K. Vishwanath, A Telugu Legendary Director Options

[swarapriya]

K. Vishwanath - A Telugu Legendary Director

Vishwanath is a distinguished director of Telugu film industry who also made himself name with several good Hindi movies. For a long time, he was an assistant to the Telugu film director Adurti Subba Rao (director of “Doli” starring Rajesh Khanna). He got a major break with Annapurna Studio’s home production in 1965 as a director for the film “Aatma Gowravam”. Even though the movie was not a money spinner, it didn’t loose its investments.

From that time onwards Vishwanath started making movies on a regular basis, some of them big hits. But not until 1980’s his full potential was realized. This started with “Shankarabharanam” which dealt with disappearing classical music of India. This movie fetched him President’s Gold Medal as the best picture for that year. In 1985 he made “Saptapadi” which dealt with intercast marriage issues. He also made “Swati Mutyam” the same year that dealt with an adult with a child’s mind and how he deals with struggles in his life. He made a movie in 1986, “Sirivennela”, that dealt with a deaf woman’s relationship with a blind man. The film “Swayam Krishi” made in 1987 dealt with issues related to work attitudes. He continued to make other fine movies through rest of the 80’s and into 90’s. Currently he only makes movies occasionally. Instead he has diverted his efforts into acting.

Some of Vishwanath’s Hindi movies include “Sargam”, “Kaam Chor”, and “Eeshwar”. Altogether he directed 55 movies. Of these 44 were in Telugu, one was in Tamil, and ten were in Hindi. In 1985 alone, he made three Hindi movies and two Telugu movies! His complete filmography as a director is shown below (H is for Hindi and T is for Tamil in the table).

Most of the albums from the period when Vishwanath found his groove and hit the stride are currently available in the marketplace in one form or another. It is the early albums that everyone has problems procuring them. Recently a friend of mine gave several albums including now “never to be found again” LPs that cover some of this early work. I will try to share as much of this music as possible through this thread provided there is enough interest.

Because of the popularity it has gained, and being considered to be a landmark achievement in Telugu cinema history, I will start with uploading songs of “Shankarabharanam” first.

[simplefable]

SP...just wanted to congratulate you for this superlative tribute to the Master director K.Viswanath. Many of these films havent been hits at Box office, and hence were relegated to the coffins of filmdom, inspite of their music being first degree. I am sure some of them were never even released as proper VCDs ...for instance " janani janmabhoomi' starring Bala krishna played for a single day in our town..and was not seen anywhere from then on.
Pleasure to see your posts and realize / recognize the songs ...Thanks..

[swarapriya]

SP...just wanted to congratulate you for this superlative tribute to the Master director K.Viswanath. Many of these films havent been hits at Box office, and hence were relegated to the coffins of filmdom, inspite of their music being first degree. I am sure some of them were never even released as proper VCDs ...for instance " janani janmabhoomi' starring Bala krishna played for a single day in our town..and was not seen anywhere from then on.
Pleasure to see your posts and realize / recognize the songs ...Thanks..

Thanks SF for taking time to send in tidbits about Vishwanath's movies. He has this great musical ear and these songs give everlastingly immense pleasure. I want to remember him for these songs more than some of the great as well as not so great movies he made.

Cheers,
Swarapriya