Bapu Profile

(Sathiraju Lakshmi Narayana)(Sathiraju Lakshmi Narayana)

Sathiraju Lakshmi Narayana, popularly known as Bapu is a uniquely talented painter, amusic artist, illustrator, and a designer. A versatile personality, who also became a hugelypopular film maker known for his classics in Telugu and Hindi cinemas.Three time’s national award winner, Bapu was born in Narsapur, West Godavari, AndhraPradesh on December 15, 1933. He graduated with a degree in Law from the University ofMadras in 1955. He worked as a political cartoonist for the newspaper Andhra Patrika in1945. Bapu, a natural artist with unique style, began contributing to story illustration,magazine covers, cartoons, comic strips to English, Telugu, Tamil periodicals

AnArtist:Bapu, born with an artistic gift, developed a unique style of art, on his own without anymentorship or training, which has economy of strokes and bright colors. His paintingsmainly focused on Native culture, Mythological characters and exceptionally beautifulfemale portraits. The phrase Bapu Bomma ("Bapu's painting") has become synonymouswith a beautiful Telugu girl.

"If there is one artist who vividly captures the telugu culture, life, ethos and charm of myriadmoods of characters from epics or day to day life, it is Bapu. His works are nothing buttreasure trove of telugu culture that are to be preserved for posterity". His paintings sway thehearts for generations .Since 1945 he has been doing story illustrations, cartoons, comicstrips and cover designs for telugu magazines. Bapu has devoted his life to pursue hispassion for creativity.

Bapu worked as the Asthana Chitrakar of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams(TTD), he hasillustrated many works of Saint Annamacharya. Bapu has designed and produced the TTDVideo on the Brahmotsavam Festival of Lord Venkateswara of the Seven Hills for the T.T.D.in 1992 and again in 2001.Bapu has also illustrated the 30 paasurams (devotional songs) ofAndal (Tiruppavai).

He also introduced his own “CURSIVE WRITING” of Telugu alphabets, which became afont.His main achievements are the production of an illustrated book of Ramayana for children,over a hundred exhibitions and one-man shows' of his artwork were held all over AndhraPradesh and also at the National Film Theatre, London in 1978 and at the TeluguConferences held in the U.S.A. in 1978, 1985, 1989, 1992, 1995 and 1996.During 1986-1988 Bapu and Sri Mullapudi Venkata Ramana, designed and produced, forthe Government of Andhra pradesh, Audio and Video lessons to be used in the Telugumedium primary schools.Bapu has also designed pilot lessons forAdult literacy.

BOOKS PUBLISHED:Illustrated Book of Ramayana for Children, BUDUGU, and Amravati Kathalu amongmany.AMovie maker:Bapu entered into cine field with Mr. Mullapudi Venkata Ramana and was an assistantproducer for some movies. The most notable achievement in Bapu's movie making is hissuccess in capturing the nativity of the Telugu people and translating it into visuals. Hismovies center on realistic family issues and relationships, however his recurring theme is

Executive summary

magic realism, with vignettes of mythological characters aiding in the narration. Bapu has sofar directed 49 films, social and mythological; in Telugu and Hindi.He has also directed Bollywood films like Hum Paanch, Seeta Swayamvar, Anokha Bhakt,Bezubaan, Woh Saat Din, Pyari Behna, Mohobbat, Mera Dharam, Diljala and Prem Pratigya.He has also directed a Tamil film Neeti Devan Mayagugiran.

Films showcased in the InternationalArena:Saakshi was showcased at Tashkent film festival in 1968.Seeta Kalyanam was screened at the BFI London Film Festival in 1978 ChicagoInternational Film Festival in 1978.Tyagayya (1981 film) was showcased at International Film Festival of India in 1982.Sri Rama Rajyam had a special screening at International Film Festival of India on

November 28, 2011.Awards and Honors

National FilmAward• National FilmAward for Best Feature Film in Telugu - Mutyala Muggu• National FilmAward for Best Feature Film in Telugu - Toorpu Velle Railu• National FilmAward for Best Feature Film in Telugu - Mister Pellam

NandiAwards by Govt ofAP• Raghupathi VenkaiahAward - Life TimeAchievement in Telugu cinema - 1986

NandiAward for Best Feature Film by Govt ofAP• 1968: Balaraju Katha• 1973:Andala Ramudu• 1975: Mutyala Muggu• 1991: Pelli Pustakam

