Nagaiah was born on 28 March 1904 in a Telugu speaking Vaidiki Brahmins family, Andhra Pradesh. His parents were Ramalinga Sarma and Venkata Lakshmamba. His parents believed that Nagaiah was born to them by the blessings of Snake God, hence named him Nagaiah.
The family moved to Kuppam and later to Tirupati, in Chittoor district. He took up studies with the scholarship provided by the Tirupati Devasthanam and took his degree in Chittoor. He worked as a clerk in a government office. Later, he turned into a journalist with "Andhra Patrika". Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru influenced him and he participated in the freedom struggle (Dandi Satyagraha) in 1930. His liking for the fine arts, found himself working with gramophone companies like Hutchins. He found the patronage from the legendary figures in Carnatic music Musiri Subramania Iyer and GN Balasubramanian. MS Subba Lakshmi happens to be his contemporary.
He attended the Gowhati Congress conclave with S. Srinivasa Iyyengar. Through his musical renderings, he could impress the young Kamala Nehru at Anand Bhavan in Allahabad.
He held strong association with ‘Rama Vilasa Sabha’ a cultural association in Chittoor. He performed several stage plays ‘Sarangadhara’, ‘Viswamithra Chitra Nilayam’, ‘Savitri’, ‘Bruhannala’ and ‘Ramadasu’ and took on the roles of saint poets Pothana, Vemana, Rama Dasu and Thyagiah. He bagged gold medal for his female role as ‘Chitrangi’, in the play ‘Sarangadhara’. During that period he was married to Vijaya Lakshmi, but she demised when she was giving birth to a girl child a year after. He had to marry Girija in order to take care of his daughter. Fate was so cruel to Nagaiah that Girija too died due to miscarriage in the eighth month. The daughter also left the world due to a mysterious disease. All these unfortunate developments had turned Nagaiah into a saint. His long stays at Ramana Maharshi Ashram and several places provided him a deep insight into human nature. He began to love mankind.
He joined the Chennapuri Andhra Maha Sabha (CAMS), a popular cultural Association of Andhras in the erstwhile Madras. Nagaiah developed life-time friendship with Bommireddy Narasimha Reddy (BN Reddy- a famed filmmakers of India). H. M. Reddy, a legendary figure in the pre-independence era arrived at Madras from Kolhapur and formed the Rohini Pictures with the association of B.N. Reddy. The firm started its first venture in Telugu through the film ‘Gruhalakshmi’ in 1938, in which Nagaiah played a significant role, as the brother of the then popular heroine Kannambha. Later, the association worked through several hits with Vahini Studios. ‘Vande Matharam’ (1939), ‘Sumangali’ (1940), ‘Devata’ (1941), ‘Bhakta Potana’ (1942), ‘Swarga Seema’ (1945), ‘Thygayya’ (1946), ‘Yogi Vemana’ (1947) were huge hits. He started getting offers from the Telugu and Tamil film industries equally. Nagiah became the highest paid actor by the time he was doing the film ‘Beedalapatlu’. His performance in the film ‘Bhakta Potana’ influenced a boy who later turned into a saint and became popular as ‘Balayogi’.
The film ‘Thyagayya’ was released in the year 1946 was a fabulous classic film of the South Indian film history. Nagaiah was the producer, director, music director and actor for the film ‘Thyagiah’. a reverberant hit. After that he made films ‘Naa Illu’ in 1953 and ‘Bhakta Ramadas’ in 1964 which turned out to be failures and Nagaiah lost his wealth. Another musical hit of Nagaiah was ‘Chakradhari’, in 1948 based on the story of the Maharashtrian potter-saint Gora Kumbhar.
Personality
Nagiah was distinctive in his approach towards mankind. He always used to salute every traffic constable while traveling in car and he felt it as an accolade he is offering to them who stands under the sun only to help and guide the people. His unselfishness surpassed the limits and was root cause for his fiscal devastation. He treated everybody as true friend and admitted everyone to take total advantage of his benevolence. Most of the times he went out of the way to expend money only to give pleasures and happiness to people irrespective of their little acquaintance. He had no children of his own yet he was called as ‘Naannagaaru’ (dear father) by most of the people in film industry as he treated everybody as his own children.
