B. Vittalacharya

B. Vittalacharya
File:B.VittalacharyaImg.jpg
Born	(1920-01-20)20 January 1920 Udupi, Madras Presidency, British India (now in Karnataka, India)
Died	28 May 1999(1999-05-28) (aged 79)
Other names	Jaanapada Brahma, Maayaajala Mannan
Occupation	Film director, producer
Years active	1944–1993
Spouse(s)	Jayalakshmi Acharya

B. Vithalacharya (18 January 1920 – 28 May 1999) was an Indian film director and producer known for his works in Telugu cinema and Kannada cinema. He was known as Jaanapada Brahma in the Telugu film arena. Vittalacharya formed his film production company Vittal Productions, which produced the first film directed by him, Rajya Lakshmi.

In 1954, he produced and directed Kanyadhanam, a revolutionary film for that time. Wishing to remake the same in Telugu, he moved to Madras and settled there. After making two more Kannada movies, he concentrated on producing and directing only Telugu movies. He also directed movies for other producers. He directed a total of 19 movies of Sri. N. T. Rama Rao, the leading hero of Andhra Pradesh at that time. Though he did not get any awards, most of his films were box office successes and he was fondly called "Jaanapada Brahma" and "Maayaajala Mannan" by his fans. He was well known for the visual effects shown in most of his movies.

Biography

B. Vithala Acharya was born into a Kannada Madhwa Brahmin family on 18 January 1920 in Udayavara, in then Udupi Taluk as a seventh child. He was interested in dramas, Bayalata and Yakshagana since childhood. His father was a noted ayurvedic doctor, who used to treat patients free of cost. He studied only up to third class. He left the house to seek his fortune at the age of nine years. Reaching Arasikere, he did odd jobs and finally bought an Udupi Restaurant from his cousin. He successfully ran the hotel.

He participated in the Quit India Movement against the British Government along with some friends. He was imprisoned. After release from the Jail, he handed over his hotel business to his younger brother. He established One Touring Cinema in Hassan District along with his friend Sri D. Shankar Singh and others.

He was the executive partner running the Touring Talkies on a daily basis. He multiplied the single Touring Talkies into four units. He used to watch each and every film they screened and learnt film making techniques practically. In 1944, he married Jayalakshmi Acharya, the third daughter of Sri. U. Ramadasa Acharya of K. R. Pete.

With the same friends and Shankar Singh, they moved to Mysore and formed a film production company under the banner of Mahatma Pictures. They produced 18 Kannada pictures from 1944 to 1953, among them very successful ones like Naga Kanya, Jagan Mohini, and Srinivasa Kalyana. During that period, one by one the partners parted company and finally only D.Shankar Singh and Vittala Acharya remained. Some of the films were directed by others, some by D.Shankar Singh and some by Vittala Acharya.

In 1953, he parted ways with D.Shankar Singh, and formed his own company under the banner Vittal Productions and produced and directed his first film, Rajya Lakshmi. In 1954, he produced and directed Kanyadhanam, a revolutionary film for that time. Wishing to remake the same in Telugu, he moved to Madras and settled there till his death. After making two more Kannada movies, he concentrated on producing and directing only Telugu and Tamil movies. He directed movies for other producers also.

Filmography

Year	Film	Language	Actors	Remarks
1953	Rajya Lakshmi			Director and producer
1954	Kanyadhanam			Director and producer
1956	Muttiyde Baghya			Director and producer
1956	Vaddante Pelli	Telugu		Director and producer
1957	Jaya Vijaya	Kannada		Director and producer
1957	Mane Thumbida Hennu	Kannada		Producer
1958	Anna Chellalu	Telugu		Director
1958	Mane Thumbida Hennu	Kannada		Director
1958	Pelli Meeda Pelli	Telugu		Director and producer
1959	Penn Kulathin Pon Villakku	Tamil		Director
1960	Anna Chellelu	Telugu		Director
1960	Kanaka Durga Pooja Mahima	Telugu		Director and producer
1961	Varalakshmi Vratham	Telugu		Director and producer
1962	Khadhi Kannayya			Director
1962	Madana Kama Raju Katha	Telugu		Director and producer
1963	Bandipotu	Telugu	NTR	Director
1963	Guruvunu Minchina Sishyudu	Telugu		Director and producer
1963	Nava Graha Pooja Mahima	Telugu	Kanta Rao	Director and producer
1963	Veera Kesari	Kannada		Director
1964	Aggi Pidugu	Telugu	NTR	Director and producer
1965	Jwala Dweepa Rahasyam	Telugu	Kanta Rao	Director
1965	Mangamma Sapatham	Telugu	NTR	Director
1965	Vijaya Simha	Kannada		Director
1966	Aggi Bharata	Telugu	NTR	Director and producer
1966	Iddaru Monagallu	Telugu		Director
1967	Chikkadu Dorakadu	Telugu	NTR	Director
1967	Pidugu Ramudu	Telugu	NTR	Director
1967	Aggi Dora	Telugu		Director and Producer
1968	Bhale Monagadu	Telugu		Director
1968	Kadaladu Vadaladu	Telugu	NTR	Director
1969	GandiKota Rahasyam	Telugu	NTR	Director
1969	Aggi Veerudu	Telugu	NTR	Director and Producer
1970	Alibaba 40 Dongalu	Telugu	NTR	Director
1970	Lakshmi Kataksham	Telugu	NTR	Director
1970	Vijayam Manade	Telugu	NTR	Director
1971	Rajakota Rahasyam	Telugu	NTR	Director
1971	C. I. D. Raju			Producer
1972	Beedala Patlu	Telugu	ANR	Director and Producer
1973	Palleturi Chinnodu	Telugu	NTR	Director and Producer
1974	Aadadani Adrustam	Telugu		Director and Producer
1975	Kotalo Paga	Telugu		Director and Producer
1978	Jaganmohini	Telugu		Director and Producer
1979	Gandharva Kanya	Telugu		Director and Producer
1980	Madana Manjari			Director and Producer
1983	Nava Mohini			Director and Producer
1984	Jai Bhetala 3D		Narasimharaju	Story and Screen Play
1985	Mohini Shapadham			Producer and Director
1986	Veera Pratap			Director
1987	Sri Devi Kamakshi Kataksham	Telugu	K. R. Vijaya, Ramya Krishnan, Aruna Mucherla	Director
1991	Sri Saila Bhramarambika Kataksham	Telugu	Narasimharaju, K. R. Vijaya	Director
1992	Karuninchina Kanakadurga	Telugu	K. R. Vijaya	Director

External links

• B. Vittalacharya on IMDb
• Complete list of films directed by B.Vittalacharya