FilmfareAwards South• Filmfare Best DirectorAward (Telugu) - Seeta Kalyanam (1976)• Filmfare Best DirectorAward (Telugu) - Vamsha Vriksham (1980)

Special Honors• President of India RashtrapatiAward from theAcademy of FineArts, Tirupati• Visishta Puraskaramu from Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University - 2002• Life TimeAchievementAward from Indian Institute of Cartoonists - 2001• Life TimeAchievementAward from TeluguAssociation of NorthAmerica• "Siromani" award fromAmerican TeluguAssociation - 1992• Honorary Doctorate "Kala Prapoorna" fromAndhra University - 1991• Raja-LakshmiAward in 1982 from Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation, Chennai - 1982

An ArtistAn ArtistAn ArtistAn Artist

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Number of drawings

Total : Over 1,50,000. About 75,000 available.

Number of drawings

Illustrations

Leela Janardhanam

Popular PoemsPopular Poems

Bhagavatham

Gajendra Moksham Bhakta Prahlada

Galeeb Poems

Cover Page DrawingsCover Page Drawings

Swathi (Weekly) Bapu’s Drawing Compilation

Cartoons

Come out Rascals! We know you are there- I told you not to push.

First Published DrawingFirst Published Drawing

Bala Magazine (1945)

Some of the Popular DrawingsSome of the Popular Drawings

Gangavataran

Gayathri Mantra

Village Atmosphere

Yashoda’ s Vision of Universe

Mother’ s Love

Exhibitions heldExhibitions heldHeld over 100 one-man shows of Art Works in India, USA and UK.

Art Exhibition at London, 1978

Bapu Art Gallery in India

State Art Gallery, Hyderabad - 2011

Awards received for artworkAwards received for artwork

Kala Prapoorna from Andhra Unversity, 1991

Lifetime Achievement Award

Indian Institute of Cartoonists, 2001

Lifetime Achievement Award, Indian Institute of Cartoonists, Bangalore, 2001

Lifetime Achievement Award, A.P. Press Academy 2002

Lifetime Achievement Award, A.P.Govt. and CrowQuill Academy 2002

BooksEdited & Published

Bapu FontsBapu FontsBapu has a distinct honor of having a Font named after him.

Snskrit

Telugu

English

Bapu EducationistBapu Educationist

Chief Minister honoring

for their contribution

Prepared Audio & Video Lessons for Primary School Education for the Govt. Of A.P. 1986-88

Bapu created material for Adult Education.

Gave a training course on books illustrations and cover designs, sponsored by UNESCO at

Chennai in 1964.

TV SerialsTV Serials

Directed a 40hr TV serial Sri Bhagavatham (1996-2004) for ETV.

Designed and produced a Video Presentation of Srivari Brahmotsavams’ for the

Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam in 1989 and 1999.

Directed a 5.5 hour T.V.Serial Sri Venkateswara Vaibhavam , for Sri

Venkateswara Bhakti Channel, 2008

Bhagavatam TV Serial photo from Nageswar Rao- ETV

Bapu - Movie MakerBapu - Movie Maker

He made 50 feature length films in Telugu, Hindi and Tamil Languages. His films

always had cultural and mythical themes which he depicted in natural surroundings.

In fact his first film Sakshi was shot on locations, completely outdoors.