Filmography
Actor
| Year | Film | Language | Character | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Gruhalakshmi | Telugu | Gopinath | |
| 1939 | Vande Mataram | Telugu | Raghu | |
| 1940 | Sumangali | Telugu | Panthulu | |
| 1940 | Viswamohini | Telugu | A Film Director | |
| 1941 | Ashok Kumar | Tamil | King Ashoka | |
| 1941 | Devatha | Telugu | Venu | |
| 1942 | Bhakta Potana | Telugu | Pothana | |
| 1943 | Bhagyalaxmi | Telugu | Srinivasa Rao | |
| 1943 | Chenchu Lakshmi | Telugu | Chenchu's Father | |
| 1945 | Meera | Hindi | King of Mewar | |
| 1945 | Meera | Tamil | King of Mewar | |
| 1945 | Swargaseema | Telugu | Murthy | |
| 1946 | Thyagayya | Telugu | Tyagayya | |
| 1947 | Yogi Vemana | Telugu | Vemana | |
| 1948 | Chakradhari | Tamil | ||
| 1949 | Mana Desam | Telugu | ||
| 1949 | Navajeevanam | Tamil | Mahadevan | |
| 1950 | Beedala Patlu | Telugu | ||
| 1950 | Ezhai Padum Padu | Tamil | Kandan | |
| 1951 | Sarvadhikari | Tamil | ||
| 1952 | Thayi Ullam | Tamil | ||
| 1953 | En Veedu | Tamil | ||
| 1953 | Gumasta | Tamil | ||
| 1953 | Gumasta | Telugu | Ranganatham | |
| 1953 | Ladki | Hindi | ||
| 1953 | Naa Illu | Telugu | Sivaram | |
| 1953 | Panakkari | Tamil | ||
| 1953 | Penn | Tamil | ||
| 1953 | Prapancham | Telugu | ||
| 1953 | Sangham | Telugu | ||
| 1954 | Ethirparadathu | Tamil | Dayaparar | |
| 1954 | Maa Gopi | Telugu | ||
| 1954 | Viduthalai | Tamil | Periaswamy | |
| 1955 | Anarkali | Telugu | ||
| 1955 | Kanavane Kan Kanda Daivam | Tamil | ||
| 1956 | Asai | Tamil | ||
| 1956 | Bhakta Markandeya | Kannada | ||
| 1956 | Bhakta Markandeya | Tamil | ||
| 1956 | Bhakta Markandeya | Telugu | ||
| 1956 | Muddu Bidda | Telugu | ||
| 1956 | Naga Panchami | Telugu | ||
| 1956 | Tenali Ramakrishna | Telugu | Mahamantri Thimmarusu | |
| 1956 | Tenali Raman | Tamil | Mahamantri Thimmarusu | |
| 1957 | Nala Damayanti | Tamil | ||
| 1957 | Nala Damayanti | Telugu | ||
| 1957 | Panduranga Mahatyam | Telugu | Jahnavi | |
| 1957 | Sati Savitri | Telugu | ||
| 1958 | Bommala Pelli | Telugu | ||
| 1958 | Ettuku Pai Ettu | Telugu | ||
| 1958 | Parvati Kalyanam | Telugu | ||
| 1958 | Sampoorna Ramayanam | Telugu | ||
| 1959 | Banda Ramudu | Telugu | ||
| 1959 | Jayabheri | Telugu | Viswambhara Sastri | |
| 1959 | Kalaivanan | Tamil | ||
| 1959 | Nalla Theerpu | Tamil | ||
| 1960 | Abhimanam | Telugu | ||
| 1960 | Shantinivasam | Telugu | ||
| 1960 | Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam | Telugu | Balaji | |
| 1961 | Ellam Unnakkaga | Tamil | ||
| 1961 | Intiki Deepam Illalu | Telugu | ||
| 1961 | Nagarjuna | Telugu | ||
| 1961 | Pavamanippu | Temil | ||
| 1961 | Sabash Raja | Telugu | ||
