Vemuri Gaggaiah
Encyclopedia
Vemuri Gaggaiah (1895–1955) was popular Telugu theater and film actor
. He was well known for the horrifying cruel roles.
in Guntur district
, Andhra Pradesh
. He lost his father in early childhood. His elder brother tried to educate him but failed in his efforts. He married Ramalaxmi in 1913.
During those days, Surabhi Drama company used to be played throughout the Andhra Pradesh and attracts huge crowds. Influenced by this, he learned music and singing songs. He joined the same troupe and acted in many plays touring with them.
He was an important member of the Bala Bharathi Nataka Samajam in Mylavaram
, Krishna district during 1913-28. This was popularly called "Mylavaram Theatre". Gaggaiah became a household name. He won recognition as Yama, god of death, in Sati Savitri, as the demon Hiranyakasipu in Bhakta Prahlada. Some other prominent roles were as the eponymous Mymvana, and as Jalandhara in Sati Tulasi.
His theatrical performances made C. Pullayya to persuade to him to enter Telugu filmdom. His debut in Telugu film industry with Savitri in the year 1933 as Yamadharma raja. It was followed by the evil Kamsa in Sri Krishna Leelalu
(1935) and the womanizer in Chandika
(1940).
All these plays prove his worth as a performer of tremendous range. He had a thunderous stage voice and his rendering of songs like Po Bala Pommikan and Dhikkaramulu Saituna still awes listeners.
The much recognized Telugu theatre personality, Vemuri Gaggaiah died in the year 1955 on December 30 in his native village Vemuru.
His son Vemuri Ramaiah was also a stage actor. He was a Bachelor of Law and started with the role of Sri Krishna in 1950. He later shifted to the role of Karna and acted in the same role on the stage for about 40 years. He formed his own troupe and staged the drama Maharathi Karna. He rendered the verses and dialogues with clear diction and very good action. He published his autobiography with details of his acting career along with his contemporaries. Vemuri Ramasubbaya is one of his sutdent.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. He was well known for the horrifying cruel roles.
Life sketch
Gaggaiah was born in 1895 at VemuruVemuru
Vemuru is a village and a mandal in Guntur district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.-Eminent personalities:* Vemuri Gaggaiah , popular Telugu theater and film actor was born in this village...
in Guntur district
Guntur district
Guntur district is located in Andhra Pradesh along the east coast of Bay of Bengal. The district has a coastline of around 100 kilometers. Guntur City is the largest city in the district and administrative center of Guntur District. The district is a major center for learning.-Etymology:There are...
, 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 lost his father in early childhood. His elder brother tried to educate him but failed in his efforts. He married Ramalaxmi in 1913.
During those days, Surabhi Drama company used to be played throughout the Andhra Pradesh and attracts huge crowds. Influenced by this, he learned music and singing songs. He joined the same troupe and acted in many plays touring with them.
He was an important member of the Bala Bharathi Nataka Samajam in Mylavaram
Mylavaram
Mailavaram or Mylavaram is a small town and Mandal head quarters in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India.Mylavaram is constituency for Andhra Pradesh state Assembly. It includes kondapalli, Ibrahimpatnam too in its jurisdiction.-Geography:...
, Krishna district during 1913-28. This was popularly called "Mylavaram Theatre". Gaggaiah became a household name. He won recognition as Yama, god of death, in Sati Savitri, as the demon Hiranyakasipu in Bhakta Prahlada. Some other prominent roles were as the eponymous Mymvana, and as Jalandhara in Sati Tulasi.
His theatrical performances made C. Pullayya to persuade to him to enter Telugu filmdom. His debut in Telugu film industry with Savitri in the year 1933 as Yamadharma raja. It was followed by the evil Kamsa in Sri Krishna Leelalu
Sri Krishna Leelalu
Sri Krishna Leelalu is a 1935 Telugu film. Famous music director Saluri Rajeswara Rao played the role of Bala Krishna.-The story:...
(1935) and the womanizer in Chandika
Chandika
Chandika may refer to:* Chandi, the supreme Goddess of Devi Mahatmya* Chandika, Nepal, a village in western Nepal* Chandika , a 1940 Telugu film* Chandika , a fictional character appearing in comic books published by Raj Comics...
(1940).
All these plays prove his worth as a performer of tremendous range. He had a thunderous stage voice and his rendering of songs like Po Bala Pommikan and Dhikkaramulu Saituna still awes listeners.
The much recognized Telugu theatre personality, Vemuri Gaggaiah died in the year 1955 on December 30 in his native village Vemuru.
His son Vemuri Ramaiah was also a stage actor. He was a Bachelor of Law and started with the role of Sri Krishna in 1950. He later shifted to the role of Karna and acted in the same role on the stage for about 40 years. He formed his own troupe and staged the drama Maharathi Karna. He rendered the verses and dialogues with clear diction and very good action. He published his autobiography with details of his acting career along with his contemporaries. Vemuri Ramasubbaya is one of his sutdent.
