Chittoor Nagaiah
Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya Sarma (28 March 1904 – 30 December 1973), popularly known as Chittoor Nagayya, was an Indian actor, singer, music composer, and director known for his works in Telugu cinema, Tamil cinema, and Telugu theatre. Nagayya was one of the first multilingual filmmakers in India. Indian film journalist Baburao Patel described Nagayya as "The Paul Muni of India".
Also recorded as Chittoor Nagayya · Chittoor V. Nagaiah · Nagaiah · Nagayya
Chittoor Nagaiah

Pesum Padam · Pesum Padam, June 1949 Tamil magazine, Chennai, India · Public domain
- Birth Name
- Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya Sarma
- Born
- 28 March 1904
- Birthplace
- Repalle, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Andhra Pradesh, India)
- Died
- 30 December 1973
- Occupation
- Actor, composer, director, producer, writer and playback singer
- Awards
- Padma Shri (1965)
- Nationality
- India, British Raj and Dominion of India.
- Honours
- Padma Shri in arts.
- Languages
- Telugu and Tamil.
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Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya Sarma (28 March 1904 – 30 December 1973), popularly known as Chittoor Nagayya, was an Indian actor, singer, music composer, and director known for his works in Telugu cinema, Tamil cinema, and Telugu theatre. Nagayya was one of the first multilingual filmmakers in India. Indian film journalist Baburao Patel described Nagayya as "The Paul Muni of India".
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wikidata · Q5102517
In this article
Biography
Biography
Nagaiah worked between 1904 and 1973 across film director, actor, film producer, composer and singer and 1 further recorded occupations. Every statement below returns to a source shown in the evidence panel; where the record is silent or divided, the article says so instead of resolving it.
Key facts
Key facts
• Birth Name — Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya Sarma • Born — 28 March 1904 • Birthplace — Repalle, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Andhra Pradesh, India) • Died — 30 December 1973 • Occupation — Actor, composer, director, producer, writer and playback singer • Awards — Padma Shri (1965) • Years Active — 1938–1973
Early life
Early life
• Illustration — Screenshot of Nagayya in a talking picture Nagayya was born on 28 March 1904 in a Telugu family in a tiny hamlet near Repalle, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. His parents were Ramalinga Sarma and Venkata Lakshmamba. His maternal grandmother adopted him and took him to her native village, Gonugur, near Kuppam and later to Chittoor. He took up studies with a scholarship provided by the Tirupati Devasthanam and took his degree in Chittoor. After working as a clerk in a government office, Nagayya became a journalist with Andhra Patrika. Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru influenced him and he participated in the freedom struggle (Dandi Satyagraha) in 1930, later going on to work for some gramophone companies including Hutchins as well as attending the Gowhati Congress conclave with S. Srinivasa Iyyengar. He was married to Jaya Lakshmi, but she died giving birth to a daughter a year later. He then married Girija, and she too died due to miscarriage in the eighth month. His first daughter died of an undiagnosed illness. He then participated in long stays at Ramana Maharshi Ashram. He had family in Tirupati, including his brother's (Vuppaladadiyam Subrahmanya Sarma) son, Vuppaladadiyam S. Haragopal and daughters (late Amruthavalli and late Kusuma), Lakshmi Narasimha and their children, Vuppaladadiyam Shyam Sundar and Vuppaladadiyam Pavan Kumar.
Accolades
Accolades
• Civilian Awards • Padmashri, Government of India in 1965 • National honors • Abinava Thyagaraju by the Maharaja of Travancore • National Film Awards • National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu (director) – 1964 for Ramadasu • State Awards • Best Actor Award by the Andhra Film Journalists Association • Felicitated by a life size statue in Panagal Park, Chennai at his demise.