| 1961 | Sri Seetha Rama Kalyanam | Telugu | Dasarathudu | |
| 1961 | Vagdanam | Telugu | Vishwanatham (Vijaya's father) | |
| 1962 | Aalayamani | Tamil | ||
| 1962 | Dakshayagnam | Tamil | Dadhichi | |
| 1962 | Dakshayagnam | Telugu | Dadhichi | |
| 1962 | Siri Sampadalu | Telugu | Nayudu | |
| 1962 | Swarnamanjari | Telugu | ||
| 1962 | Valar Pirai | Tamil | ||
| 1963 | Anuragam | Telugu | ||
| 1963 | Lakshadhikari | Telugu | Lakshadhikari Rangaiah | |
| 1963 | Lava Kusha | Telugu | Valmiki Maharshi | |
| 1963 | Naan Vanangum Daivam | Tamil | ||
| 1963 | Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham | Telugu | Akroora | |
| 1964 | Aatma Balam | Telugu | ||
| 1964 | Aggi Pidugu | Telugu | ||
| 1964 | Amarshilpi Jakkanachari | Kannada | ||
| 1964 | Chandavalliya Tota | Kannada | ||
| 1964 | Amarshilpi Jakanna | Telugu | ||
| 1964 | Annapurna | Kannada | Father of Annapurna | |
| 1964 | Bobbili Yudham | Telugu | ||
| 1964 | Devatha | Telugu | Father of Prasad | |
| 1964 | Gudi Gantalu | Telugu | ||
| 1964 | Pachai Vilakku | Tamil | ||
| 1964 | Ramadasu | Telugu | Ramadasu | |
| 1965 | Preminchi Choodu | Telugu | ||
| 1965 | Satya Harishchandra | Telugu | Vasistha Maharshi | |
| 1965 | Shanti | Tamil | ||
| 1965 | Sri Simhachala Kshetra Mahima | Telugu | Father of Pururava | |
| 1965 | Veerabhimanyu | Telugu | ||
| 1966 | Aastiparulu | Telugu | Diwan to Zamindar | |
| 1966 | Adugu Jaadalu | Telugu | ||
| 1966 | Bhakta Potana | Telugu | Vyasa Maharshi | |
| 1966 | Navarathri | Telugu | ||
| 1966 | Parakkum Pavai | Tamil | ||
| 1966 | Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha | Telugu | Paramanandaiah | |
| 1966 | Sri Krishna Pandaviyam | Telugu | ||
| 1967 | Bhama Vijayam | Telugu | ||
| 1967 | Iru Malargal | Tamil | ||
| 1967 | Maa Vadina | Telugu | ||
| 1967 | Poola Rangadu | Telugu | Veeraiah | |
| 1967 | Private Master | Telugu | Father of Private Master | |
| 1967 | Rahasyam | Telugu | ||
| 1967 | Sri Krishnavataram | Telugu | Dhritarashtra | |
| 1967 | Veera Pooja | Telugu | ||
| 1968 | Bandhavyalu | Telugu | ||
| 1968 | Brahmachari | Telugu | ||
| 1968 | Nindu Samsaram | Telugu | ||
| 1968 | Ramu | Telugu | ||
| 1968 | Thillana Mohanambal | Tamil | Shanmugasundaram's guru | |
| 1969 | Aadarsa Kutumbam | Telugu | ||
| 1969 | Mooga Nomu | Telugu | ||
| 1969 | Natakala Rayudu | Telugu | Adiseshayya | |
| 1969 | Saptaswaralu | Telugu | ||
| 1970 | Akka Chellelu | Telugu | Second judge | |
| 1970 | Tapalkaran Thanga | Tamil | ||
| 1970 | Thalli Thandrulu | Telugu | Raobahadur Perumallu | |
| 1971 | C.I.D.Raju | Telugu | ||
| 1971 | Iru Thuruvam | Tamil | ||
| 1971 | Jeevitha Chakram | Telugu | ||
