| B. Vittalacharya | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1920-01-28)28 January 1920 Udupi, Madras Presidency, British India (Present day in Karnataka, India) |
| Died | 28 May 1999(1999-05-28) (aged 79) |
| Other names | Jaanapada Brahma, Maayaajala Mannan |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1944–1993 |
| Spouse | Jayalakshmi Acharya |
B. Vittalacharya (28 January 1920 – 28 May 1999) was an Indian film director and producer known for his works in Telugu and Kannada cinema. He was known as Janapada Brahma in the Telugu film industry. Vittalacharya formed his film production company Vittal Productions, which produced the first film directed by him, Rajya Lakshmi.
In 1952, he did his first movie Sri Srinivasa Kalyana in Kannada. He went on to make Kannada movies after the success of Sri Srinivasa Kalyana. In 1954, he produced and directed Kanyadhanam, a revolutionary Kannada 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. He also directed movies for other producers. He directed a total of 19 movies with N. T. Rama Rao, the doyen of Telugu cinema at the 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. Vithalacharya was born into a Kannada speaking Shivalli Madhwa Brahmin family on 28 January 1920 in Udayavara, in then Udupi Taluk as a seventh child. He was interested in dramas, Bayalata and Yakshagana since childhood. His father Padmanabhacharya 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 Vittalacharya remained. Some of the films were directed by others, some by D. Shankar Singh and some by Vittalacharya.
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 Kannada film for that time. Wishing to remake the same in Telugu, he moved to Madras and settled there till his death.
Filmography
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| Year | Title | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Sri Srinivasa Kalyana | Kannada | Director and producer |
| 1953 | Rajya Lakshmi | Kannada | Director and producer |
| 1954 | Kanyadhanam | Kannada | Director and producer |
| 1956 | Muttiyde Baghya | Kannada | 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 | Khaidi Kannayya | Kannada | Director |
| 1962 | Madana Kama Raju Katha | Telugu | Director and producer |
| 1963 | Manthiri Kumaran | Tamil | Director |
| 1963 | Bandipotu | Telugu | Director |
| 1963 | Guruvunu Minchina Sishyudu | Telugu | Director and producer |
| 1963 | Nava Graha Pooja Mahima | Telugu | Director and producer |
| 1963 | Veera Kesari | Kannada | Director |
| 1964 | Aggi Pidugu | Telugu | Director and producer |
| 1965 | Jwaladweepa Rahasyam | Telugu | Director |
| 1965 | Mangamma Sapatham | Telugu | Director |
| 1965 | Vijaya Simha | Kannada | Director |
| 1966 | Aggi Barata | Telugu | Director and producer |
| 1966 | Iddaru Monagallu | Telugu | Director |
| 1967 | Chikkadu Dorakadu | Telugu | Director |
| 1967 | Pidugu Ramudu | Telugu | Director |
| 1967 | Aggi Dora | Telugu | Director and producer |
| 1968 | Bhale Monagadu | Telugu | Director |
| 1968 | Kadaladu Vadaladu | Telugu | Director |
| 1969 | Gandikota Rahasyam | Telugu | Director |
| 1969 | Aggi Veerudu | Telugu | Director and producer |
| 1970 | Ali Baba 40 Dongalu | Telugu | Director |
| 1970 | Lakshmi Kataksham | Telugu | Director |
| 1970 | Vijayam Manade | Telugu | Director |
| 1971 | Rajakota Rahasyam | Telugu | Director |
| 1971 | C. I. D. Raju | Producer | |
| 1972 | Beedala Patlu | Telugu | Director and producer |
| 1973 | Palleturi Chinnodu | Telugu | Director and producer |
| 1974 | Aadadani Adrushtam | 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 | Telugu | Director and producer |
| 1983 | Nava Mohini | Telugu | Director and producer |
| 1984 | Jai Bhetala 3D | Telugu | Story and Screen Play |
| 1985 | Mohini Sapadham | Telugu | Producer and director |
| 1986 | Veera Pratap | Telugu | Director |
| 1987 | Sri Devi Kamakshi Kataksham | Telugu | Director |
| 1991 | Srisaila Bhramarambika Kataksham | Telugu | Director |
| 1992 | Karuninchina Kanakadurga | Telugu | Director |
References
- "Janapada Brahma Vithalacharya Directors - Kinema2Cinema.com". Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- "B. Vittalacharya". actiononframes.com. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- "A Face to the Faceless: The B Vittalacharya Tribute". Silverscreen India. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- "B Vittalacharya | V CINEMA – Biography, Photos, Movies, Age, Height, Family". www.vcinema.com. Retrieved 5 August 2023.