Kasinadhuni విశ్వనాధ్

Great Directors Born February 19, 1930 (1930-02-19) (age 80)
Peddapulivarru, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India
Occupation Actor, Writer, Director
Years active 1957–present
Spouse(s) Jayalakshmi
Awards Padma Shri


About him:Kasinadhuni Viswanath or K. Viswanath (Telugu: కాశినాథుని విశ్వనాథ్‌; born 19 February 1930) is an Acclaimed and Versatile Indian film director and actor in Tollywood whose contributions have been significant to Indian Cinema through the Telugu film industry. He has directed films like Swathi Muthyam which was India's official entry to the Oscars for the year 1986; the only Telugu film to achieve this till date. Most of his films have attained a classic status and are often used as pointers to Telugu film industry. His films are termed to be masterclass and touch the audience hearts in a subtle manner. He has also directed a Hindi movie with Madhuri Dixit playing a dual role called Sangeet. It was a critically well acclaimed film which was released in 1992. His Malayalam film, Sapthapathy was also critically acclaimed.

Early life:

Viswanath was born to Sri Kasinadhuni Subrahmanyam and Smt Kasinadhuni Saraswatamma in a Telugu 6000 Niyogi Brahmin Family. He hails from Peddapulivarru, near Repalle in Andhra Pradesh.

Career:

Viswanath began his career as a technician in a studio at Chennai and later assisted Mr. Adurthi Subba Rao in direction. He also worked as an assistant to director Ramnoth.He also wished to work as an assistant to K. Balachander and Bapu.He debuted as a director with Aatma Gowravam, which starred Akkineni Nageswara Rao. However, his full prowess in film-making flowered with a subsequent film called Siri Siri Muvva.

His films used to tackle the relevance and influence of Indian music/culture/art in the modern era. Films in this mould include Sankarabharanam ('Lord Shankara (shiva)'s Ornament'). He made a series of such classical oriented movies all showcasing the bliss in Indian art forms. The list includes Saagara Sangamam ('The place where river merges into Sea/Ocean. As per Hindu beliefs, this is supposed to be a sacred place'), Srutilayalu, Sirivennela ('Golden Moonlight'), Swarnakamalam ('Golden Lotus'), and Swathi Kiranam ('A Ray of Talent').

Vishwanath also made significant contributions on the social front with films like Saptapadi ('The seven Steps', signifying the sanctity of the Hindu marriage system), Swathi Muthyam ('Pure Pearl'), Swayam Krushi ("Attitude Towards Work" — conveying the message that dilligence and dedication is indispensable in achieving success), Subhodayam ('Good Morning'), Subhalekha ('Wedding Invitation' — a critique of the dowry system), Aapadhbhaandhavudu ('Savior'), and Subha Sankalpam ('Good Will').

Swathi Muthyam was India's official entry to the Oscars in 1986. Viswanath was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contributions to Indian film.

His films mirror the erosion of cherished values of Indian culture yet he remains critical of those morals that make one stand against his fellow human. For example, in his movie Saptapadi, Vishwanath brilliantly addresses certain loopholes in an inadmissible cultural system like intercaste marriage. A temple chief-priest gets his daughter’s daughter married to his son’s son – unaware that she is musically fused to a flutist who is a Dalit (one of a lower caste, but of a higher humanness.) Later, as the priest sees the marriage falling apart, he comes to know the girl’s erstwhile bonding. It takes the priest intense introspection to realize how nasty it is to look down upon a fellow human because of caste. He could now anchor his judgment in the “content of character” rather than caste. Across numerous other films, Vishwanath has re-echoed similar social concerns that still resonate in the audiences’ minds.

The music for his films was composed by K. V. Mahadevan and Ilaiyaraaja. Viswanath has also worked with artists like Hariprasad Chaurasia, Kelucharan Mohapatra and Sharon Lowen for some of his films.

Viswanath also ventured into mainstream acting in Telugu movies. His first movie as an actor was Subha Sankalpam. And later on he did many movies such as Swarabhishekam which he himself directed and acted and other movies like Pandurangadu (stg* Balakrishna, Sneha, Tagore (Stg* Chiranjeevi), Aadavari Matalaku Ardhalu Verule (stg* Venkatesh, Trisha Krishnan) and Tamil films like Kuruthipunal (stg* Kamal Haasan, Arjun), Kakkai Chiraginile (stg* Parthiban), Mugavari (stg* Ajith), Bhagavathy (stg* Vijay), Pudiya Geethai (stg* Vijay) and Yaradi Nee Mohini (stg* Dhanush).

He is currently playing the lead in SIVA NARAYANA TEERTHAM in TTD's Sri Venkateswara Bhakthi Channel (SVBC).

Personal life:

Viswanath is married to Jayalakshmi. The couple have three children, Padmavathi Devi, Nagendranath (alumnus of Andhra University Vishakapatnam) and Ravinadranath (alumnus of XLRI, Jamshedpur and BITS, Pilani).

The Kasinadhunis are related to the Sripathi Panditaradhyula family, a prominent family member being S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

Trivia

* Most of Mr.Viswanaths's films have titles beginning with the letter "S"
* Mr.Viswanath introduced song writer, Sirivennela Sitaramasastri through the film Sirivennela.
* Mr.Viswanath also introduced song writer Veturi Sundararama Murthy
* Producer Edida Nageswara Rao considers Mr.Viswanath as his godfather since Mr.Viswanath was highly responsible for the success of Mr.Raos's productiomasterpieces to date.

