K. Viswanath

Kasinadhuni Viswanath is an Indian film director, screenwriter and actor known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He is a recipient of five National Film Awards, six state Nandi Awards, ten Filmfare Awards South, and a Filmfare Award in Hindi. In 1992, he received the Andhra Pradesh state Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, and the civilian honor Padma Shri for his contribution to the field of arts. He was awarded the 2017 Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in Indian cinema, at the 64th National Film Awards.
Viswanath started his film career as an audiographer and in sixty years, he has directed fifty three feature films in a variety of genres, including films based on performing arts, visual arts, and aesthetics. He received international recognition for his works, and is known for blending parallel cinema with mainstream commercial cinema. Viswanath's filmography is known for addressing the issues of caste, colour, disability, gender discrimination, misogyny, alcoholism and socio-economic challenges through liberal arts medium. He was honored with the "Prize of the Public" at the "Besançon Film Festival of France" in the year 1981.
His directorial works which are produced by Poornodaya Movie Creations were screened to special mention at the Moscow International Film Festival; such films were dubbed into Russian language and have been theatrically released in Moscow.
Early life and education.
Kasinadhuni Viswanath was born to Kasinadhuni Subramanyam and Kasinadhuni Saraswathy (Saraswathamma). His ancestral roots come from Pedapulivarru, Andhra Pradesh, a small village on the banks of River Krishna. "Kasinadhuni" is his family name, "Viswanath" is his given name. Viswanath studied Intermediate from Guntur Hindu College, and holds a BSc degree from Andhra Christian College of Andhra University. He began his career as a sound recordist at Vauhini Studios in Madras, where his father was an associate. There, he apprenticed under the guidance of A Krishnan, who was the Head of Sound Engineering at Vauhini. Vishwanath and A Krishnan developed a close rapport and later after the former made the transition into film direction, he would always bounce ideas off the latter. Vishwanath made his entry into film direction at Annapurna Pictures under Adurthi Subba Rao and K. Ramnoth. He wished to work as an assistant to director K. Balachander and Bapu.
Recognition.
During his early career, Viswanath was associated with Adurthi Subba Rao on National Award-winning films such as "Mooga Manasulu" (1964) and "Doctor Chakravarthy" (1964). Viswanath scripted "Sudigundalu" (1968), and directed works such as "Aatma Gowravam" (1965), "O Seeta Katha" (1974) and "Jeevana Jyothi" (1975) which garnered the state Nandi Awards, and were screened at the Asian and African film Festival at Tashkent.
Viswanath's classic blockbusters "Sankarabharanam" (1979) and "Sagara Sangamam" (1983) were included among CNN-IBN's list of one hundred greatest Indian films of all time.
His directorial works "Sankarabharanam" and "Saptapadi" have garnered the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and Best Feature Film on National Integration, respectively. "Sankarabharanam", was premiered at the 8th International Film Festival of India, the Tashkent Film Festival, and the Moscow International Film Festival held in May 1980. Viswanath also won the Prize of the Public at the Besançon Film Festival of France in the year 1981.
Viswanath's "Swati Mutyam" was India's official entry to the 59th Academy Awards. "Swati Mutyam", "Sagara Sangamam" and "Sirivennela" were premiered at the Asia Pacific Film Festival. "Swayam Krushi" was premiered to special mention at the Moscow International Film Festival.
"Sankarabharanam", "Sagara Sangamam", "Sruthilayalu", "Swarnakamalam" and "Swati Kiranam" were screened in the Indian Panorama section at International Film Festival of India, Ann Arbor Film Festival, and AISFM Film Festival.
Film craft.
In 1965, Viswanath debuted as a director with Telugu film "Aatma Gowravam", which won the Nandi Award for Best Feature Film of the year. Viswanath followed it up with drama films "Chelleli Kapuram", "Sarada", "O Seeta Katha" and "Jeevana Jyoti", which are women-centric films. It was in "Siri Siri Muvva" that the artistic touch in his craft first became visible.
