B. N. Reddy

Not to be confused with B. Nagi Reddy or Bhuma Nagi Reddy.

Bommireddy Narasimha Reddy (16 November 1908 – 8 November 1977), professionally known as B. N. Reddy, was an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was an early figure in the Telugu cinema.^[1][2] Many of his earlier films like Vande Mataram (1939), Devatha (1941) had V. Nagayya as the lead. His Malliswari (1951) starring N. T. Rama Rao and Bhanumathi is considered a timeless Indian film classic. He was the first person to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award from South India.^[3] He was the first Indian film personality to receive the Doctor of Letters honor.^[4]

B. N. Reddy
B. N. Reddy in a 2008 stamp
Born	Bommireddy Narasimha Reddy (1908-11-16)16 November 1908 Kothapalli, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Andhra Pradesh, India)
Died	8 November 1977(1977-11-08) (aged 68) Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupations	Producer presenter story writer businessman philanthropy
Years active	1939–1969
Awards	Padma Bhushan Doctor of Letters Dadasaheb Phalke Award National Film Awards

Early life

Bommireddy Narasimha Reddy was born on 16 November 1908 in a farmer family at Kothapalli village in the present-day Kadapa district.^[5] His father Narasimha Reddy used to export onions from Chennai to Rangoon (Yangoon) for a living.^{[citation needed]} He was eldest of four brothers; others are B. Nagi Reddy, B. N. Konda Reddy and B. Ramalinga Reddy.^{[citation needed]}

He was schooled in Proddatur and later continued the schooling in Madras. He enrolled in Pachaiyappa's College, but left without graduating. He later studies auditing and accounting and worked as an apprentice in an auditing firm.^[5]

Career

When H. M. Reddy decided to turn a producer, B.N. Reddy and B. Nagi Reddi joined hands with him to form Rohini Pictures.^[6]

Awards

National Film Awards

• 1955 – President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Telugu – Bangaru Papa^[7]
• 1957 – Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu – Bhagya Rekha^[8]
• 1966 – National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu – Rangula Ratnam
• 1974 – Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 22nd National Film Awards

Filmfare Awards

• Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu) – Bangaru Panjaram (1969)

Nandi Awards^[9]

• Best Feature Film - Gold - Rangula Ratnam (1966)
• Third Best Feature Film - Bronze - Bangaru Panjaram (1969)
• Best Story Writer - Pelli Kani Pelli (1976)

Civilian honours

• Padmabhushan

Other honours

• Doctor of letters

Filmography

B. N. Reddy directed 11 feature films.

Directed features

Year	Title	Direction	Screenplay	Story	Producer
1939	Vande Mataram	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
1940	Sumangali	Yes	No	No	Yes
1941	Devatha	Yes	No	No	Yes
1945	Swarga Seema	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
1951	Malliswari	Yes	No	No	Yes
1954	Bangaru Papa	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
1957	Bhagya Rekha	Yes	Yes	No	No
1959	Raja Makutam	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
1964	Pooja Phalam	Yes	Yes	No	No
1966	Rangula Ratnam	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
1969	Bangaru Panjaram	Yes	Yes	No	Yes

Producer

• Bhakta Pothana (1942) - Production supervision

References

1. . gomolo.com
2. . The Hindu (28 November 2008). Retrieved on 2018-11-12.
3. (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
4. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
5. "Tale of a celluloid poet". The Hindu. 28 November 2008. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
6. Narasimham, M. L. (5 February 2011). . The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
7. (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
8. "5th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
9. "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 21 August 2020.(in Telugu)

External links

• B. N. Reddy at IMDb