B. R. Panthulu


Budaguru Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu was an Indian film director, producer and actor. He is best known for directing films in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. His most popular films are Sri Krishnadevaraya, School Master, Kittur Channamma, Karnan and Veerapandiya Kattabomman. B. R. Panthulu, is a successful actor and converted Ma. Po. Si.'s biographic works Veerapandiya Kattabomman and Kappalottiya Thamizhan to celluloid.

Early life

Panthulu was born on 26 July 1910 in the village of Budaguru of Kolar district in the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore. He began his career as a teacher. Influenced by professional theatre during the time, he joined the troupe Chandrakala Nataka Mandali. He acted in plays Samsara Nouka, Sadarame and Guleba Kavali. He also worked for some time with Gubbi Veeranna's troupe and acted in Sri Krishna Garudi among others. Panthulu then formed his own professional theatre troupe, the Kalaseva Nataka Mandali, staging plays of his own choice.

Career

He made his debut as an actor in the 1936 Kannada film Samsara Nauka, an adaptation of the play he acted in. It was produced by Devi Films, based in Chennai. Directed by H. L. N. Simha, the film starred Panthulu, M. V. Rajamma, Dikki Madhava Rao, S. K. Padmadevi and M. S. Madhava Rao. The hero marries against his grandfather's wishes and is cast out. His troubles do not end there – he finds no favour with his in-laws, loses his job, and finds himself accused of murdering the bride his grandfather had chosen for him. The film was adapted from a play by the Chadrakala Natak Mandali, and remained true to the original's reformist ideal.
In 1950, he made the Tamil film Macharekhai, partnering with filmmaker P. Pullaiah under a stage company that later came to be known as Sukumar Productions with musician T. R. Mahalingam as his partner. With writer P. Neelakantan, he started the company Padmini Pictures, and produced the Tamil film Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari in 1954. Under the banner, he would go on to produce the Kannada films School Master, Kittur Chennamma and Sri Krishnadevaraya, that went on to become landmark films. His portrayal of Timmarusu, the Prime minister of the Vijayanagara King Krishnadevaraya, won him the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor.
As director, Panthulu his debut as a director with the Kannada film Rathnagiri Rahasya, a major commercial success during the time. He has produced and directed 57 films in all South Indian languages under the banner of Padmini Pictures.

Filmography

Awards

International Film Awardss for his film "Veerapandia Kattapomman"
AwardCeremonyCategoryNomineeOutcomeRef.
Afro-Asian Film FestivalAfro-Asian Film Festival - 1960Best FilmB. R. Panthulu
Afro-Asian Film FestivalAfro-Asian Film Festival - 1960Best ActorSivaji Ganesan
Afro-Asian Film FestivalAfro-Asian Film Festival - 1960Best Music DirectorG. Ramanathan

;National Film Awards
;Karnataka State Film Awards
has written a Book '"Danivillada Dhani" on B.R.Pantulu in Kannada, consisting of the details of his childhood, theater, films produced in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Maleyalam. The book was published by Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy. The book was released in November 2016 by Dr. Bharati Vishnuvardhan. Journalist and short story writer Jogi spoke on Book. S.V. Rajendra Singh Baabu presided.