Actor
Actor
• Year — Title — Role — Language — Notes • 1938 — Gruhalakshmi — Gopinath — Telugu • 1939 — Vande Mataram — Raghu — Telugu • 1940 — Viswa Mohini — A Film Director — Telugu • 1940 — Sumangali — Panthulu — Telugu • 1941 — Devatha — Venu — Telugu • 1941 — Ashok Kumar — King Ashoka — Tamil • 1943 — Bhakta Potana — Pothana — Telugu • 1943 — Bhagyalakshmi — Srinivasa Rao — Telugu • 1944 — Chenchu Lakshmi — Chenchu Lakshmi's Father — Telugu • 1945 — Swargaseema — Murthy — Telugu • 1945 — Meera — King of Mewar — Tamil • 1946 — Tyagayya — Tyagayya — Telugu • 1947 — Yogi Vemana — Vemana — Telugu • 1948 — Chakradhari — Korakumbar — Tamil • 1948 — Bhaktha Jana — Namadeva — Tamil • 1949 — Mana Desam — Telugu • 1949 — Navajeevanam — Mahadevan — Tamil • 1950 — Ezhai Padum Padu — Kandan — Tamil • 1950 — Beedala Patlu — Telugu • 1951 — Sarvadhikari — Tamil • 1952 — Thai Ullam — Tamil • 1953 — Ulagam — Tamil • 1953 — Prapancham — Telugu • 1953 — Penn — Tamil • 1953 — Panakkari — Tamil • 1953 — Naa Illu — Sivaram — Telugu • 1953 — Ladki — Kamini's father — Hindi • 1953 — Gumastha — Ranganatham — Tamil • 1953 — Gumasta — Ranganatham — Telugu • 1953 — En Veedu — Shivram — Tamil • 1954 — Viduthalai — Periaswamy — Tamil • 1954 — Thuli Visham — Tamil • 1954 — Maa Gopi — Telugu • 1954 — Edhir Paradhathu — Dayaparar — Tamil • 1954 — Prapancham — Telugu • 1954 — Sangham — Telugu • 1955 — Kanavaney Kankanda Deivam — Tamil • 1955 — Anarkali — Raja Mansingh — Telugu • 1955 — Nam Kuzhandai — Tamil • 1956 — Tenali Ramakrishna — Mahamantri Thimmarusu — Telugu • 1956 — Uma Sundari — Telugu • 1956 — Pennin Perumai — Zamindar, father of Ragunathan / Nagendran — Tamil • 1956 — Naga Panchami — Telugu • 1956 — Muddu Bidda — Telugu • 1956 — Marmaveeran — Tamil • 1956 — Asai — Tamil • 1956 — Bhaktha Markandeya — Tamil, Kannada • 1956 — Amara Deepam — Tamil • 1956 — Tenali Raman — Appaji — Tamil • 1957 — Yaar Paiyyan — Tamil • 1957 — Vanangamudi — Tamil • 1957 — Sati Savitri — Telugu • 1957 — Panduranga Mahatyam — Jahnavi — Telugu • 1957 — Nala Damayanthi — Telugu • 1957 — Ambikapathy — Raja Kulothunga Chola I, the father of Amaravathi — Tamil • 1958 — Piya Milan — Hindi • 1958 — Sampoorna Ramayanam — Telugu • 1958 — Pathi Bhakti — Butha Bhikshu — Tamil — guest appearance • 1958 — Parvati Kalyanam — Telugu • 1958 — Ettuku Pai Ettu — Telugu • 1958 — Bommala Pelli — Perayya — Telugu • 1958 — Bommai Kalyanam — Varadarajan — Tamil • 1958 — Illarame Nallaram — Tamil • 1959 — Jayabheri — Viswambhara Sastri — Telugu • 1959 — Sahodhari — Pazhani, father of Chandiran and Meena — Tamil • 1959 — Nalla Theerpu — Tamil • 1959 — Mahishasura Mardini — Shukracharya — Kannada • 1959 — Kalaivanan — Tamil • 1959 — Banda Ramudu — Telugu • 1960 — Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam — Bhavaji — Telugu • 1960 — Abhimanam — Telugu • 1961 — Seetha Rama Kalyanam — Dasarathudu — Telugu • 1961 — Intiki Deepam Illale — Telugu • 1961 — Vagdanam — Vishwanatham (Vijaya's father) — Telugu • 1961 — Sabash Raja — Telugu • 1961 — Paava Mannippu — Tamil • 1961 — Nichaya Thamboolam — Ramanna, a teacher who is the father of Seetha (Jamuna) — Tamil • 1961 — Nagarjuna — Telugu • 1961 — Kappalottiya Thamizhan — Ulaganatha Pillai — Tamil • 1961 — Ellam Unakkaga — Tamil • 1961 — Thirudathe — Tamil • 1961 — Palum Pazhamum — Tamil • 1961 — Manapanthal — Tamil • 1962 — Gaali Medalu — Ranganatham the father of Krishna (NTR) — Telugu • 1962 — Dakshayagnam — Dadhichi — Tamil • 1962 — Dakshayagnam — Dadhichi — Telugu • 1962 — Swarnamanjari — Telugu • 1962 — Aalayamani — Tamil • 1962 — Valar Pirai — Tamil • 1962 — Thendral Veesum — Tamil • 1962 — Aasa Jeevulu — Telugu • 1962 — Siri Sampadalu — Nayudu — Telugu • 1962 — Shantinivasam — Ramadasu the father of four children — Telugu • 1962 — Padandi Munduku — Telugu • 1963 — Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham — Akroora — Telugu • 1963 — Lava Kusa — Valmiki Maharshi — Telugu • 1963 — Amarshilpi Jakanachari • 1963 — Naan Vanangum Dheivam — Tamil • 1963 — Naanum Oru Penn — Tamil • 1963 — Mani Osai • 1963 — Lava Kusa — Valmiki — Hindu • 1963 — Karpagam — Subramanian — Tamil • 1963 — Bandipotu — Saluva Dharmanayaka — Telugu • 1963 — Anuragam — Telugu • 1963 — Lakshadhikari — Lakshadhikari Rangaiah — Telugu • 1964 — Bobbili Yudham — Telugu • 1964 — Ramadasu — Ramadasu — Telugu • 1964 — Pachai Vilakku — Gopalayya — Tamil • 1964 — Kai Koduttha Dheivam — Father of Latha — Tamil • 1964 — Amarsilpi Jakanna — Telugu • 1964 — Aggi Pidugu — Telugu • 1964 — Aatma Balam — Telugu • 1964 — Amarashilpi Jakanachari — Kannada • 1964 — Chandavalliya Tota — Kannada • 1964 — Annapoorna — Father of Annapurna — Kannada • 1964 — Devatha — Father of Prasad — Telugu • 1964 — Gudi Gantalu — Telugu • 1964 — Aandavan Kattalai — Doctor — Tamil • 1965 — Sumangali — Venkata Chalam — Telugu • 1965 — Satya Harishchandra — Vasistha Maharshi — Telugu • 1965 — Devatha — Telugu • 1965 — Santhi — Kailasam Pillai — Tamil • 1965 — Preminchi Choodu — Telugu • 1965 — Enga Veetu Penn — Tamil • 1965 — Sri Simhachala Kshetra Mahima — Father of Pururava — Telugu • 1965 — Veerabhimanyu — Telugu • 1965 — Dorikithe Dongalu — Telugu • 1966 — Sri Krishna Pandaviyam — Telugu • 1966 — Selvam — Tamil • 1966 — Shakuntala — Telugu • 1966 — Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha — Paramanandaiah — Telugu • 1966 — Parakkum Paavai — Tamil • 1966 — Navarathri — Telugu • 1966 — Motor Sundaram Pillai — Tamil • 1966 — Bhakta Potana — Vyasa Maharshi — Telugu • 1966 — Adugu Jaadalu — Telugu • 1966 — Aastiparulu — Diwan to Zamindar — Telugu • 1966 — Sadhu Mirandal — Priest Micheal — Tamil — (Special Appearance) • 1966 — Saraswati Sabatham — Vidhyapathy father — Tamil • 1966 — Srimathi — Himself — Telugu • 1967 — Kanchukota — Raja Rajendra Bhupathi — Telugu • 1967 — Sri Krishnavataram — Dhritarashtra — Telugu • 1967 — Punyavathi — Telugu • 1967 — Veera Pooja — Telugu • 1967 — Rahasyam — Telugu • 1967 — Poola Rangadu — Veeraiya — Telugu • 1967 — Pattukunte Padivelu — Telugu • 1967 — Iru Malargal — Sivasamy — Tamil • 1967 — Bhama Vijayam — Telugu • 1967 — Maa Vadina — Telugu • 1967 — Private Master — Father of Private Master — Telugu • 1967 — Marapurani Kadha — Madhava Rao — Telugu • 1968 — Brahmachari — Telugu • 1968 — Ramu — Tamil / Telugu • 1968 — Deva kanya (1968 film) — Telugu • 1968 — Thillana Mohanambal — Shanmugasundaram's Nadaswara Guru — Tamil • 1968 — Nindu Samsaram — Telugu • 1968 — Niluvu