"Sankarabharanam" highlights the neglect of traditional Indian music under the increasing influence of western music. The film brings out the grandeur of Carnatic music, the traditional South Indian music towards the end. Bhaskaran, a media and film researcher from Chennai has documented, in his study of South Indian music culture, how "Sankarabharanam" contributed to the revival of Carnatic music in a big way. The film broke many commercial records by running for over one year in cinemas. In a recent study published in "Journal of Dance, Movements & Spiritualities" published by "Intellect Group" of the United Kingdom, C. S. H. N. Murthy, a media and film studies scholar from India, has demonstrated how Viswanath's filmography embraces a wide spectrum of characters that include mentally and physically challenged subjects as well, like the film "Sarada", which exploits a psychologically deranged woman, "Swati Mutyam", which exploits an autistic man's humanism, "Sirivennela" which revels in situations between deaf and dumb characters, and "Kalam Marindi", which dwells on characters stuck in a caste-based society.
Film researcher, C. S. H. N. Murthy observed that Viswanath's films offer a pathway towards inclusiveness, affecting positive spiritual change at both personal and social levels. Situating the content in the broad arena of de-westernizing media studies, through immersive and culturally embedded perspectives, Murthy endeavoured to offer modern and postmodern dimensions in Viswanath's films.
Films with social issues.
Viswanath has made many films dealing with a wide range of human and social issues: "Saptapadi", "Sirivennela", "Sutradharulu", "Subhalekha", "Sruthilayalu", "Subha Sankalpam", "Aapadbandhavudu", "Swayam Krushi", and "Swarnakamalam" have lead characters representing different strata of society, meticulously etched to suit the larger picture.
In "Saptapadi", he decries the evils of untouchability and the caste system. In "Subhodayam" and "Swayam Krushi" he emphasizes the dignity and respectability of manual labor. In "Subhalekha", he deals, in a humorous way, with the dowry system – one of the major evils in today's society. While "Sutradharulu" urges present-day society to recognize the need to adopt the ideals of non-violence, "Swati Kiranam" depicts the harm that can be caused by the basic instincts of envy and anger in a man, however accomplished he may be.
In spite of the nature of these subjects, they are presented in a subtle manner with an imaginative storyline, with just the right amount of emphasis on the intended message. Yet Viswanath's films were never offbeat cinema, but wholesome entertainers those elevated the lead actors' image. He is a director with social-conscious mind and who believes cinema can bring out desirable changes in society if presented in a format liked by a cross-section of audience.
Association with Poornodaya Creations.
Edida Nageswara Rao founded "Poornodaya Movie Creations", which encouraged Viswanath to make aesthetic films.
Poornodaya has produced several of Viswanath's films like "Sankarabharanam", "Swatimutyam", "Saagarasangamam", "Sutradharulu", and "Aapadbandhavudu". Most of these films were dubbed into Russian and were screened at the Moscow Film Festival.
Bollywood.
Viswanath has also directed Hindi language films such as "Sargam" (1979), "Kaamchor" (1982), "Shubh Kaamna" (1983), "Jaag Utha Insan" (1984), "Sur Sangam" (1985), "Sanjog" (1985), "Eeshwar" (1989), "Sangeet" (1992) and "Dhanwaan" (1993). Some of these films (especially his collaboration with actress Jayaprada) have been super hits at the box office.
Acting career.
In 1995, Viswanath debuted as an actor with Telugu film "Subha Sankalpam". As a character actor, he has appeared in works such as "Vajram" (1995), "Kalisundam Raa" (2000), "Narasimha Naidu" (2001), "Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu" (2002), "Santosham" (2002), "Seema Simham" (2002), "Tagore" (2003), "Lakshmi Narasimha" (2004), "Swarabhishekam" (2004), "Aadavari Matalaku Arthale Verule" (2007), "Athadu" (2005), and "Pandurangadu" (2008), and "Devasthanam" (2012). He essayed characters in Tamil works such as "Kuruthipunal" (1995), "Mugavaree" (1999), "Kakkai Siraginilae" (2000), "Bagavathi" (2002), "Pudhiya Geethai" (2003), "Yaaradi Nee Mohini" (2008), "Rajapattai" (2011), "Singam II" (2013), "Lingaa" (2014) and "Uttama Villain" (2015).
Television.
Viswanath had also acted on a few television serials; "Siva Narayna Teertha" on SVBC TV, "Chellamey" on Sun TV, and "Suryiavamsam" on Vendhar TV. He also endorses brands such as GRT Jewellers and appears in various television commercials.
Personal life.
Viswanath is married to Kasinadhuni Jayalakshmi. Actor Chandra Mohan and the late singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam are Viswanath's cousins.