Vijay (director) explained

Birth Name:B. Vijaya Reddy
Birth Date:1936 7, df=y
Birth Place:Tadepalligudem, West Godavari, Madras Presidency, British India
Death Place:Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Nationality:Indian
Occupation:Film director, producer and screenwriter

B. Vijaya Reddy (15 July 1936 – 9 October 2020), better known as Vijay Reddy or Vijay, was an Indian film director who worked primarily in Kannada films, besides few Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films. He had directed over 50 films and also produced a few.[1] His debut directorial venture was Rangamahal Rahasya (1970). He was known for his collaborations with leading Kannada actor Rajkumar for movies like Gandhada Gudi (1973), Mayura (1975), Naa Ninna Mareyalare (1976) and Sanaadi Appanna (1977) which are considered among the classic movies of Kannada cinema.[2] [3]

Early life

Reddy was born in Tadepalligudem in the West Godavari district of Madras Presidency in British India to a farming family.[3] [4] He subsequently went to Madras (now Chennai) to look for work.

Career

Reddy started his career in the cinema industry as an assistant editor for B. Vittalacharya's Kannada directorial Mane Tumbida Hennu.[3]

His directorial debut was Rangamahal Rahasya (1970), starring Srinath, the success of which earned him recognition in the industry. It was followed by Modala Rathri (1970) with the same lead actor but the movie was not a commercial success. His third directorial venture, Cow Boy Kulla (1973), with Dwarakish was a reasonable success. His career took a turning point in 1973 when he directed his fourth movie, Gandhada Gudi which was the 150th movie of Rajkumar, who was the leading actor of Kannada films at that time, and the third movie of Vishnuvardhan, who had become a popular actor with the success of his debut movie Naagarahaavu.[5] Gandhada Gudi became a milestone in Kannada films.[6] Vijay's next five movies, Sri Srinivasa Kalyana, Mayura, Naa Ninna Mareyalare, Badavara Bandhu and Sanaadi Appanna, all of which starred Rajkumar were huge commercial successes.[7] [8] [9] He achieved national recognition with the 1977 movie Sanaadi Appanna which had acclaimed shehnai player Bismillah Khan playing the instrument for the lead actor Rajkumar.[10] [11] He directed Rajkumar in nine movies (excluding two cameo appearances) in varied genres including mythological, historical, novel based, folklore and social dramas.[12]

Reddy had the distinction of having directed the 150th movies of both Rajkumar (Gandhada Gudi) [13] and Vishnuvardhan (Mojugara Sogasugara).[14]

He was also instrumental in giving Shankar Nag a mass image through Auto Raja.[15] Prior to that, he had directed Anant Nag in Naa Ninna Bidalaare which had made people take note of Anant's acting prowess.[16] He directed two movies of Shiva Rajkumar - Shiva Mecchida Kannappa and Gandhada Gudi Part 2 both of which had Rajkumar in cameo appearances. He was the director of V. Ravichandran's debut movie Khadeema Kallaru in which he played a negative role.[17]

He had also directed movies in other languages - Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam - with the prominent one being the Hindi remake of Naa Ninna Mareyalare titled Pyar Kiya Hai Pyar Karenge starring Anil Kapoor. His other Hindi movies were - Teri Meherbaniyan - remake of Thaliya Bhagya, Jawab Hum Denge, Ganga Tere Desh Mein - remake of Huli Hebbuli and Paap Ka Ant. His debut Telugu movie was Srimathi.[18]

He also produced two movies - Mullina Gulabi and Kunthiputra. Vijay floated a production house — Vijaya Shekhar Productions — with another director V. Somashekhar and went on to produce several films. Vijay also directed 17 Hindi and six Telugu films, where he worked with the reigning stars of the time such as Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Shatrughan Sinha and Mithun Chakraborty.[19] He also had 48 Kannada films to his credit.[20] His last directorial was the Vishnuvardhan starrer Karnataka Suputra (1996). In 2000, he was selected to direct Rajkumar's ambitious mythological movie Bhakta Ambareesha which was subsequently shelved.[21]

Death

Reddy died on 9 October 2020 at the Apollo Hospital in Chennai.[22] [23]

Filmography

The following is a list of Kannada movies involving Vijay:[24]

