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J. V. Somayajulu
Born	Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu (1920-07-30)30 July 1920 or c. 1928 Srikakulam district, Madras Presidency, British India
Died	24 April 2004 (2004-04-25) Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Occupation	Actor
Notable work	Sankara Sastry in Sankarabharanam, Tyagaraja in Tyagayya
Relatives	J. V. Ramana Murthy (brother)

Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu (30 July 1920 or c. 1928 – 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

Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu was born in Lukalam Agraharam in Srikakulam district of present-day Andhra Pradesh. 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.

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.

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.

Filmography

Tamil films

Kannada films

Hindi films

Malayalam films

Television

• Nagamma (2002–2004)

References

1. ^ 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. ^ "Actor Somayajulu passes away". The Times of India. 24 April 2004. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
3. ^ "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.
6. Ganesh Videos (5 November 2014). Khaidi Inspector Full Length Telugu Movie || Suman, Rambha, Maheshwari || Ganesh Videos. Retrieved 24 November 2024 – via YouTube.

External links

• J. V. Somayajulu at IMDb

• 1928 births
• 2004 deaths
• Telugu male actors
• Male actors from Andhra Pradesh
• Indian male stage actors
• 20th-century Indian male actors
• 21st-century Indian male actors
• People from Srikakulam district
• Male actors in Tamil cinema
• Male actors in Telugu cinema
• Indian male film actors
• Male actors in Malayalam cinema
• Male actors in Kannada cinema
• Male actors in Hindi cinema
• People from Uttarandhra