| 1971 | Kulagaurava | Kannada | ||
| 1971 | Ramalayam | Telugu | Temple priest | |
| 1971 | Sampoorna Ramayanam | Telugu | Vasishta Mahamuni | |
| 1971 | Sri Krishna Satya | Telugu | ||
| 1971 | Srimanthudu | Telugu | ||
| 1972 | Bala Bharatam | Telugu | ||
| 1972 | Beedala Patlu | Telugu | ||
| 1972 | Goodu Putani | Telugu | ||
| 1972 | Iddaru Ammayilu | Telugu | Laxman Rao | |
| 1972 | Neethi | Tamil | ||
| 1972 | Papam Pasivadu | Telugu | Doctor | |
| 1972 | Pedda Koduku | Telugu | ||
| 1972 | Sakthi Leela | Tamil | ||
| 1973 | Ganga Gauri | Tamil | ||
| 1973 | Pattikatu Ponnaiah | Tamil | ||
| 1973 | Vishali | Telugu | ||
| 1974 | Inti Kodalu | Telugu | ||
| 1976 | Ennai Pol Oruvan | Tamil |
[edit]Composer and/or Singer
| Year | Film | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Grihalakshmi | Lendu Bharata Veerulara |
| 1953 | Gumasta | Oyi Parugekkadikoyi |
| 1953 | Prapancham | Anta Kooleelam Manamanta Kooleelam, Premasudha Sarasilo Hamsalamai |
| 1953 | Sangham | Jati Bhedam Samasipoda |
| 1954 | Maa Gopi | Sanubhoothiye Leda Jagatini, Amma Krishnamma Apacharamemitamma |
| 1956 | Bhakta Markandeya | Om Namashivaya, Jaya Jaya Shankara Sambasadashiva |
| 1956 | Naga Panchami | Sambho Mahadeva |
| 1956 | Muddu Bidda | Itulela Chesavaya O Devadeva |
| 1956 | Tenali Ramakrishna | Gandupilli Menu Marichi |
| 1957 | Nala Damayanti | Ghorambaina Daavagni Keelakerayai |
| 1957 | Panduranga Mahatyam | Jaya Jaya Gokula Bala, Sannuti Seyave Manasa |
| 1962 | Swarnamanjari | Madhuramaina Guru Deevena |
| 1967 | Maa Vadina | Suthudilu Peeda Mandiramu (poem) |
| 1967 | Poola Rangadu | Chillara Rallaku Mokkutu Unte Chedipoduvura |
- Ramadasu (1964)
- Gumasta (1953/II) (playback singer and composer)
- Naa Illu (1953) (playback singer and composer)
- Yogi Vemana (1947) (playback singer and composer)
- Thyagayya (1946) (playback singer and composer)
- Swargaseema (1945) (playback singer and composer)
- Bhakta Potana (1942) (playback singer and composer)
- Devatha (1941) (playback singer and composer)
- Sumangali (1940) (playback singer and composer)
- Vishwamohini (1940) (playback singer)
- Vande Mataram (1939) (playback singer and composer)
- Grihalakshmi (1938) (playback singer)
Director
- Ramadasu (Telugu, 1964)
- En Veedu (Tamil, 1953)
- Naa Illu (Telugu, 1953)
- Thyagayya (Telugu, 1946)
Producer
- Naa Illu (1953)
Writer
- Thyagayya (1946)
Awards
Nagayya was one of the first south Indian actors along with Bhanumathi Ramakrishna to be awarded the Padmashri award by the Government of India in 1965.
- Abinava Thyagaraju by Thiruvankur Maharaja.
- Best Actor Award by the Andhra Film Journalists Association
