil film
|-
|-
|1990
|''[[Magadheerudu]]''
|''[[Pratibandh]]''
|
|Chief Minister Satyendra
|
|Hindi film
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |1989
|''[[Kaliyuga Pandavulu]]''
|''[[Swara Kalpana]]''
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|''[[Thiruppu Munai]]''
| rowspan="6" |1987
|Sathyamoorthy
|''[[Madana Gopaludu]]''
|Tamil film
|
|
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |1988
|''[[Sankeertana]]''
|''[[Idhu Namma Aalu (1988 film)|Idhu Namma Aalu]]''
|
|Srinivasa Sastry
|
|Tamil film
|-
|-
|''Sri Venkateshwara Mahime''
|''[[Majnu (1987 film)|Majnu]]''
|
|
|
|Kannada film
|-
|-
|''[[Abhinandana]]''
|''[[Chakravarthy (1987 film)|Chakravarthy]]''
|Swamiji
|
|
|-
|-
| rowspan="6" |1987
|''[[Swayam Krushi]]''
|''[[Viswanatha Nayakudu]]''
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|''[[Swayam Krushi]]''
|''[[Viswanatha Nayakudu]]''
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|''[[Chakravarthy (1987 film)|Chakravarthy]]''
| rowspan="3" |1988
|Swamiji
|''[[Abhinandana]]''
|
|
|-
|-
|''[[Majnu (1987 film)|Majnu]]''
|''[[Neerajanam]]''
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|''[[Sankeertana]]''
|''[[Raktabhishekam]]''
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|''[[Madana Gopaludu]]''
|1989
|''[[Swara Kalpana]]''
|
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1990
|''[[Jayasimha (1990 film)|Jayasimha]]''<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=JAI SIMHA {{!}} FULL MOVIE {{!}} SUMAN {{!}} BHANUPRIYA |work=Telugu Cinema Club |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HGBbI5DMhI |date=6 November 2018 |access-date=2023-10-13 |language=en |via=YouTube |archive-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015044511/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HGBbI5DMhI |url-status=live }}</ref>
|Mukunda Rao, DFO
|
|
|-
|-
| rowspan="8" |1986
|''[[Magaadu (1990 film)|Magaadu]]''
|''[[Kaliyuga Pandavulu]]''
|
|
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |1991
|''[[Aditya 369]]''
|Mahamantri Thimmarusu
|
|
|-
|-
|''[[Magadheerudu]]''
|''Tharaka Prabhuni Deeksha Mahimalu''
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|''Aalaapana''
|''[[Rowdy Alludu]]''
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|[[Ugra Narasimham|''Ugra Narasimham'']]
| rowspan="2" |1992
|
|''[[Appula Appa Rao]]''
|Sankara Sastri
|
|
|-
|-
|''Kalyana Tambulam''
|''[[Allari Mogudu]]''
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|''[[Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mahathyam]]''
| rowspan="3" |1993
|Nana Chandorkar
|''[[Mutha Mestri]]''
|MLA Raghavayya
|
|
|-
|-
|''Tandra Paparayudu''
|''Adivaram Amavasya''
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|''Pyaar Ka Sindoor''
|''[[Govinda Govinda (1994 film)|Govinda Govinda]]''
|TTD Chief Priest
|
|
|Hindi film
|-
|-
| rowspan="5" |1985
|1994
|''[[Vijetha]]''
|''[[Sarigamalu]]'' || ||
|Narasimham
|-
|1995
|''[[Khaidi Inspector]]''<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&v=a0NjRSKKYTU |title=Khaidi Inspector Full Length Telugu Movie {{!}}{{!}} Suman, Rambha, Maheshwari {{!}}{{!}} Ganesh Videos |date=2014-11-05 |last=Ganesh Videos |access-date=2024-11-24 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
|Sivaramakrishnaiah
|
|
|-
|-
|''Devalayam''
|1996
|''Puttinti Gowravam''
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|''[[Yaar?]]''
|1997
|Swamiji
|''Super Heroes''
|Tamil film
|
|
|-
|-
|''[[Swati Mutyam]]''
|1998
|''Subbaraju Gari Kutumbam''
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|2003 ||''Kabirdas'' || ||
|-
|}
===Tamil films===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+List of Tamil films and roles
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role(s)
|-
|1984
|''[[Neengal Kettavai]]''|| Music teacher
|-
|rowspan="2"|1985
|''[[Sri Raghavendrar]]''
|''[[Sri Raghavendrar]]''
|Saint Sudheendra
|Saint Sudheendra
|Debut Tamil film with [[Rajinikanth]]
|-
|-
|1984
|''[[Yaar? (film)|Yaar?]]''
|''[[Jaag Utha Insan]]''
|Swamiji
|Panditji
|-
|Debut Hindi film with [[Mithun Chakraborty]]
|1988
|- ''[[Neengal Kettavai]]''| Street Singer(Cameo Appearance)|Debut Tamil Film
|''[[Idhu Namma Aalu (1988 film)|Idhu Namma Aalu]]''
| rowspan="3" |1983
|Srinivasa Sastry
|''[[Sitaara]]''
|-
|1989
|''[[Thiruppu Munai]]''
|Sathyamoorthy
|-
|1990
|''[[Pagalil Pournami]]''
| Monk
|-
|1997
|''[[Mannava (film)|Mannava]]''
|Astrologer
|-
|}
=== Kannada films ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+List of Kannada films and roles
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role(s)
|-
| 1983 ||''[[Gandharvagiri]]''
| Narasimha Joshi
|-
|1988
|''Sri Venkateshwara Mahime''
|
|
|-
|1995
|''[[Mutthinantha Hendathi]]''
|
|
|-
|-
|''[[Nelavanka (film)|Nelavanka]]''
| rowspan="2" |2003
|Raheem
|''[[Raktha Kanneeru]]''
|
|Chandhra's father
|-
|''[[Ondagona Baa]]''
|Raghavayya (Ajja)
|-
|}
 
