Filmmaker Kasinadhuni Viswanath, winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, passed away in a local private hospital. He was 92.
According to accounts, Viswanath had been ill for a while and was experiencing age-related problems. In the hospital, he passed away around midnight on Wednesday night.
Viswanath, also referred to as “Kalatapasvi,” was born in Andhra Pradesh in February of 1930.
He was a well-known figure not only in Tamil and Hindi films but also in Telugu cinema, and he was the 48th person to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honor in Indian cinema. He received the distinction for the 2016 calendar year.
K. Chandrasekhar Rao, the chief minister of Telangana, offered his condolences for Viswanath’s passing.
According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, Viswanath was a “unique and outstanding film director who chose ordinary material and converted it into a great movie on the silver screen with his amazing talent.”
In a tweet, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed his sorrow at the filmmaker’s passing.
“Viswanath reflects Telugu culture and Indian arts. His films have garnered unprecedented respect for the Telugu film industry. “He will forever be remembered as a great artist by the Telugu people,” said Reddy.
M Venkaiahn Naidu, a former vice president, tweeted, “I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of acclaimed film director K Viswanath. As a director, he added depth and dignity to the medium, winning international acclaim for his films with a message. May his atma achieve sadgati! Shanti, shanti, shanti.”
Viswanath began his career as a sound artist and went on to direct award-winning films such as “Sankarabharanam”, “Sagara Sangamam,” “Swati Mutyam,” “Saptapadi,” “Kaamchor”, “Sanjog” and “Jaag Utha Insaan.”
Among his many accomplishments was a successful stint in front of the camera. He has made 50 films since 1965.
“Aatma Gowravam,” a film starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao that won the Nandi Award for best feature film, was his directorial debut. “Chelleli Kapuram,” “O Seeta Katha,” “Jeevana Jyoti,” and “Sarada” were the next films.
He made his film debut in “Swarabhishekam” (which he also directed), “Pandurangadu”, “Narasimha Naidu”, “Lakshmi Narasimha” and “Seemasimham”, “Kuruthipunal”, “Kakkai Siraginilae” and “Bagavathi”, among other films.
He got the Padma Shri in 1992, five National Awards, 20 Nandi Awards (from the government of Andhra Pradesh), and 10 Film fare trophies, including the Lifetime Achievement award, in addition to the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
“Beyond words shocked! K Viswanath’s death leaves an indelible hole in Indian/Telugu cinema and in my heart! Man of many iconic and timeless films! The legend will never die! Om Shanti!! “Chiranjeevi, the star, took to Twitter.
Several film industry leaders also paid their respects to Viswanath.