B. Nagi Reddy
Encyclopedia
Bommireddy Nagi Reddy (2 December 1912 - 25 February 2004) was a Telugu
movie producer from Pottipadu Village in the Kadapa District
of Andhra Pradesh
. He set up Vijaya Vauhini Studios
in Chennai
, which was then Asia's biggest film studio. As his elder brother (who was also a director) had the same initials and was known as B. N. Reddy, Nagi Reddy was popularly known as B. Nagi Reddy. Some of the movies produced by Nagi Reddy include Patala Bhairavi
(1951), Missamma
(1955), Maya Bazaar (1957), Gundamma Katha
(1962), Ram Aur Shyam
, Shriman Shrimati
, Julie
(1975), and Swarg Narak
(1978), the latter two of which were in Hindi
. His heir is Venkatramana Reddy.
movies. Some of his more notable films include Pathala Bhairavi, Maya Bazaar, and Missamma
. He made most of his films in association with screen writer Chakrapani
. Nagi Reddy closed down Vijaya-Vahini after the Tamil film industry moved out of studios in the 1970s, and started the Vijaya Hospital and Vijaya Health Centre.
He stopped producing movies after the death of his friend and partner Chakrapani.
between 1980 and 1983, and is credited for building the Vaikuntam Queue Complex
that now serves to regulate pilgrims for darshan in the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple
.
Nagi Reddy founded the Vijaya Medical & Educational Trust in 1972. The trust runs the Vijaya Hospital (1972), Vijaya Health Center (1987) and Vijaya Heart Foundation (1996). Nagi Reddy headed the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce four times and the All-India Film Sammelan for two terms.
Nagi Reddy started the Andhra Jyothi
newspaper in 1945. He also established the children's magazine Chandamama
in July 1947. The magazine was eventually printed in nearly a dozen different languages.
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
movie producer from Pottipadu Village in the Kadapa District
Kadapa district
YSR Kadapa District is one of the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh, India. On 8 July 2010, the government of Andhra Pradesh renamed the district in honor of Y. S...
of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. He set up Vijaya Vauhini Studios
Vijaya Vauhini Studios
Vijaya Vauhini Studios was once a major a motion picture movie studio in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.This was for some time the biggest film studio in Asia in terms of studio floor space...
in Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, which was then Asia's biggest film studio. As his elder brother (who was also a director) had the same initials and was known as B. N. Reddy, Nagi Reddy was popularly known as B. Nagi Reddy. Some of the movies produced by Nagi Reddy include Patala Bhairavi
Patala Bhairavi
Patala Bhairavi was a Telugu fantasy film produced by Vijaya Pictures in 1951. It is directed by Kadri Venkata Reddy and Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao, who also gave the screen adaptation. Pingali Nagendra Rao wrote dialogue and song lyrics...
(1951), Missamma
Missamma
*Aduvari matalaku ardhale verule - A. M. Rajah*Baalanura Madana - P. Susheela*Brindavanamadi andaridi Govindudandari vade - A. M. Rajah*Dharmam Cheyyi Babu - Relangi*Ee NavaNavabhuyudaya*Kaavaalante Isthaale - A. M. Rajah...
(1955), Maya Bazaar (1957), Gundamma Katha
Gundamma Katha
Gundamma Katha is a 1962 Telugu film produced by famous producer duo B. Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani starring mainly S. V. Ranga Rao, N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Suryakantham, Jamuna Ramanarao, Savitri, Ramana Reddy, Rajanala Kaleswara Rao, Chaya Devi, L. Vijayalakshmi and Haranath...
(1962), Ram Aur Shyam
Ram Aur Shyam
Ram Aur Shyam is a 1967 Indian Hindi feature film, directed by Tapi Chanakya. Its producer B. Nagi Reddy previously produced Ramudu Bheemudu, a Telugu film starring N.T...
, Shriman Shrimati
Shriman Shrimati
Shriman Shrimati is a 1982 Hindi film produced by B. Nagi Reddy and directed by Vijay Reddy. The film stars Sanjeev Kumar, Rakhee, A. K. Hangal, Amol Palekar, Deepti Naval, Rakesh Roshan, Sarika and Lalita Pawar...
, Julie
Julie (1975 film)
Julie is a 1975 Hindi film that stars Laxmi in the title role. It also stars Nadira, and Sridevi as a child star. The film became a box office hit....
(1975), and Swarg Narak
Swarg Narak
Swarg Narak is a 1978 Hindi movie produced by B.Nagi Reddy and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. This family and comedy drama stars Sanjeev Kumar, Jeetendra, Vinod Mehra, Moushumi Chatterjee, Shabana Azmi...
(1978), the latter two of which were in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
. His heir is Venkatramana Reddy.
Film career
Nagi Reddy along with his friend and partner Alur Chakrapani produced over fifty films in four decades in the four South Indian languages and Hindi. He made mythological, devotional, and historical TeluguTelugu cinema
The Cinema of Andhra Pradesh, also referred to as Telugu Cinema or Tollywood, is the Telugu film industry in India. The Telugu language film industry is known for being one of the three largest in terms of no.of films produced yearly in India. The Prasads IMAX theatre in Hyderabad is one of the...
movies. Some of his more notable films include Pathala Bhairavi, Maya Bazaar, and Missamma
Missamma
*Aduvari matalaku ardhale verule - A. M. Rajah*Baalanura Madana - P. Susheela*Brindavanamadi andaridi Govindudandari vade - A. M. Rajah*Dharmam Cheyyi Babu - Relangi*Ee NavaNavabhuyudaya*Kaavaalante Isthaale - A. M. Rajah...
