K. Viswanath (1930-2023) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, actor and sound engineer. He won the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2017 for his outstanding performance in Telugu films. K. Viswanath passed away on February 2, 2023, in a hospital in Hyderabad, Telangana due to age-related illnesses.
Wiki/Biography
K. Viswanath alias Kasinadhuni Viswanath was born on Wednesday, February 19, 1930, in Repal, Madras District, British India (now in Andhra Pradesh, India) (age 92; time of death). His zodiac sign is Pisces. He attended a municipal high school in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. He completed his intermediate course from Hindu College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. Later, he received his Bachelor of Science degree from Andhra Christian College, Andhra University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′7″
Hair color: salt and pepper (semi-bald)
Eye color: black
family
Parents and siblings
His father Kasinadhuni Subramanyam is the regional manager of Vijaya Vauhini Studios. His mother’s name is Kasinadhuni Saraswathy also known as Saraswathamma. He has two sisters.
wife and children
He is married to Kasinadhuni Jayalakshmi. He had two sons named Ravindranath Viswanath and Nagendranath Viswanath and a daughter named Padmavathi Viswanath.
K. Viswanath and his wife
K. Vishnwanath and family and K. Chandrasekhar Rao
Ravindranath Viswanath, son of K. Viswanath, was sitting on the back seat.
Nagendranath Viswanath, son of K. Viswanath
other relatives)
Indian actor Chandra Mohan and singer SP Balasubrahmanyam are his cousins.
K. Vishnwanath and SP Balasubramaniam
sign
Signature of K. Viswanath
Profession
sound artist
Viswanath started his career as a sound artist in 1957, assisting Telugu film producer Adurthi Subba Rao. He later worked as a sound engineer on more than 50 films, including “Thodi Kodallu” (1957; Telugu), “Enga Veetu Mahalakshmi” (1957; Tamil) and “Banda Ramudu” (1959; Telugu).
K. Vishnwanath is a sound engineer
Assistant Director/Director
He made his debut as an assistant director in the 1951 Tamil-Telugu film Pathala Bhairavi.
Patara Bairavi(1951)
He made his directorial debut in 1965 with the Telugu film Aatma Gowravam.
Atma Goravam(1965)
Some of the popular South Indian films for which he was a director include “Chelleli Kapuram” (1971), “Kalam Marindi” (1972), “O Seeta Katha” (1974), “Eeshwar” (1989), “Sankarabharanam” (1980) , “Aapadbandhavudu” (1992) and “Chinnabbayi” (1997). He is known for showcasing social issues and Indian culture in his films. Some of these films include “Saptapadi” (1981), “Subhalekha” (1982), “Sirivennela” (1986), “Swayamkrushi” (1987) and “Sutradharulu” (1989).
K. Vishnwanath on the sets of the film with Chiranjeevi as director
K. Viswanath has collaborated with Edida Nageswara Rao, founder of Poornodaya Movie Creations, to direct films such as “Sagara Sangamam”. (1983), “Swathi Muthyam” (1986), “Sutradharulu” (1989) and “Aapadbandhavudu” (1992). In 1979, he made his directorial debut in Bollywood with the film “Sargam”.
Sagam(1979)
Later, he directed several other Hindi films such as Kaamchor (1982), Shubh Kaamna (1983), Jaag Utha Insan (1984), Eeshwar (1989), Sangeet (1992) ) and “Dhanwan” (1993).
Screenwriter/Screenwriter
Viswanath has worked as a screenwriter on several popular Telugu films such as “Kalam Marindi” (1972), “Neramu Siksha” (1973), “Amma Manasu” (1976), “Siri Siri Muvva” (1981) and Saptapadi (1981)).
actor
Movie
He made his acting debut in the 1965 Telugu film Subha Sankalpam, playing the role of Raayudu.
Subha Sankalpam (1965)
He is known for his role as a character actor in several Telugu films such as Vajram (1995), Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu (2002), Tagore (2003), Athadu (2005) 2012) and Devasthanam (2012).
Devasthanam(2012)
He has also appeared in Tamil films such as “Kuruthipunal” (1995), “Mugavaree” (1999), “Pudhiya Geethai” (2003), “Lingaa” (2014) and “Uttama Villain” (2015 ).
Stills of K. Viswanath in “Lingaa” (2013)
television
He has acted in several South Indian television series such as Chellamay (2009; aired on Sun TV), Suryavamsam (2015; aired on Vendhar TV) and Siva Narayana Theerdhulu (2018; aired on SVBC) broadcast).
