V. N. Reddy

V. N. Reddy
Born	Cuddapah, Andhra Pradesh, India
Occupation	Cinematographer Director
Years active	1943-1977

V. N. Reddy^[1] (Telugu: వి.ఎన్.రెడ్డి; 20 November 1914 – December 1991) was an Indian cinematographer and director who worked predominantly in Telugu films, Bollywood, and few Tamil films for over thirty years starting from 1943. One of the Pioneers of Indian cinematography, Reddy was born at Cuddapah, Andhra Pradesh and was brought up in Anantapur.^[2]

Career

He developed a passion for cinematography at a very young age. Badalti Duniya, his debut movie, was released in the year 1943. He first excelled in black-and-white photography and film making and then shifted to colour film making. His noted films are Aag (1948), Hulchul (1951), Baiju Bawra (1952), Meenar (1954), Chori Chori (1956), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), Do Badan (1966), Upkar (1967), Purab Aur Paschim (1970) and Do Chor (1972).

Aag (1948) was made by a group of people in their twenties, Reddy being the oldest.^[3][4] It is considered one of the most significant films of all time.^[5] Writing about Reddy's work for the song Dulhan Chali Pehan Chali from the movie Purab Aur Paschim, the Indian movie review website, Passion for Cinema states

VN Reddy's camera under the direction and instructions of Manoj Kumar presents this song and dance event in [a] very interesting and beautiful manner. Camera peeps through the space left by the four daflis and it is such a nice way to show something to audiences.^[6]

Lakh Tandon and V. Gopi Krishna were Reddy's assistants. Reddy also tried his hand at directing movies like Ganga Gauri Samvadam (Telegu - 1958),^[7] Sengottai Singam (Tamil - 1958)^[8] Intika Deepam Illalu (Telegu - 1961), Ananda Jyoti (Tamil - 1963),^[9] and Zahreeli (1977) among others.^[10]

Ravikant Reddy,^[11] one of Reddy's six children, who at an early age of 13 to 14 years was trained and apprenticed under his father, is a noted cinematographer himself.

Partial filmography

Sr. No.	Movie Name	Year
1	Badalti Duniya	1943
2	Krishnarujun Yudh	1945
3	Omar Khayyam	1946
4	1857	1946
5	Dil	1946
6	Dil-ki-rani	1947
7	Chittor Vijay	1947
8	Aag	1948
9	Sawan Aya Re	1949
10	Kali Ghata	1951
11	Hulchul	1951
12	Baiju Bawra	1952
13	Puttillu (Telugu)	1953
14	Meenar	1954
15	Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu	1954
16	Chori Chori	1956
17	Chiranjeevulu (Telugu)	1956
24	Ananda Jyoti	1963
19	Kashmir Ki Kali	1964
20	Lootera	1965
21	Do Badan	1966
22	Upkar	1967
23	Latt Saheb	1967
24	Pushpanjali	1970
25	Yaadgar	1970
26	Purab Aur Paschim	1970
27	Zameen Asman	1972
28	Do Chor	1972
29	Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye	1974
30	Jaggu	1975
31	Zahereeli	1977
32	College Girl	1978
33	Khoon Aur Sazaa	1986

Sr. No.	Directorial Movies	Year
1	Ganga Gauri Samvadam (Telugu)	1958
2	Sengottai Singam (Tamil)	1958
3	Intika Deepam Illale (Telugu)	1961
4	Manapandal (Tamil version of Intika Deepam Illale)	1961
5	Anandha Jodhi	1963
6	Zahereeli	1977

References

1. Encyclopaedia of Hindi cinema. India: Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2003. p. 659. ISBN 81-7991-066-0.
2. V.N.Reddy gariki Madras film journalistulu, editorlu samarpinchina swagahatha pathram (Journalists and Editors in Madras extend invitation to V.N.Reddy), May 1952, Radio News from Rupavahini
3. Bamzai, Kaveree (18 July 1999). "Back To The Future". Indian Express.
4. "Aag (Fire)(1948) Directed by Raj Kapoor. Raj Kapoor, Nargis, Premnath". Moviediva. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
5. "Cinema - The Era Of Talking Movies - 1940 - 1950". Windows on Asia. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
6. "Purab Aur Paschim : Dulhan Chali Pehan Chali teen rang ki Choli". Passion For Cinema. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
7. "Ganga Gauri Samvadam". IMDB. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
8. "மன்னனான எம்.ஜி.ஆர்". Dinakaran (in Tamil).
9. "Ananda Jyoti". IMDB. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
10. "V. N. Reddy". IMDB. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
11. "Ravikant Reddy". IMDB. Retrieved 9 March 2011.