Legendary director K Viswanath passes away

K Viswanath won five National Film Awards. He also has several Nandi Awards and Filmfare Awards to his credit. Viswanath was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1992 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2017.

K Viswanath was 92.

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Legendary director-actor K Viswanath passed away in a private hospital in Hyderabad late Thursday due to age-related issues. He was 92.

K Viswanath began his film career as a sound recordist. After a brief stint as an assistant director, Viswanath made his directorial debut in 1961 with Aatma Gowravam. He went on to direct over 50 Telugu and Hindi films with themes like the caste system, disability, untouchability, gender discrimination, dowry and socio-economic challenges. His notable movies include Chelleli Kapuram, Kalam Marindi, Sarada, O Seeta Katha Jeevana Jyothi, Siri Siri Muvva, Sankarabharanam, Saptapadi, Sagara Sangamamm, Swathi Muthyam, Sruthilayalu, Swarnakamalam, Sutradharulu, Aapadbhandhuvudu, Swati Kiranam, Subha Sankalpam, Swarabhishekam, Sargam, Kaamchor, Shubh Kaamna, Eeshwar and Dhanwaan. Viswanath’s last directorial was Subhapradam in 2010.

K Viswanath in Subha Sankalpam. (Express archive photo)

Viswanath made his acting debut in the 1995 film Subha Sankalpam. He also starred in Telugu and Tamils films like Vajram, Kalisundam Raa, Narasimha Naidu, Seema Simham, Nuvv Leka Nenu Lenu, Santhosham, Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo, Tagore, Yaaradi Nee Mohini, Rajapattai, Lingaa, and Uttama Villain.

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K Viswanath won five National Film Awards. He also has several Nandi Awards and Filmfare Awards to his credit. Viswanath was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1992 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2017.

K. Viswanath receives the Dadasaheb Phalke Award during the 64th National Film Awards. (Express Photo by Neeraj Priyadarshi)

Celebrities across film industries took to social media to mourn the demise of Viswanath. AR Rahman tweeted, “Anjali 🌺 tradition, warmth, heart, music, dance, love …..your movies filled my childhood with humaneness and wonder! #ripkviswanathji 🌹🌺🌹🌺🍵.” Mammootty took to Twitter and wrote, “Deeply saddened by the demise of Sri K Viswanath Garu. Had the privilege of being directed by him in Swathikiranam. My thoughts and prayers with his loved ones.” Prasanna posted on Twitter, “RipLegend #kvishwanath om shanthi🙏🙏.”

K. Vishwanath Ji you taught me so much, being on set with you during Eeshwar was like being in a temple…
RIP My Guru 🙏 pic.twitter.com/vmqfhbZORx

— Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) February 2, 2023

తెలుగు సినిమా ఖ్యాతిని ఖండాంతరాలుగా వ్యాపింపజేసిన వారిలో విశ్వనాధ్ గారిది ఉన్నతమైన స్థానం. శంకరాభరణం, సాగర సంగమం లాంటి ఎన్నో అపురూపమైన చిత్రాలని అందించారు. ఆయన లేని లోటు ఎన్నటికీ తీరనిది. వారి కుటుంబానికి నా ప్రగాఢ సానుభూతిని తెలియజేస్తూ ఆయన ఆత్మకి శాంతి చేకూరాలనుకుంటున్నాను. pic.twitter.com/3Ub8BwZQ88

— Jr NTR (@tarak9999) February 2, 2023

తెలుగు సినిమా గర్వించదగ్గ దర్శకులు..తెలుగు సినిమాకు ఒక గౌరవాన్ని, గుర్తింపును తెచ్చిన గొప్ప వ్యక్తి, కె.విశ్వనాథ్ గారు. ఆయన లేని లోటు తీరనిది. #RipLegend 🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/qFBQ2376ji

— Gopichandh Malineni (@megopichand) February 2, 2023

Thaman S tweeted, “Sir You will be Remembered all thru Our Lives with Your Classics Sir. A greatest film Maker of all times #RIPVishwanathGaru. Such a Huge Loss to INDIAN Cinema 🥹💔. Legend #KVishwanath gaaru Rest In peace sir.”

K Viswanath is survived by his wife and four children.

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