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J. V. Somayajulu

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J. V. Somayajulu
Born
Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu

(1920-07-30)30 July 1920 or c. 1928
Died24 April 2004 (2004-04-25)
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 RaghavendrarHe 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

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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

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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

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

Filmography

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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
Raktabhishekam
1991 Aditya 369 Mahamantri Thimmarusu
Rowdy Alludu
1992 Appula Appa Rao Sankara Sastri
Allari Mogudu
1993 Mutha Mestri MLA Raghavayya
Govinda Govinda TTD Chief Priest
1989 Swara Kalpana
1990 Jayasimha[5] Mukunda Rao, DFO
1994 Sarigamalu
2003 Kabirdas

Tamil films

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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

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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

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

Malayalam films

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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

References

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  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b "Actor Somayajulu passes away". The Times of India. 24 April 2004. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "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.
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