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Vijay (director) facts for kids

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This page is about the Kannada film director. For the Tamil director, see A. L. Vijay.
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Vijay
Born
B. Vijaya Reddy

(1936-07-15)15 July 1936
Tadepalligudem, West Godavari, Madras Presidency, British India
Died 9 October 2020(2020-10-09) (aged 84)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Nationality Indian
Occupation Film director, producer and screenwriter

B. Vijaya Reddy (15 July 1936 – 9 October 2020), better known as Vijay Reddy or Vijay, was an Indian film director who worked primarily in Kannada cinema with over 50 movies to his credit. His debut directorial venture was Rangamahal Rahasya (1970). He was known for his collaborations with leading Kannada actor Rajkumar for movies like Gandhada Gudi (1973), Mayura (1975), Naa Ninna Mareyalare (1976) and Sanaadi Appanna (1977) which are considered among the classic movies of Kannada cinema.

Early life

Reddy was born in Tadepalligudem in the West Godavari district of Madras Presidency in British India to a farming family. He subsequently went to Madras (now Chennai) to look for work.

Career

Reddy started his career in the cinema industry as an assistant editor for B. Vittalacharya's Kannada directorial Mane Tumbida Hennu.

His directorial debut was Rangamahal Rahasya (1970), starring Srinath, the success of which earned him recognition in the industry. It was followed by Modala Rathri (1970) with the same lead actor but the movie was not a commercial success. His third directorial venture, Cow Boy Kulla (1973), with Dwarakish was a reasonable success. His career took a turning point in 1973 when he directed his fourth movie, Gandhada Gudi which was the 150th movie of Rajkumar, who was the leading actor of Kannada films at that time, and the third movie of Vishnuvardhan, who had become a popular actor with the success of his debut movie Naagarahaavu. Gandhada Gudi became a milestone in Kannada films. Vijay's next five movies, Sri Srinivasa Kalyana, Mayura, Naa Ninna Mareyalare, Badavara Bandhu and Sanaadi Appanna, all of which starred Rajkumar were huge commercial successes. He achieved national recognition with the 1977 movie Sanaadi Appanna which had acclaimed shehnai player Bismillah Khan playing the instrument for the lead actor Rajkumar. He directed Rajkumar in nine movies (excluding two cameo appearances) in varied genres including mythological, historical, novel based, folklore and social dramas.

Reddy had the distinction of having directed the 150th movies of both Rajkumar (Gandhada Gudi) and Vishnuvardhan (Mojugara Sogasugara).

He was also instrumental in giving Shankar Nag a mass image through Auto Raja. Prior to that, he had directed Anant Nag in Naa Ninna Bidalaare which had made people take note of Anant's acting prowess. He directed two movies of Shiva Rajkumar - Shiva Mecchida Kannappa and Gandhada Gudi Part 2 both of which had Rajkumar in cameo appearances. He was the director of V. Ravichandran's debut movie Khadeema Kallaru in which he played a negative role.

He had also directed movies in other languages - Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam - with the prominent one being the Hindi remake of Naa Ninna Mareyalare titled Pyar Kiya Hai Pyar Karenge starring Anil Kapoor. His other Hindi movies were - Teri Meherbaniyan - remake of Thaliya Bhagya, Jawab Hum Denge, Ganga Tere Desh Mein - remake of Huli Hebbuli and Paap Ka Ant. His debut Telugu movie was Srimathi.

He also produced two movies - Mullina Gulabi and Kunthiputra. Vijay floated a production house — Vijaya Shekhar Productions — with another director V. Somashekhar and went on to produce several films. Vijay also directed 17 Hindi and six Telugu films, where he worked with the reigning stars of the time such as Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Shatrughan Sinha and Mithun Chakraborty. He also had 48 Kannada films to his credit. His last directorial was the Vishnuvardhan starrer Karnataka Suputhra (1996). In 2000, he was selected to direct Rajkumar's ambitious mythological movie Bhakta Ambareesha which was subsequently shelved.

Death

Reddy died on 9 October 2020 at the Apollo Hospital in Chennai.

Filmography

The following is a list of Kannada movies involving Vijay:

Year Title Credited as Notes
Director Story writer Screenplay writer Producer Presenter
1970 Rangamahal Rahasya Yes No No No No Debut
1970 Modala Rathri Yes No No No No
1973 Cow Boy Kulla Yes No No No No
1973 Gandhada Gudi Yes No Yes No No
1974 Sri Srinivasa Kalyana Yes No No No No
1975 Mayura Yes No No No No
1976 Naa Ninna Mareyalare Yes No Yes No No
1976 Badavara Bandhu Yes No No No No
1977 Sanaadi Appanna Yes No No No No
1979 Naa Ninna Bidalaare Yes No No No No
1979 Huliya Haalina Mevu Yes No No No No
1980 Rama Parushurama Yes No No No No
1980 Auto Raja Yes No No No No
1980 Aarada Gaaya No No No No Yes
1981 Hanabalavo Janabalavo Yes No No No No
1981 Nee Nanna Gellalare Yes No No No No
1982 Mullina Gulabi Yes No No Yes No
1982 Khadeema Kallaru Yes No No No No
1982 Chalisada Sagara Yes No No No No
1983 Bhakta Prahlada Yes No No No No
1984 Thaliya Bhagya Yes No No No No
1985 Pavithra Paapi Yes No No No No
1985 Veeradhi Veera Yes No No No No
1985 Thayiya Hone Yes No No No No
1985 Thayi Kanasu Yes No No No No
1985 Mareyada Manikya Yes No No No No
1985 Kiladi Aliya Yes No No No No
1986 Thayiye Nanna Devaru Yes No No No No
1987 Sathva Pareekshe No No No No Yes
1987 Nyayakke Shikshe No No No No Yes
1987 Huli Hebbuli Yes No No No No
1988 Shiva Mecchida Kannappa Yes No No No No
1989 Deva Yes No No No No
1990 Kempu Gulabi Yes No No No No
1992 Kaliyuga Seethe Yes No No No No
1992 Goonda Rajya Yes No No No No
1994 Kunti Puthra Yes Yes Yes Yes No
1994 Gandhada Gudi Part 2 Yes No Yes No No
1995 Mojugara Sogasugara Yes Yes Yes No No
1996 Karnataka Suputhra Yes No No No No
2003 Hrudayanjali No No No No Yes Final film credit
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