SOUTH-INDIAN LEGENDARY FILMMAKER K.VISWANATH

- Manoj Kulkarni

Lgendary South-Indian Filmmaker & Character Actor..K. Viswanath got 'Dadasaheb Phalke Award' last year! He is best known for outstanding work in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam & Hindi film industry!

J. V. Somayajulu & Manju Bhargavi in dance-musical 

hit Telugu film 'Shankarabharanam' (1980).

Began career as Sound Recordist at 'Vauhini Studio' Madras..Kasinathuni Viswanath then shifted to Screenwriting-direction under A. Subba Rao in 'Annapurna Pictures'! In 1965 he became independent director with film 'Atma Gowravam'. Then he made woman centric films like 'Chelleli Kapurum' (1971) & 'Sharada' (1973). He wrote-directed and Jayaprada & Chandra Mohan acted film 'Siri Siri Muvua' (1976) showed his artistic cinematic treatment!

RishiKapoor & Jayaprada in dance-musical 

superhit Hindi film 'Sargam' (1979).

His films initially focused the performing & visual arts. Like his milestone & honoured film 'Shankarabharanam' (1980) which highlighted the neglect of traditional Indian music! J.V. Somayajula & Manju Bhargavi acted in it and K. V. Mahadevan composed the classical music! After this huge commercial successful film his sensitive film 'Swati Mutyam' (1986) depicted the plight of a young widow who is rescued by an autistic man. Kamal Hassan & Radhika Sarathkumar acted this film was submitted for 'Oscar'!

Anil Kapoor & Vijayashanthi in Hindi film 'Eashwar' (1989) and 

 Kamal Hassan & Radhika in original Telugu film 'Swati Mutyam' (1986).

He also made Malayalam films like 'Sangeeta Sangam' (1988). His films handled variety of genres and addressed social issues also..like caste, colour, disability, alcoholism & socio-economic differences. His 'Saptapadhi' was on caste system, 'Subhodayam' & 'Swanyam Krushi' emphasises the dignity and 'Sutradharulu' urges the need of non-violence!

Madhuri Dixit in Hindi film 'Sangeet' (1988).

Some of his south films remade in Hindi like Jayaprada & Rishi Kapoor acted dance-musical hit 'Sargam' (1979) & Anil Kapoor acted 'Eashwar' (1989). He also made good family & social Hindi films like 'Jaag Utha Insaan' (1984), 'Sanjog' (1985) & 'Sangeet' (1988) in which Madhuri Dixit acted!

He also acted as character artists in Telugu films like 'Subha Sankalpam' (1993) & he directed Tamil film ' Pudhiya Geethai' (2003). He made TV shows too like 'Sun TVs 'Chellamey'!

Veteran South-Indian Filmmaker & Character Actor..K.Viswanath 

receiving 'Dadasaheb Phalke Award' from our President of  India!

In 60 years of film career K. Viswanath made 53 films and won many awards like 5 National Awards, 5 State Nandi Awards, 10 Filmfare South & Hindi Awards. In 1992 he received Andhra Pradesh's 'Raghupathi Venkaiah Award' and our Government of India's 'Padmashree' honour! In addition to this he got international recognition like..his films dubbed in Russian languages and got felicitation at France!

Congratulation for this highest 'Dadasaheb Phalake Award' sir!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune]