Jandhyala

For other uses, see Jandhyala (surname).

Jandhyala‌
Born
Jandhyala Subrahmanya Sastry[1]

(1951-01-14)14 January 1951[2]
Narsapuram, Madras State, India (present-day Andhra Pradesh)
Died19 June 2001(2001-06-19) (aged 50)[2]
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India (present-day Telangana)
Other namesHasya Brahma
Occupations
AwardsPadma Shri[citation needed]

Jandhyala Subrahmanya Sastry (14 January 1951 – 19 June 2001), known mononymously as Jandhyala, was an Indian film director, screenwriter, playwright, and actor known for his works in Telugu cinema and theatre. Popularly referred to as Hasya Brahma (transl. Brahma of comedy), Jandhyala is renowned for his exceptional work in comedy. In a career spanning more than two decades, he directed over 40 films and wrote the dialogue for more than 300 films.[3] He earned several accolades, including three state Nandi Awards—one each for Best Director, Best Story Writer, and Best Dialogue Writer—and a Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu.[4]

Jandhyala was interested in theatre from a young age, and wrote several popular plays during his college years. He entered the film industry in 1976 and quickly made a name for himself as a versatile writer. He penned commercial blockbusters such as Adavi Ramudu (1977), and Vetagadu (1979) as well as critically-acclaimed films like Siri Siri Muvva (1976), and Sankarabharanam (1980). His success as a writer laid the foundation for his future work as a director.[5]

Jandhyala eventually transitioned to directing, helming several notable films that became classics in Telugu cinema. His directorial works include Ananda Bhairavi (1983), Srivariki Premalekha (1984), Chantabbai (1986), Padamati Sandhya Ragam (1987), Aha Naa Pellanta! (1987), Vivaha Bhojanambu (1988), Choopulu Kalasina Subhavela (1988), and Jayammu Nischayammu Raa (1989).[6] As a writer, Jandhyala also contributed dialogues to several National Award-winning films such as Saptapadi (1981), Seethakoka Chilaka (1981), Sagara Sangamam (1983), and Swathi Kiranam (1992). His other notable writing credits include Nireekshana (1986), Aakhari Poratam (1988), Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990), and Aditya 369 (1991).[7]

Beyond his directorial and writing achievements, Jandhyala was instrumental in introducing several prominent actors to Telugu cinema, including Naresh, Dharmavarapu Subramanyam, and Suthi Velu.[8] He also played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of comic actors like Brahmanandam, Rajendra Prasad, and Kota Srinivasa Rao.[9]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference TOI was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Pandya, Haresh (3 August 2001). "Obituary: Jandhyala Sastri". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  3. ^ "జంధ్యాల కోరిక" (PDF). Zamin Ryot (in Telugu). 15 October 1999. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Sreekanth, D (14 January 2004). "Jandhyala - great director of Telugu cinema". Idlebrain.com. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Rao, P. Surya (30 June 2011). "Tribute to a legend". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  9. ^ "సినీ హాస్యజగతికి వరమాల.. జంధ్యాల..!". Zee News (in Telugu). 14 January 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2022.