k Viswanath (19 February 1930 – 2 February 2023) was an Indian film director, screenwriter and actor, One of the most prolific filmmakers of Telugu cinema,^[1][2] he received international recognition for his works, and is known for blending parallel cinema with mainstream commercial cinema.^{[lower-alpha 1]} He was honored with the “Prize of the Public” at the “Besançon Film Festival of France” in 1981.^[3] 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. In 2017, he was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in Indian cinema.^[4][5][6]

k Viswanath started his film career as an audiographer and in sixty years, he has directed 53 feature films in a variety of genres, including films based on performing arts, visual arts, and aesthetics.^[7][1][2] 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.^[1][2]

He is recipient of five National Film Awards, seven state Nandi Awards, ten Filmfare Awards South, and a Filmfare Award in Hindi.^[8] 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.^[9][10]

k Viswanath Early life

Kasinadhuni Viswanath was born on 19 February 1930 in Repalle of Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh.^[1] His parents are Kasinadhuni Subramanyam and Kasinadhuni Saraswathy (Saraswathamma) and his ancestral roots come from Pedapulivarru, Andhra Pradesh, a small village on the banks of River Krishna.^[2][3] 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.^[4] 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. Viswanath 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. Viswanath made his entry into film direction at Annapurna Pictures under Adurthi Subba Rao and K. Ramnoth.^[5][6] He wished to work as an assistant to director K. Balachander and Bapu.^[4]

k Viswanath 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 Dhanwan (1993). Some of these films (especially his collaboration with actress Jaya Prada) have been super hits at the box office.^[1]

k Viswanath Television carrier.

Viswanath had also acted on a few television serials; Siva Narayana Teertha on SVBC TV, Chellamay on Sun TV, and Suryiavamsam on Vendhar TV. He also endorses brands such as GRT Jewellers and appears in various television commercials.^[1]

k Viswanath Awards

Viswanath receiving Dadasaheb Phalke Award from President Pranab Mukherjee in 2017

k Viswanath received Civilian honor

• Padma Shri (1992), Government of India^[1]

International honours

• 1981 – Prize of the Public at the Besançon Film Festival of France^[2]
• 1982–87 – Special Mention – Moscow International Film Festival^[2]
• 2014 – Gulf Andhra Award for Life Time Achievement in Cinema – U.A.E.^[3]

National Film Awards

• 2017 – Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifetime achievement in cinema.^[4][5]
• 1980 – National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment – Sankarabharanam
• 1982 – Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration – Saptapadi
• 1987 – Best Feature Film in Telugu – Swathi Muthyam
• 1990 – Best Feature Film in Telugu – Sutradharulu
• 2005 – Best Feature Film in Telugu – Swarabhishekam

Nandi Awards^[6]

• 1980: Second Best Story Writer – Sankarabharanam
• 1981: Best Screenplay Writer – Saptapadi
• 1982: Best Story Writer – Subhalekha
• 1986: Best Director – Swathi Muthyam
• 1987: Best Director – Sruthilayalu
• 1992: Raghupathi Venkaiah Award – Lifetime achievement for outstanding contributions to Telugu cinema
• 1995: Best Character Actor – Subha Sankalpam
• 2000: Best Supporting Actor – Kalisundam Raa

Cinema Express Awards

• 1988: Cinema Express Award for Best Director – Swarnakamalam^[7]

CineMAA Awards

• CineMAA Award for lifetime achievement – (2008)^[8]

South Indian International Movie Awards

• 2021: Lifetime Achievement Award

Filmfare Awards

• 1989: Filmfare Best Story Award – Eeshwar

Filmfare Awards South^[9]

• 1974: Best Director – O Seeta Katha
• 1975: Best Director – Jeevana Jyoti
• 1982: Best Director – Subhalekha
• 1983: Best Director – Sagara Sangamam
• 1986: Best Director – Swathi Muthyam
• 1987: Best Director – Sruthilayalu^[10]
• 1992: Best Director – Aapadbandhavudu
• 1995: Best Director – Subha Sankalpam
• 1994: Lifetime Achievement

Honorary doctorate

• Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University

Other honours

• 2012 – Viswa Vikhyata Darsaka Sarvabhowma for achievement in direction.^[11]
• 2012 – Chittoor V. Nagayya Puraskaram for lifetime achievement in cinema.^[12]
• 2017 – Film Nagar Cultural Center – Hyderabad Award for achievement in cinema.^[13]
• 2017 – Telugu Film Director’s Association Award for achievement in direction.^[14]
• 2017 – Aathmeeya Sanmanam from Government of Andhra Pradesh for achievement in cinema at Vijayawada Thummalapalli Kalakshetram.^[15]
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• Filmography
• K Viswanath has directed over 50 feature films.

• k Viswanath As an actor

• k Viswanath Other roles