# J. V. Somayajulu

Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu (30 July 1920 or c. 1928 – 24 April 2004) was an Indian actor known for his works in Telugu cinema and a few Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam films. In 1981, he received the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu for his work in the classic Sankarabharanam. On the centenary of Indian cinema, Forbes included his performance in the film among the 25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema.
Some of the other films that earned Somayajulu a good reputation as an actor were Allari Pillalu, Nelavanka, Rowdy Alludu, Swathi Muthyam, Tyagayya, Saptapadi, Vijeta, Appula Appa Rao, Vamsa Vruksham and the Hindi film Jaag Utha Insan. He portrayed the guru character of Sri Raghavendra in the Tamil film Sri RaghavendrarHe made a 13-episode television serial based on the play Kanyasulkam. He also portrayed A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in the biographical series Abhay Charan.

## Personal life and career

Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu was born in Lukalam Agraharam in Srikakulam district of present-day Andhra Pradesh. His father worked as an Inspector in the Prohibition and Excise department in Gudivada and other towns. He spent his childhood in Vizianagaram and also participated in stage dramas there. He was a government official and worked as a Deputy collector for Mahabub Nagar district.
His career spanned five decades in stage dramas, films and television. His passion for Gurazada Apparao's play, Kanyasulkam, was such that he, along with his actor brother J V Ramana Murthy, played it about 500 times in 45 years. His exposition of the delightfully notorious character, "Ramappanthulu" in the play, has become legendary. The woman behind the success of Somayajulu was his mother Saradamma. Somayajulu had two sons and a daughter.

## Other works

For the development of Telugu theatre in the twin cities Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Somayajulu established 'Rasaranjani' along with his contemporaries, Chatla Sriramulu, Garimella Rama Murthy and Rallapalli. Somayajulu worked in the Directorate of Cultural Affairs before retiring from government service.

## Death

Somayajulu died of heart attack in Hyderabad in 2004 at a reported age of 76.

## Filmography

List of Telugu films and roles :
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
| 1976 | Jyoti | | |
| 1980 | Sankarabharanam | Shankara Sastry | Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu |
| 1980 | Vamsa Vruksham | | |
| 1981 | Tyagayya | Tyagayya | |
| 1981 | Saptapadi | Yajulu | |
| 1982 | Pelleedu Pillalu | P V Rao | |
| 1983 | Nelavanka | Raheem | |
| 1983 | Sitaara | | |
| 1985 | Devalayam | | |
| 1985 | Aalapaana | | |
| 1985 | Vijetha | Narasimham | |
| 1986 | Tandra Paparayudu | | |
| 1986 | Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mahathyam | Nana Chandorkar | |
| 1986 | Kalyana Tambulam | | |
| 1986 | Naa Pilupe Prabhanjanam | Janakiramaiah | |
| 1986 | Ugra Narasimham | | |
| 1986 | Swathi Muthyam | | |
| 1986 | Magadheerudu | | |
| 1986 | Kaliyuga Pandavulu | | |
| 1987 | Madana Gopaludu | | |
| 1987 | Sankeertana | | |
| 1987 | Majnu | | |
| 1987 | Chakravarthy | Swamiji | |
| 1987 | Swayam Krushi | | |
| 1987 | Viswanatha Nayakudu | | |
| 1988 | Abhinandana | |
| 1988 | Neerajanam | | |
| 1988 | Raktabhishekam | | |
| 1991 | Aditya 369 | Mahamantri Thimmarusu | |
| 1991 | Rowdy Alludu | | |
| 1992 | Appula Appa Rao | Sankara Sastri | |
| 1992 | Allari Mogudu | | |
| 1993 | Mutha Mestri | MLA Raghavayya | |
| 1993 | Govinda Govinda | TTD Chief Priest | |
| 1989 | Swara Kalpana | | |
| 1990 | Jayasimha | Mukunda Rao, DFO | |
| 1994 | Sarigamalu | | |
| 1995 | Khaidi Inspector | Sivaramakrishnaiah | |
| 1996 | Puttinti Gowravam | | |
| 1998 | Subbaraju Gari Kutumbam | | |
| 2003 | Kabirdas | | |

### Tamil films

List of Tamil films and roles :
| Year | Title | Role(s) |
| 1984 | Neengal Kettavai | Music teacher |
| 1985 | Sri Raghavendrar | Saint Sudheendra |
| 1985 | Yaar? | Swamiji |
| 1988 | Idhu Namma Aalu | Srinivasa Sastry |
| 1989 | Thiruppu Munai | Sathyamoorthy |
| 1990 | Pagalil Pournami | Monk |
| 1997 | Mannava | Astrologer |

### Kannada films

List of Kannada films and roles :
| Year | Title | Role(s) |
| 1983 | Gandharvagiri | Narasimha Joshi |
| 1988 | Sri Venkateshwara Mahime | |
| 1995 | Mutthinantha Hendathi | |
| 2003 | Raktha Kanneeru | Chandhra's father |
| 2003 | Ondagona Baa | Raghavayya (Ajja) |

### Hindi films

List of films and roles :
| Year | Title | Role(s) |
| 1984 | Jaag Utha Insan | Panditji |
| 1990 | Pratibandh | Chief Minister Satyendra |
| 2005 | Bhagmati | |

### Malayalam films

List of Malayalam films and roles :
| Year | Title | Role(s) |
| 1994 | Sopanam | Raja Raja Varma Thamburan |
| 1997 | Itha Oru Snehagatha | Hema's Grandfather |
| 2001 | Naranathu Thampuran | Guruji |

### Television

* Abhay Charan as A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (1996)
* Nagamma as Rayudu (2002–2004)