Dopidi — Swamiji the director of an orphanage — Telugu • 1968 — Bandhavyalu — Telugu • 1968 — Veeranjaneya — Valmiki — Telugu • 1968 — Uyarndha Manithan — Manickam — Tamil • 1969 — Sri Rama Katha — Dasaratha — Telugu • 1969 — Saptaswaralu — Telugu • 1969 — Nam Naadu — The school master Kandhaya — Tamil • 1969 — Mooga Nomu — Telugu • 1969 — Deiva Magan — Tamil • 1969 — Jarigina Katha — Jagannatham — Telugu • 1969 — Muhurtha Balam — Dharmaiah — Telugu • 1969 — Annaiyum Pithavum — Tamil • 1969 — Aadarsa Kutumbam — Telugu • 1969 — Natakala Rayudu — Adiseshayya — Telugu • 1970 — Akka Chellelu — Second judge — Telugu • 1970 — Kaalam Vellum — Tamil — (Guest Appearance) • 1970 — Amma Kosam — Zamindar Dharma Rao — Telugu • 1970 — Vidhi Vilasam — Retd. Engineer, Nirmala's father — Telugu • 1970 — Thaali Bottu — Telugu • 1970 — Engirundho Vandhaal — Dharmalingam — Tamil • 1970 — Thalli Thandrulu — Raobahadur Perumallu — Telugu • 1970 — Thabalkaran Thangai — Tamil • 1970 — Raman Ethanai Ramanadi — Director Nagaiya — Tamil • 1970 — Kanmalar — Tamil • 1970 — Sorgam — Judge — Tamil • 1971 — Srimanthudu — Telugu • 1971 — Prema Nagar — Doctor — Telugu • 1971 — Vichithra Dampathyam — Telugu • 1971 — Pavitra Bandham — Telugu • 1971 — Anuradha — Judge — Telugu • 1971 — Rowdilaku Rowdilu — Kailasam — Telugu • 1971 — Vintha Samsaram — Church Father and mentor to 'Prestige' Padmanabham — Telugu • 1971 — Sri Krishna Satya — Telugu • 1971 — Raitu Kutumbam — Telugu • 1971 — Kula Gourava — Kannada • 1971 — Jeevitha Chakram — Father of Raja (NTR) — Telugu • 1971 — Iru Thuruvam — Teacher — Tamil • 1971 — C.I.D.Raju — Telugu • 1971 — Thangaikkaaga — Tamil • 1971 — Ramalayam — Temple priest — Telugu • 1971 — Pavitra Hrudayalu — Zamindar Bhujanga Rao — Telugu • 1971 — Sampoorna Ramayanam — Vasishta Mahamuni — Telugu • 1972 — Papam Pasivadu — Doctor — Telugu • 1972 — Shakti Leelai — Tamil • 1972 — Pedda Koduku — Telugu • 1972 — Muhammad bin Tughluq — Telugu • 1972 — Neethi — Judge — Tamil • 1972 — Nijam Nirupistha — Zamindar Jaggayya — Telugu • 1972 — Iddaru Ammayilu — Laxman Rao — Telugu • 1972 — Goodu Putani — Telugu • 1972 — Beedala Patlu — Telugu • 1972 — Bala Bharatam — Telugu • 1972 — Raja — Haridass — Tamil • 1972 — Shakthi Leelai — Guruji — Tamil • 1972 — Ganga Gauri — Tamil • 1972 — Inti Kodalu — Telugu • 1973 — Vishali — Telugu • 1973 — Desoddharakulu — Telugu • 1973 — Pattikaattu Ponnaiya — Tamil • 1973 — Panjaramlo Pasipapa — Telugu • 1973 — Puttinillu Mettinillu — Telugu • 1974 — Lav Kush — Valmiki — Hindi • 1974 — Uttama Illalu — Narayana Rao — Telugu • 1974 — Sivagamiyin Selvan — Church Father — Tamil • 1974 — Inti Kodalu — Telugu • 1975 — Mallela Manasulu — Do-gooder who helps Annapurna and her children — Telugu • 1976 — Tu Hi Ram Tu Hi Krishna — Hindi • 1976 — Kula Gowravam — Tamil • 1978 — Ennai Pol Oruvan — Sundaramoorthy's Father — Tamil — (final film role) • Composer and play back singer • Year — Title — Song • 1938 — Gruhalakshmi — Lendu Bharata Veerulara • 1953 — Gumasta — Oyi Parugekkadikoyi • 1953 — Prapancham — Anta Kooleelam Manamanta Kooleelam, Premasudha Sarasilo Hamsalamai • 1953 — Sangham — Jati Bhedam Samasipoda • 1954 — Maa Gopi — Sanubhoothiye Leda Jagatini, Amma Krishnamma