B.N.Reddi - film maker

First day cover

Stamp

The Government marked this great producer/Director's centenary last year with a Stamp. Many have often confused him with his brother B.Nagi reddi.

This is Bommireddi Narasimha Reddi , born in Cuddapah District on the 16th of November 1908. After his Schooling in Prodattur, he came to Chennai, did not complete his graduation from Pachaiyappa's College , but joined a firm of auditors and Accountans. He was interested in Dramatics and used to act in many telugu plays staged by the Andhra Mahila Sabha. It is but natural that an artistic young man like him be drawn to the magical world of cinema , through the famed Director G.Ramabrahmam.

He started Rohini Pictures with that great director and "bheeshma of south indian cinema" H.M.Reddi. They made "grihalakshmi" in 1938 with P.Kannamba. The two seperated after this and BN went on to associate with two other brilliant men K.Ramnoth and A.K.Sekhar and promoted the historic Vauhini Pictures. He made several films like Vande matharam (1939) , Sumangali (1940) , and Devatha ( 1941) all of which established him as a producer/Director with great artistic sensitivity and also served to help the actor Chithoor V.Nagaiah , who played the Hero/Lead role in these. They stayed together as a team till 1942.

BN Reddi went on to make several films like "swarga Seema" in 1945and malleswari (1951). His last film was in the late 60s. He was honoured with a padma bhushan in 1974 and was the first South indian to be honoured with the dadasaheb Phalke award in 1975.

The Vijaya - Vauhini Studio's were taken over by his brother Nagi reddy and Chakrapani much earlier.

He passed away in 1977.