Bapu - FilmographyBapu - Filmography

Sl. No. Year Movie Language

1 1967 Sakshi Telugu

2 1968 Bangaru Pichika Telugu

3 1969 Buddhimantudu Telugu

4 1970 Inti Gowravam Telugu

5 1970 Balaraju Katha Telugu

6 1971 Sampoorna Ramayanam Telugu

7 1973 Andala Ramudu Telugu

8 1974 Shri Ramanjaneya Yuddham Telugu

9 1975 Mutyala Muggu Telugu

10 1976 Seeta Kalyanam Telugu

11 1976 Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club Telugu

12 1976 Bhakta Kannappa Telugu

13 1976 Sita Swayamvar Hindi

14 1977 Sneham Telugu

15 1978 Manavoori Pandavulu Telugu

16 1978 Goranta Deepam Telugu

17 1978 Anokha Shivbhakt Hindi

18 1979 Toorpu Velle Railu Telugu

19 1980 Vamsha Vriksham Telugu

Directed

Awards

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40 Telugu Films

9 Hindi Films

1 Tamil Film

3 National Awards,

3 State Awards

2 Film Fare Awards.

20 1980 Rajathi Raju Telugu

21 1980 Kaliyuga Ravanaasurudu Telugu

22 1980 Hum Paanch Hindi

23 1981 Tyagayya Telugu

24 1981 Radha Kalyanam Telugu

25 1981 Bezubaan Hindi

26 1982 Krishnaavataram Telugu

27 1982 Pelleedu Pillalu Telugu

28 1982 Neethi Devan Mayangugiran Tamil

29 1982 Edi Dharmam Edi Nyayam Telugu

30 1983 Mantri gari Viyyankudu Telugu

31 1983 Woh Saat Din Hindi

32 1984 Seetamma Pelli Telugu

33 1985 Mohabbat Hindi

34 1985 Pyari Behna Hindi

35 1985 Bullet Hindi

36 1985 Jackie Hindi

37 1986 Mera Dharam Hindi

38 1986 Pyaar Ka Sindoor Hindi

39 1986 Kalyana Thamboolam Telugu

40 1987 Diljala Hindi

41 1989 Prem Pratigyaa Hindi

42 1991 Pelli Pusthakam Telugu

43 1993 Mr. Pellam Telugu

44 1993 Srinatha Kavi Sarvabhoumudu Telugu

45 1994 Pelli Koduku Telugu

46 1994 Paramaatma Telugu

47 1996 Rambantu Telugu

48 2005 Radha Gopalam Telugu

49 2008 Sundarakanda Telugu

50 2011 Sri Rama Rajyam Telugu

Films showcased in the International Arena:

National Film Award

Nandi Awards by Govt of AP

Filmfare Awards South

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Saakshi was showcased at Tashkent film festival in 1968.

Seeta Kalyanam was screened at the BFI London Film Festival in 1978

Chicago International Film Festival in 1978.

Tyagayya (1981 film) was showcased at International Film Festival of

India in 1982.

Sri Rama Rajyam had a special screening at International Film Festival of

India on November 28, 2011.

National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu - Mutyala Muggu

National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu - Toorpu Velle Railu

National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu - Mister Pellam

Raghupathi Venkaiah Award - Life Time Achievement in Telugu cinema -

1986

Nandi Award for Best Feature Film by Govt of AP

1968: Balaraju Katha

1973: Andala Ramudu

1975: Mutyala Muggu

1991: Pelli Pustakam

Filmfare Best Director Award (Telugu) - Seeta Kalyanam (1976)

Filmfare Best Director Award (Telugu) - Vamsha Vriksham (1980)

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Bapu’ s debut film - Sakshi:

• Made with upcoming artists with no make-up.

Shot completely outdoors.

Won accolades at Tashkent Film Festival (1968)

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Mutyala Muggu

• A social story with Sundarakanda of

Ramayana as an inspiration.

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Completely shot outdoors with several new

actors including Heroine.

Won for best Regional

film.

National award

Seetha Kalyanam

• Highly critically acclaimed film of Bapu.

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Screened at several International Festivals.

Included in the curriculum at British Film

Institute.

Sita Kalyanam was a part of film course at

British Film Institute. It is still being studiedalong withSampoorna Ramayanam in some

US universities

Bapu addressing British Audiance

Hum Paanch

• Social drama with Mahabharatha

Story as inspiration.

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Mithun Chakraborthy along with

four of his villagemates fights the

evil village head with the help of

Sanjeevkumar as Krishna.

It is also made in Telugu as Mana

Voori Pandavulu.

Both films brought lot of fame to

Bapu and Ramana.

Established them as National

Movie makers

Special Honors

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President of India Rashtrapati Award from the Academy of Fine Arts, Tirupati

Visishta Puraskaramu from Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University - 2002

Life Time Achievement Award from Indian Institute of Cartoonists - 2001

Life Time Achievement Award from Telugu Association of North America

Kalaratna HAMSA Award from A.P. Govt, Dept. of Culture 2006

Avatara Purusha Award from Sri Kala Sudha Telugu Assocation, 2010

Special Honors

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"Siromani" award from American Telugu Association - 1992

Honorary Doctorate "Kala Prapoorna" from Andhra University - 1991

Raja-Lakshmi Award in 1982 from Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation, Chennai - 1982

Honorary Doctorate Sri Venkateswara University Tirupathi 2005

Summary

Bapu, A multi talented artist and an extraordinary soul,

elevated Telugu culture to unreachable heights, through his art

and cinema

An Iconic friendshipAn Iconic friendship

Bapu and Ramana

Erotic Humorous Pathos

Terror HeroismFright

Odium Wonder Peace

(Nine Emotions)NAVARASALU