J. V. Somayajulu Explained

J. V. Somayajulu
Birth Name:Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu
Birth Date:30 July 1920 or
Birth Place:Srikakulam district, Madras Presidency, British India
Death Place:Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Occupation:Actor
Relatives:J. V. Ramana Murthy (brother)

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

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.[3] He made a 13-episode television serial based on the play Kanyasulkam.[4] 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.[5] 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.[4]

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.[4]

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. 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.[6]

Filmography

List of films and roles
Year Title Role(s) Notes
1976Jyoti
1980SankarabharanamShankara SastryFilmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu
Vamsa Vruksham
1981TyagayyaTyagayya
SaptapadiYajulu
1982Pelleedu PillaluP V Rao
1983NelavankaRaheem
Sitaara
1985Devalayam
Aalapaana
VijethaNarasimham
1986Tandra Paparayudu
Sri Shirdi Saibaba MahathyamNana Chandorkar
Kalyana Tambulam
Naa Pilupe PrabhanjanamJanakiramaiah
Ugra Narasimham
Swathi Muthyam
Magadheerudu
Kaliyuga Pandavulu
1987Madana Gopaludu
Sankeertana
Majnu
ChakravarthySwamiji
Swayam Krushi
Viswanatha Nayakudu
1988Abhinandana
Raktabhishekam
1991Aditya 369Mahamantri Thimmarusu
Rowdy Alludu
1992Appula Appa RaoSankara Sastri
Allari Mogudu
1993Mutha MestriMLA Raghavayya
Govinda GovindaTTD Chief Priest
1989Swara Kalpana
1990Jayasimha[7] Mukunda Rao, DFO
1994Sarigamalu
2003 Kabirdas

Tamil films

List of Tamil films and roles
Year Title Role(s)
1984Neengal KettavaiMusic teacher
1985Sri RaghavendrarSaint Sudheendra
Yaar?Swamiji
1988Idhu Namma AaluSrinivasa Sastry
1989Thiruppu MunaiSathyamoorthy
1990Pagalil PournamiMonk
1997MannavaAstrologer

Kannada films

List of Kannada films and roles
Year Title Role(s)
1983 GandharvagiriNarasimha Joshi
1988Sri Venkateshwara Mahime
1995Mutthinantha Hendathi
2003Raktha KanneeruChandhra's father
Ondagona BaaRaghavayya (Ajja)

Hindi films

List of films and roles
Year Title Role(s)
1984Jaag Utha InsanPanditji
1990PratibandhChief Minister Satyendra
2005Bhagmati

Malayalam films

List of Malayalam films and roles
Year Title Role(s)
1994SopanamRaja Raja Varma Thamburan
1997Itha Oru SnehagathaHema's Grandfather
2001Naranathu ThampuranGuruji

Notes and References

  1. Web site: An embodiment of Uttarandhra culture. 2 March 2009. 11 June 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090611075620/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2004/05/03/stories/2004050301900300.htm . The Hindu. dead.
  2. Web site: 25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema . . Shishir . Prasad . N. S. . Ramnath . Sohini . Mitter . 27 April 2013. 27 January 2015. 12 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160112014841/http://forbesindia.com/article/100-years-of-indian-cinema/25-greatest-acting-performances-of-indian-cinema/35125/0. dead.
  3. Web site: Metro cultural round-up. 2 March 2009. 29 June 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060629071351/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/05/10/stories/2004051001990200.htm . The Hindu. dead.
  4. Web site: The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Somayajulu passes away . . 22 January 2007. 12 June 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090612030337/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/04/28/stories/2004042806930600.htm. dead.
  5. Web site: P. . Jyosthna Kumari . 7 May 2011 . శంకరాభరణం శంకరశాస్త్రిగా పేరుగాంచిన జె.వి.సోమయాజులు . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304204218/http://www.visalaandhra.com/movieworld/article-46827. 4 March 2016. 29 July 2021 . Visalaandhra.
  6. Web site: 24 April 2004 . Actor Somayajulu passes away . 2021-06-21 . The Times of India . en. 26 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210626225020/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/actor-somayajulu-passes-away/articleshow/643968.cms. live.
  7. JAI SIMHA FULL MOVIE SUMAN BHANUPRIYA . Telugu Cinema Club . 6 November 2018 . 2023-10-13 . en . YouTube . 15 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231015044511/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HGBbI5DMhI . live .