=== Hindi films ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+List of films and roles
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role(s)
|-
|1984
|''[[Jaag Utha Insan (1984 film)|Jaag Utha Insan]]''
|Panditji
|-
|-
|''[[Gandharvagiri]]''
|1990
| Heroine's father
|''[[Pratibandh]]''
| Debut Kannada film with [[Vishnu Vardhan]] and [[Aarathi]]
|Chief Minister Satyendra
|-
|-
|1982
|2005
|''[[Pelleedu Pillalu]]''
|''[[Bhagmati (2005 film)|Bhagmati]]''
| P V Rao
|
|
|-
|-
|1981
|}
|''[[Tyagayya (1981 film)|Tyagayya]]''
 
|Tyagayya
===Malayalam films ===
|
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+List of Malayalam films and roles
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role(s)
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |1980
|1994
|''[[Vamsa Vruksham]]''
|''[[Sopanam (film)|Sopanam]]''
|
|Raja Raja Varma Thamburan
|
|-
|-
|''[[Saptapadi (1981 film)|Saptapadi]]''
|1997
|Yajulu
|''[[Itha Oru Snehagatha]]''
|
| Hema's Grandfather
|-
|-
|''[[Sankarabharanam (1980 film)|Sankarabharanam]]''
|2001||''[[Naranathu Thampuran]]''||Guruji
|Shankara Sastry
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu]]
|-
|-
|1976
|''[[Jyothi (1976 film)|Jyoti]]''
|
|
|}
|}
=== Television ===
* [[Abhay Charan (TV series)|''Abhay Charan'']] as [[A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami]] (1996)
* [[Nagamma (TV series)|''Nagamma'']] as Rayudu (2002–2004)


==References==
==References==
Line 278: Line 346:


{{DEFAULTSORT:Somayajulu, J. V.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Somayajulu, J. V.}}
[[Category:1928 births|Somayajulu, J.V]]
[[Category:1920s births|Somayajulu, J.V]]
[[Category:2004 deaths|Somayajulu, J.V]]
[[Category:2004 deaths|Somayajulu, J.V]]
[[Category:Telugu male actors|Somayajulu, J.V]]
[[Category:Telugu male actors|Somayajulu, J.V]]

Latest revision as of 02:38, 17 March 2026


J. V. Somayajulu
Born
Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu

(1920-07-30)30 July 1920 or c. 1928
Srikakulam district, Madras Presidency, British India
Died24 April 2004 (2004-04-25)
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
OccupationActor
Notable work
Sankara Sastry in Sankarabharanam, Tyagaraja in Tyagayya
RelativesJ. V. Ramana Murthy (brother)

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

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. He made a 13-episode television serial based on the play Kanyasulkam. He also portrayed A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in the biographical series Abhay Charan.