YearTitleCredited asNotes
width=65 Directorwidth=65 Story writerwidth=65 Screenplay writerwidth=65 Producerwidth=65 Presenter
1970Rangamahal Rahasya Debut
1970Modala Rathri
1973Cow Boy Kulla
1973Gandhada Gudi
1974Sri Srinivasa Kalyana
1975Mayura
1976Naa Ninna Mareyalare
1976Badavara Bandhu
1977Sanaadi Appanna
1979Naa Ninna Bidalaare
1979Huliya Haalina Mevu
1980Rama Parushurama
1980Auto Raja
1980Aarada Gaaya
1981Hanabalavo Janabalavo
1981Nee Nanna Gellalare
1982Mullina Gulabi
1982Khadeema Kallaru
1982Chalisada Sagara
1983Bhakta Prahlada
1984Thaliya Bhagya
1985Pavithra Paapi
1985Veeradhi Veera
1985Thayiya Hone
1985Thayi Kanasu
1985Mareyada Manikya
1985Kiladi Aliya
1986Thayiye Nanna Devaru
1987Sathva Pareekshe
1987Nyayakke Shikshe
1987Huli Hebbuli
1988Shiva Mecchida Kannappa
1989Deva
1990Kempu Gulabi
1992Kaliyuga Seethe
1992Goonda Rajya
1994Kunti Puthra
1994Gandhada Gudi Part 2
1995Mojugara Sogasugara
1996Karnataka Suputra
2003HrudayanjaliFinal film credit

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kannada film director Vijay Reddy passes away. Bangalore Mirror.com. 10 October 2020.
  2. Web site: 25 March 2012. Rajkumar: Mayura - 1. https://web.archive.org/web/20120325210707/http://www.landoflime.com/archives/writing-films/dr-rajkumar-mayura-1/. 25 March 2012.
  3. Web site: 10 October 2020. Kannada filmmaker Vijay Reddy of 'Gandada Gudi' fame passes away at 87. 10 October 2020. The News Minute. en.
  4. Web site: 10 October 2020. Kannada film director Vijay Reddy dies at 84, celebrities pay condolences. 10 October 2020. India TV News. en.
  5. Web site: Born winner . Frontline . January 2010 . 27 October 2013.
  6. Web site: Gandhada Gudi: The secret of the gun that pulled apart Dr Raj, Vishnuvardhan. 10 October 2020. Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. en.
  7. Web site: Tekur. Sumaa. 11 April 2010. Destiny's children. 10 October 2020. DNA India. en.
  8. News: Teachers, do not denigrate profession by begging for awards . Deccan Herald . 8 September 2007 . 8 April 2014 . 8 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140408215618/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Content/Sep82007/district2007090824150.asp . dead .
  9. News: When his divine sanadi came our way . https://web.archive.org/web/20030901014254/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/07/14/stories/2003071401170100.htm . dead . 1 September 2003 . 14 July 2003 . . 8 April 2014.
  10. Web site: 21 August 2006. When Ustad Bismillah Khan inspired Dr Raj Kumar. 8 April 2014. Rediff.com.
  11. Web site: UNI India - Bismillah Khan Death Anniversary. 9 October 2020. UNI India.
  12. Web site: Chitratara - Legendary Vijay Reddy Belli Hejje. 9 October 2020. Chitratara.
  13. Web site: The best of Dr Rajkumar .
  14. Web site: Kannada Cinema's Greatest Actor . Vishnuvardhan.com . 2022-09-18.
  15. Web site: 24 March 2013 . Celebrating Shankar Nag as Auto Raja . 10 October 2020. The Times of India.
  16. Web site: Na Ninna Bidalaare - Top Kannada horror movies that you must watch. 10 October 2020. The Times of India.
  17. Web site: Kannada star V Ravichandran gets emotional on reality TV show . 29 November 2017 .
  18. https://www.thenewsminute.com/karnataka/kannada-filmmaker-vijay-reddy-gandada-gudi-fame-passes-away-87-135011
  19. Web site: Bharadwaj . K.V. Aditya . Director Vijay passes away . thehindu.com . 11 October 2020 . 10 October 2020.
  20. Web site: Kannada film director Vijay Reddy passes away . Bangalore Mirror . 11 October 2020 . 10 October 2020.
  21. Web site: Kumar . Janani . Kannada director Vijay Reddy dies at 84 in Chennai . India Today . 10 October 2020 . 10 October 2020.
  22. Web site: Kannada film director Vijay Reddy passes away. 10 October 2020. Big News Network.com. en. ANI. Renowned Kannada film director Vijay Reddy has passed away at the age of 84, his son Tripan Reddy confirmed on Saturday..
  23. Web site: Bharadwaj . K.V. Aditya . Director Vijay passes away . The Hindu . en-IN . 10 October 2020.
  24. Web site: Vijay (Old Kannada Director).