Filmography
- SavithriSavithri (1933 film)Savithri is a 1933 Telugu film directed by Chittajalu Pullayya.-Story:The story is about Savitri and Satyavan from Mahabharata. According to the legend, Princess Savitri marries Satyavan despite a curse that foretells his death within a year. She manages to get Yama , the god of death, to restore...
(1933) - YamaYamaYama , also known as Yamarāja in India and Nepal, Shinje in Tibet, Yanluowang or simply Yan in China, Yeomla Daewang in South Korea and Enma Dai-Ō in Japan, is the lord of death, in Hinduism and then adopted into Buddhism and then further into Chinese mythology and Japanese mythology. First... - Seeta Kalyanam (1934)
- Sri Krishna LeelaluSri Krishna LeelaluSri Krishna Leelalu is a 1935 Telugu film. Famous music director Saluri Rajeswara Rao played the role of Bala Krishna.-The story:...
(1935) - KamsaKamsaIn Hinduism, Kamsa or Kansa , often known as Kans in Hindi, is the brother of Devaki, and ruler of the Vrishni kingdom with its capital at Mathura. His father was King Ugrasena and mother was Queen Padmavati... - Draupadi VastrapaharanamDraupadi VastrapaharanamDraupadi Vastrapaharanam is a 1936 Telugu film. It was made to compete with Draupadi Manasamrakshanam . This film was a major boxoffice success, whereas the Manasamrakshanam failed. The film is remembered for the rendition of poems with acting performances by C. S. R...
(1936) - Sishupala - Sati TulasiSati Tulasi (1936 film)Sati Tulasi is a 1936 Telugu film directed by Chitrapu Narasimha Rao.-Plot:The Hindu Mythological story is based on the life of pious Tulasi and Jalandhara and how she won the affection of Lord Vishnu. Veteran actor Vemuri Gaggaiah played the role of Jalandhara whereas the title role of Tulasi was...
(1936) - Mohini Rugmangada (1937)
- Jarasandha (1938)
- Markandeya (1938) - YamaYamaYama , also known as Yamarāja in India and Nepal, Shinje in Tibet, Yanluowang or simply Yan in China, Yeomla Daewang in South Korea and Enma Dai-Ō in Japan, is the lord of death, in Hinduism and then adopted into Buddhism and then further into Chinese mythology and Japanese mythology. First...
- ChandikaChandika (film)Chandika is a 1940 Telugu film directed by R. S. Prakash. Veteran actress Pasupuleti Kannamba portrayed the role of Chandika.-The Plot:Chandika is the princess of a kingdom. She is unhappy with the ruling of King Giriraju . She wanted to dethrown him and his husband prince to become the Rajah....
(1940) - Giriraju - MahiravanaMahiravanaMahiravana is a 1940 Telugu film by Ghantasala Balaramaiah under the banner of Kubera Films. The veteran actor Vemuri Gaggaiah played the role of Ahiravan....
(1940) - Mairavana - DakshayagnamDakshayagnamDakshayagnam is a 1962 Telugu film directed by Kadaru Nagabhushanam and starring N. T. Rama Rao as Shiva and S. V. Ranga Rao as Daksha.-Cast:* Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao ... Lord Shiva* Devika ... Sathi Devi* S. V. Ranga Rao ... Dakshudu...
(1941) - DakshaDakshaIn Hinduism, Daksha, "the skilled one", is an ancient creator god, one of the Prajapatis, the Rishis and the Adityas. Daksha is said to be the son of Aditi and Brahma... - Bhakta PrahladaBhakta PrahladaBhakta Prahlada means "devotee Prahlada", a devotional character in Hindu mythology. It may refer to:-Films:* Bhakta Prahlada - first Telugu talkie movie made in 1931 under the krishna movies banner by H. M...
(1942) - HiranyakashipuHiranyakashipuHiranyakashipu [golden-haired] is an Asura from the Puranic scriptures of Hinduism. The Puranas describe Hiranyakashipu as an Asura. His younger brother, Hiranyaksha was slain by Varaha, one of the Avatars of Vishnu and angered by this, Hiranyakashipu decided to gain magical powers by performing... - Seeta Rama JananamSeeta Rama JananamSeeta Rama Jananam is a 1944 Telugu film directed by Ghantasala Balaramaiah. This is a mile stone film for Akkineni Nageswara Rao, who acted for the first as Hero Rama. Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao debuted in this film as chorus singer and for a character role. Vedantam Raghavaiah was the...
(1942) - RavanaRavana' is the primary antagonist character of the Hindu legend, the Ramayana; who is the great king of Lanka. In the classic text, he is mainly depicted negatively, kidnapping Rama's wife Sita, to claim vengeance on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister... - Garuda Garvabhangam (1943)