Apacharamemitamma • 1956 — Bhakta Markandeya — Om Namasivaya, Jaya Jaya Sankara Sambasadasiva • 1956 — Naga Panchami — Sambho Mahadeva • 1956 — Muddu Bidda — Itulela Chesavaya O Devadeva • 1956 — Tenali Ramakrishna — Gandupilli Menu Marichi • 1956 — Tenali Ramakrishna — "Putrile Pambirukkum...Kottaiyile Oru Kaalatthile" • 1957 — Nala Damayanti — Ghorambaina Daavagni Keelakerayai • 1957 — Panduranga Mahatyam — Jaya Jaya Gokula Bala, Sannuti Seyave Manasa • 1962 — Swarnamanjari — Madhuramaina Guru Deevena • 1967 — Maa Vadina — Suthudilu Peeda Mandiramu (poem) • 1967 — Poola Rangadu — Chillara Rallaku Mokkutu Unte Chedipoduvura • Playback singer • Ramadasu (1964) • Tenali Raman • Gumasta (1953/II) (playback singer and composer) • Naa Illu (1953) (playback singer and composer) • Yogi Vemana (1947) (playback singer and composer) • Thyagayya (1946) (playback singer and composer) • Swargaseema (1945) (playback singer and composer) • Bhakta Potana (1942) (playback singer and composer) • Devatha (1941) (playback singer and composer) • Sumangali (1940) (playback singer and composer) • Viswa Mohini (1940) (playback singer) • Vande Mataram (1939) (playback singer and composer) • Gruhalakshmi (1938) (playback singer) • Director (partial filmography) • Ramadasu (Telugu, 1964) • En Veedu (Tamil, 1953) • Naa Illu (Telugu, 1953) • Thyagayya (Telugu, 1946) • Producer (partial filmography) • Naa Illu (1953) • Writer (partial filmography) • Thyagayya (1946)
Life and work
Life and work
Chittoor Nagaiah was born on 28 March 1904 in Chittoor district. Nagaiah held the nationality of India, British Raj and Dominion of India. Nagaiah worked as film director, actor, film producer and composer, and the authority record catalogues a further 2 occupations under the same name, among them singer and film actor. Nagaiah was active from 1938. Nagaiah played the voice. Nagaiah worked in Telugu and Tamil.
Work for the screen
Work for the screen
Nagaiah worked for the screen, as film director and film producer. 7 films survive in the institutional catalogues, spanning 1941 to 1964. Among them are Devata (1941), Bhakta Potana (1943), Hemareddy Mallamma (1945), Tyagayya (1946), Yogi Vemana (1947) and Naa Illu (1953). The whole run is set out in the catalogue below.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1973
Chittoor Nagaiah died on 30 December 1973.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Chittoor district.
Birth place
Chennai.
Death place
Catalogued output
Films and moving-image works
These entries are catalogued as moving-image works. The 1940s are the densest part of the run, with 5 titles, and that concentration is a fact about what the registers have catalogued rather than a judgement on the work itself.
7 films carry dates between 1941 and 1964
The run opens with Devata and closes with Ramadasu
Devata
1941
Bhakta Potana
1943
Hemareddy Mallamma
1945
Tyagayya
1946
Yogi Vemana
1947
Naa Illu
1953
Ramadasu
1964
Authority records
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
institutional register
Wikidata, structured authority record Q5102517: Chittoor NagaiahWikimedia Foundation
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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