Personal life and career[edit | edit source]

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 there. He was a government official and worked as a Deputy collector for Mahabub Nagar district.[1][3]

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.[3]

Other works[edit | edit source]

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

Death[edit | edit source]

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

Filmography[edit | edit source]

Telugu films[edit | edit source]

List of Telugu films and roles
Year Title Role(s) Notes
1976 Jyoti
1980 Sankarabharanam Shankara Sastry Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu
Vamsa Vruksham
1981 Tyagayya Tyagayya
Saptapadi Yajulu
1982 Pelleedu Pillalu P V Rao
1983 Nelavanka Raheem
Sitaara
1985 Devalayam
Aalapaana
Vijetha Narasimham
1986 Tandra Paparayudu
Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mahathyam Nana Chandorkar
Kalyana Tambulam
Naa Pilupe Prabhanjanam[4] Janakiramaiah
Ugra Narasimham
Swathi Muthyam
Magadheerudu
Kaliyuga Pandavulu
1987 Madana Gopaludu
Sankeertana
Majnu
Chakravarthy Swamiji
Swayam Krushi
Viswanatha Nayakudu
1988 Abhinandana
Neerajanam
Raktabhishekam
1989 Swara Kalpana
1990 Jayasimha[5] Mukunda Rao, DFO
Magaadu
1991 Aditya 369 Mahamantri Thimmarusu
Tharaka Prabhuni Deeksha Mahimalu
Rowdy Alludu
1992 Appula Appa Rao Sankara Sastri
Allari Mogudu
1993 Mutha Mestri MLA Raghavayya
Adivaram Amavasya
Govinda Govinda TTD Chief Priest
1994 Sarigamalu
1995 Khaidi Inspector[6] Sivaramakrishnaiah
1996 Puttinti Gowravam
1997 Super Heroes
1998 Subbaraju Gari Kutumbam
2003 Kabirdas

Tamil films[edit | edit source]

List of Tamil films and roles
Year Title Role(s)
1984 Neengal Kettavai Music teacher
1985 Sri Raghavendrar Saint Sudheendra
Yaar? Swamiji
1988 Idhu Namma Aalu Srinivasa Sastry
1989 Thiruppu Munai Sathyamoorthy
1990 Pagalil Pournami Monk
1997 Mannava Astrologer

Kannada films[edit | edit source]

List of Kannada films and roles
Year Title Role(s)
1983 Gandharvagiri Narasimha Joshi
1988 Sri Venkateshwara Mahime
1995 Mutthinantha Hendathi
2003 Raktha Kanneeru Chandhra's father
Ondagona Baa Raghavayya (Ajja)

Hindi films[edit | edit source]

List of films and roles
Year Title Role(s)
1984 Jaag Utha Insan Panditji
1990 Pratibandh Chief Minister Satyendra
2005 Bhagmati

Malayalam films[edit | edit source]

List of Malayalam films and roles
Year Title Role(s)
1994 Sopanam Raja Raja Varma Thamburan
1997 Itha Oru Snehagatha Hema's Grandfather
2001 Naranathu Thampuran Guruji

Television[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 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. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Actor Somayajulu passes away". The Times of India. 24 April 2004. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Somayajulu passes away". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 June 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2007.
  4. ↑ "Naa Pilupe Prabhanjanam Full Length Movie || Super Star Krishna, Keerthi", Shalimar Telugu & Hindi Movies, 9 December 2014, archived from the original on 2 October 2023, retrieved 18 September 2023 – via YouTube
  5. ↑ JAI SIMHA | FULL MOVIE | SUMAN | BHANUPRIYA. Telugu Cinema Club. 6 November 2018. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023 – via YouTube.
  6. ↑ Ganesh Videos (5 November 2014). Khaidi Inspector Full Length Telugu Movie || Suman, Rambha, Maheshwari || Ganesh Videos. Retrieved 24 November 2024 – via YouTube.

External links[edit | edit source]

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