Filmography:

This is partial list of his films. Kindly help expanding it.
Year Film Language Credits
1957 Todi Kodallu Telugu Sound department
1961 Iddaru Mitrulu Telugu Assistant Director
1963 Chaduvukunna Ammayilu Telugu Screenplay writer
1963 Mooga Manasulu Telugu Assistant Director
1964 Doctor Chakravarthy Telugu Assistant Director
1965 Aatma Gowravam Telugu Director
1967 Private Master Telugu Director
1967 Sudigundalu Telugu Screenplay writer and Director
1968 Kalisochchina Adrushtam Telugu Director
1968 Undamma Bottu Pedata Telugu Director
1969 Nindu Hridayalu Telugu Director
1969 Sabhash Satyam Telugu Director
1971 Chelleli Kapuram Telugu Director
1971 Chinnanaati Snehithulu Telugu Director
1971 Nindu Dampatulu Telugu Director
1972 Kalam Marindi Telugu Story, Screenplay writer and Director
1973 Neramu Siksha Telugu Screenplay writer and Director
1973 Sharada Telugu Director
1974 Amma Manasu Telugu Director
1974 O Seeta Katha Telugu Director
1975 Chinna Nati Kalalu Telugu Director
1975 Jeevana Jyoti Telugu Director
1976 Mangalyaniki Maromudi Telugu Screenplay writer and Director
1976 Prema Bhandam Telugu Director
1977 Chilanka Director
1977 Jeevita Nouka Telugu Director
1978 Kaalanthakulu Telugu Director
1978 Seetamalakshmi Telugu Story, Screenplay writer and Director
1978 Siri Siri Muvva Telugu Story, Screenplay writer and Director
1979 President Peramma Telugu Director
1979 Sankarabharanam Telugu Story writer and Director
1979 Sargam Hindi Director
1980 Alludu Pattina Bharatam Telugu Director
1980 Saptapadi Telugu Story, Screenplay writer and Director
1980 Subhodayam Telugu Story writer and Director
1982 Kaamchor Hindi Director
1982 Subhalekha Telugu Story, Screenpaly writer and Director
1983 Saagara Sangamam Telugu Story writer and Director
1983 Shubh Kaamna Hindi Director
1984 Janani Janmabhoomi Telugu Story, Screenplay writer and Director
1985 Jaag Utha Insan Hindi Director
1985 Sanjog Hindi Director
1985 Sur Sangam Hindi Director
1985 Swathi Muthyam Telugu Story, Screenplay writer and Director
1986 Sirivennela Telugu Story, Screenplay writer and Director
1987 Srutilayalu Telugu Story, Screenplay writer and Director
1987 Swayamkrushi Telugu Story, Screenplay writer and Director
1988 Sangeeta Sangamam Malayalam Director
1988 Swarna Kamalam Telugu Story, Screenplay writer and Director
1989 Eeshwar Hindi Story, Screenplay writer and Director
1990 Suthradharulu Telugu Story, Screenplay writer and Director
1992 Aapathbandhavudu Telugu Story, Screenplay writer and Director
1992 Sangeet Hindi Director
1992 Swathi Kiranam Telugu Story, Screenplay writer and Director
1993 Dhanwaan Hindi Director
1995 Subha Sankalpam Telugu Actor and Director
1995 Vajram Telugu Actor:
1996 Kuruthipunal Tamil Actor: Sreenivasan
1997 Chinnabbayi Telugu Director
2001 Ninnu Choodalani Telugu Actor: Siva Reddy
2002 Nee Sneham Telugu Actor: Grandfather of Amrutha
2002 Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu Telugu Actor
2002 Rifles Telugu Actor:
2002 Santosham Telugu Actor: Ramachandraiah
2003 Anbe Sivam Tamil Actor:
2003 Tagore Telugu Actor: Chief Minister
2004 Lakshmi Narasimha Telugu Actor: Father of Lakshmi Narasimha
2004 Swarabhishekam Telugu Actor, Story, Screenplay writer and Director
2005 Andhrudu Telugu Actor: Father of Surendra
2005 Athadu Telugu Actor: CBI Officer
2005 Gowtam SSC Telugu Actor:
2007 Aadavari Matalaku Ardhalu Verule Telugu Actor: Grandfather of Keerthi
2008 Pandurangadu Telugu Actor: Father of Pundarika
2010 Subhapradam Telugu Director

Awards

* National Film Awards:
o 1980: National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment-Sankarabharanam
o 1982: Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration-Saptapadi
o 1984: National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu-Sagara Sangamam
o 1986: National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu-Swathi Muthyam
o 1988: National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu-Sruthi Layalu
o 2004: National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu-Swarabhishekam
* Nandi Awards:
o 1987: Nandi Award for Best Director for Srutilayalu
* Filmfare Awards:
o 1967: Filmfare Best Director Award (Telugu) for Sudigundalu
o 1971: Filmfare Best Director Award (Telugu) for Chelleli Kapuram
o 1973: Filmfare Best Director Award (Telugu) for Sharada
o 1974: Filmfare Best Director Award (Telugu) for O Seeta Katha
o 1986: Filmfare Best Director Award (Telugu) for Swathi Muthyam
o 1992: Filmfare Best Director Award (Telugu) for Swathi Kiranam
* Raghupathi Venkaiah Award – 1992
* Padmashri Award