Stills of K. Viswanath from the TV series Suryavamsam (2015)
Other jobs
Viswanath has appeared in various TV commercials for brands like Ramraj Panchalu, Triplex Soap and GRT Jewellers.
Awards and Honors
civic honor
national film award
- 1980: National Film Award for Best Popular Film for providing wholesome entertainment to the Telugu film Sankarabharanam
- 1982: Won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best National Integration Feature Film for the Telugu film Saptapadi
- 1987: Swathi Muthyam wins Best Feature Film in Telugu
- 1990: Sutradharulu wins Best Feature Film in Telugu
- 2005: Swarabhishekam wins Best Telugu Feature Film
- 2017: Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement in Film Award
K. Viswanath receives Dada Saheb Phalke Award
Nandi Award
- 1980: Telugu film Sankarabharanam won the 2nd Best Storytelling Award
- 1981: Best Screenplay Award for Telugu Film Saptapadi
- 1982: Best Storytelling for a Telugu Film “Subhalekha”
- 1986: Best Director, Telugu Film Swathi Muthyam
- 1987: Won the Best Director Award for the Telugu film Sruthilayalu
- 1992: Raghupathi Venkaiah Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contribution to Telugu Cinema
- 1995: Best Actor in a Telugu Film Subha Sankalpam
- 2000: Best Supporting Actor in Telugu Film Kalisundam Raa
Southern Film Audience Award
- 1974: Best Director Award for the Telugu film O Seeta Katha
- 1975: Telugu film Jeevana Jyoti wins Best Director Award
- 1982: Won the Best Director Award for the Telugu film “Subhalekha”
- 1983: Best Director for Telugu Film “Sagara Sangamam”
- 1986: Best Director, Telugu Film Swathi Muthyam
- 1987: Won the Best Director Award for the Telugu film Sruthilayalu
- 1992: Won the Best Director Award for the Telugu film “Aapadbandhavudu”
- 1995: Telugu film Subha Sankalpam wins Best Director Award
- 1994: Lifetime Achievement Award
Other awards
- 1988: Won the Cinema Express Award for Best Director for the Telugu film “Swarnakamalam”
- 1989: Hindi film Eeshwar wins Filmfare Award for Best Story
- 1991: The Government of Andhra Pradesh conferred Raghupathy Venkaiah Award for his outstanding contribution to Telugu cinema in 1991
- 2008: CineMAA Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2012: Viswa Vikhyata Darsaka Sarvabhowma gets direction achievement
- 2012: Chittoor V. Nagayya Puraskaram receives Lifetime Achievement Award in Cinema
- 2017: Film Nagar Cultural Center – Hyderabad Film Achievement Award
- 2017: Telugu Film Directors Guild Director’s Achievement Award
- 2017: Andhra Pradesh government awards Aathmeeya Sanmanam for her achievements in the field of Vijayawada Thummalapalli Kalakshetram films
- 2021: South Indian International Film Lifetime Achievement Award
K. Viswanath accepts SIIMA
Note: He also received an honorary doctorate from Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, Telangana. In addition, he also received many more honors.
N. Chandrababu Naidu congratulates K. Viswanath
die
He died on February 2, 2023, at a private hospital in Hyderabad, Telangana due to age-related illnesses. At his funeral, many Indian celebrities paid their condolences. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted after his death:
Saddened by the death of Shri K. Viswanath Garu. He is a stalwart of the film industry, a creative and versatile director. His films span a variety of genres and have captivated audiences for decades. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti. “
Facts/Trivia
- His fans fondly call him Kalatapasvi Viswanath.
- In his teenage years, he wanted to pursue a career in administration. However, his uncle suggested that he take acting classes at Vijaya Vauhini Studios. While there, he took a number of other courses, including a course in audiology.
- His Telugu films Sankarabharanam (1979) and Sagara Sangamam (1983) were listed by CNN-IBN among the one hundred greatest Indian films of all time.
- The film “Sankarabharanam” directed by him was very popular and premiered in 1980 at the 8th Indian International Film Festival, Tashkent Film Festival, Moscow International Film Festival and other film festivals. His other films like “Sagara Sangamam” (1983), “Sruthilayalu” (1987), “Swarnakamalam” (1988) and “Swathi Kiranam” (1992) were screened at various film festivals including Ann Arbor Indian International Film Festival , AISFM Film Festival.
K. Vishnwanath on the set of the film
- In 1986, his directorial film “Swathi Muthyam” became India’s official entry for the 59th Academy Awards.
- In 2019, the trailer of his biographical documentary Viswadarshanam was released under the name of People’s Media Factory.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education