Legendary filmmaker K Viswanath passes away

The director is known for classic hits like ‘Sagara Sangamam’, ‘Swathi Kiranam’, ‘Swathi Muthyam’, and ‘Swarna Kamalam,’.

ByDeepthi Nandan

Published Feb 03, 2023 | 10:17 AM ⚊UpdatedFeb 03, 2023 | 10:18 AM

director k viswanath passes away

Renowned Telugu film director K Viswanath passed away on 2 February. (Twitter)

Legendary director Kashinadhuni Vishwanath, popular as “Kalatapasvi”, passed away in Hyderabad on Thursday, 2 February. He was 92.

The director was suffering from age-related ailments for some time. He was taken to Apollo Hospitals in Jubilee Hills after he complained of uneasiness. He breathed his last on Thursday night.

K Vishwanath is survived by his wife Jayalakshmi, a daughter and two sons.

Vishwanath was born on 19 February 1930. He hailed from Repalle in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. He started off his film career as an audiographer and turned assistant director.

He worked as an assistant director for films like NTR-starrer Pathala Bhairavi (1951) directed by KV Reddy. He made his debut as a director with Aatma Gowravam (1965) featuring Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Kanchana, and Rajasree.

Viswanath’s illustrious career

In a career spanning over five decades, Viswanath directed about 53 movies in multiple languages.

He was known for directing all-time great classics in Indian cinema like Shankarabharanam (1980), Sagara Sangamam (1983), Swathi Muthyam (1985), Sirivennela (1986), Swarna Kamalam (1988), Swathi Kiranam (1992), Sutradharulu (1989), and Aapadbandhavudu (1992) to mention a few.

posters of viswanath films

Posters of some of the films directed by K Viswanath. (Twitter)

Vishwanath is credited for singularly bringing traditional values and classical arts to Indian films. The celebrated filmmaker’s works mostly depicted classical music and dance forms in all their glory, thereby playing a key role in their popularisation among the masses.

Vishwanath shared a special bond with star hero Kamal Hassan as their association brought up cult classics like Sagara Sangamam, Swathi Muthyam, and Shubha Sankalpam.

The director was also close to Chiranjeevi as he directed the latter in Swayamkrushi and Apadhbandhavudu.

In his illustrious career, Vishwanath directed popular actors like ANR, Shobhan Babu, Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh, Jayaprada, Moon Moon Sen, Sarvadhaman Benarjee, Bhanu Priya, and Amani.

He last directed Shubhapradam (2010) featuring Allari Naresh and Manjari Phadnis.

In the later part of his career, Vishwanath turned an actor and proved his mark. He played character roles in hit films like Shubha Sankalpam, Santosham, Lakshmi Narasimha, Tagore, and Mr Perfect, among others.

viswanath kamal swathim muthyam

Viswanath and Kamal Haasan on the sets of ‘Swathi Muythyam’, (Twitter)

A Dadasaheb Phalke Awardee, Vishwanath received five National Awards, 11 Filmfare Awards, seven Nandi Awards and innumerable felicitations.

In 1992, he was honoured with Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian cinema. He also received global appreciation for blending parallel cinema with mainstream commercial cinema to address several social issues like caste, misogyny, etc.

His movies were also dubbed into the Russian language and screened in Moscow.

End of an era

Viswanth’s demise left scores of film lovers across the world in grief. Few termed his death as an end of an era in Telugu cinema.

As soon as the news broke out people from all walks of life expressed their condolences to the bereaved.

Viswanath’s last rites will be performed on Friday afternoon, 3 February, at Panjagutta Mahaprasthanam.

 

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