. He made most of his films in association with screen writer Chakrapani
Chakrapani
Aluri Chakrapani or Aluri Venkata Subbarao was a multilingual genius and a popular writer and director of South Indian films.-Early life:...
. Nagi Reddy closed down Vijaya-Vahini after the Tamil film industry moved out of studios in the 1970s, and started the Vijaya Hospital and Vijaya Health Centre.
He stopped producing movies after the death of his friend and partner Chakrapani.
Awards
For his contributions to Indian, Telugu, and Tamil cinema, Nagi Reddy received various awards:- The Government of IndiaGovernment of IndiaThe Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
awarded him the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1986. - The Government of Andhra PradeshAndhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
awarded him the Raghupathy Venkaiah award in 1987. - The Government of Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
awarded him the Kalaimamani AwardKalaimamaniThe Kalaimamani is an award in Tamil Nadu state, India. These awards are given by the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Manram for excellence in the field of art and literature....
in 1972. - He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Srikrishnadevaraya University and Sri Venkateswara University.
Other Businesses and Philanthropy
Nagi Reddy served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Tirumala Tirupati DevasthanamsTirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams also referred as TTD is an independent trust which manages the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh...
between 1980 and 1983, and is credited for building the Vaikuntam Queue Complex
Vaikuntam Queue Complex
Vaikuntam Queue Complex is a facility used in Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams for queue management. The complex serves as the entry point for all darshans and there are very few exceptions.-History:...
that now serves to regulate pilgrims for darshan in the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple
Tirumala Venkateswara Temple
Tirumala Venkateswara Temple ), is a Hindu temple in the hill town of Tirumala, near Tirupati in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, South India. It is around from Chennai, from Hyderabad, and from Bangalore....
.
Nagi Reddy founded the Vijaya Medical & Educational Trust in 1972. The trust runs the Vijaya Hospital (1972), Vijaya Health Center (1987) and Vijaya Heart Foundation (1996). Nagi Reddy headed the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce four times and the All-India Film Sammelan for two terms.
Nagi Reddy started the Andhra Jyothi
Andhra Jyothi
Andhra Jyothy is a Telugu daily newspaper in Andhra Pradesh, India edited by K. Srinivas. Vemuri Radhakrishna is its Managing Director. It has a circulation of over 5,00,000 across Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states.- External links :* *...
newspaper in 1945. He also established the children's magazine Chandamama
Chandamama
Chandamama in Kannada and Telugu means moon. It may refer to:* Chandamama, an Indian monthly magazine focused on kids and youngsters* Chandamama , a Malayalam film starring Kunchacko Boban...
in July 1947. The magazine was eventually printed in nearly a dozen different languages.
As Producer
- Film With "Ajith KumarAjith KumarAjith Kumar is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He began his career as a supporting actor in a Telugu film before gaining critical recognition in the Tamil thriller Aasai . A succession of high-grossing films followed where Ajith was usually depicted as a romantic hero, with...
" - Shriman Shrimati (1982) (producer) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
- Swayamvar (1980) (producer) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
- Swarg NarakSwarg NarakSwarg Narak is a 1978 Hindi movie produced by B.Nagi Reddy and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. This family and comedy drama stars Sanjeev Kumar, Jeetendra, Vinod Mehra, Moushumi Chatterjee, Shabana Azmi...
(1978) (producer) (as B. Nagi Reddi) - Yehi Hai Zindagi (1977) (producer) (as B. Nagi Bedi)
- ... aka Yehi Hai Zindagi (India: Hindi title: video box title)
- Shri Rajeshwari Vilas Coffee Club (1976) (producer)
- Julie (1975) (producer) (as B. Nagi Reddi-Chakrapani)
- Ganga Manga (1973) (producer)
- Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1970) (producer) (as B. Nagi Reddy)
- Ram Aur Shyam (1967) (producer) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
- Gundamma Katha (1962) (producer)
- Manithan Maravillai (1962) (producer)
- Rechukka Pragatichukka (1959) (producer)
- Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu (1958) (producer)
- Maya Bazaar (1957/I) (producer)
- Maya Bazaar (1957/II) (producer)
- Missamma (1955) (producer)
- Missiamma (1955) (producer)
- Chandraharam (1954) (producer)
- Pelli Chesi Choodu (1952) (producer)
- ... aka Get Married and See! (India: English title)
- Patala Bhairavi (1951) (producer)
- ... aka The Goddess from Below the Earth
- Shavukaru (1950) (producer)
- Showkar (1950) (producer)
As Presenter
- Shriman Shrimati (1982) (presenter) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
- Swayamvar (1980) (presenter) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
- Swarg Narak (1978) (presenter) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
- Yehi Hai Zindagi (1977) (presenter) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
- ... aka Yehi Hai Zindagi (India: Hindi title: video box title)
- Julie (1975) (presenter) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
- Prem Nagar (1974) (presenter) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
- Ram Aur Shyam (1967) (presenter) (as B. Nagi Reddi)