Shri.
Boodgur Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu, born on July
26th 1910, has produced and directed 57 films
in all South Indian languages under the banner
Padmini Pictures and is one of the pioneers
of the Indian film industry. Many of his films
have won National and State Awards. His portfolio
includes legendary films like Veera Pandiya
Kattabomman, which won the Afro-Asian Film
Festival award, Kappalotiya Thamizhan, and
Karnan. A futuristic thinker of his times,
he has made the first ever Techni Color film
in India in Tamil (Veera Pandiya Kattabomman)
and the first Color Film in Kannada, Shri
Krishna Deva Rayalu.
Shri. B.R. Panthalu was closely associated
with veterans such as N.T. Ramarao, Nageshwara
Rao through his Telugu Films; Shri Sivaji
Ganesan through Veera Pandiya Kattabomman,
Kappalotiya Thamizhan, Karnan, Sabash Meena
and the likes and with Shri MGR in Aayirathil
Oruvan, Ragasiya Police 115, and Madurai Meetiya
Sundara Pandian to name a few.
Shri B.R. Panthulu has introduced Ms.Jayalalitha
to the silver screen first in the Kannada
film Chinnada Gombe and later introduced the
MGR-Jayalalitha duo in Aayirathil Oruvan.
He has also introduced other artistes like
Bharathi, given the opportunity to his assistant
Puttana Kannagal to direct his first film
School Master. Many of his films were remade
in all languages including Hindi.
Even after the demise of Shri B.R. Panthulu
on Oct 8th, 1974, Srimathi Indira Gandhi previewed
the film "Kappalotiya Thamizhan"
and was so deeply moved that she granted Entertainment
Tax Exemption for the film, forever...
Karnataka is celebrating the entire year starting
with a function tomorrow and screening two films
in each district every single week and documenting
Shri. B.R. Panthulu's biography at the end of
the year. |
