Bapu Profile

(Sathiraju Lakshmi Narayana)

Executive summary
Sathiraju Lakshmi Narayana, popularly known as Bapu is a uniquely talented painter, a music artist, illustrator, and a designer. A versatile personality, who also became a hugely popular film maker known for his classics in Telugu and Hindi cinemas. Three times national award winner, Bapu was born in Narsapur, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh on December 15, 1933. He graduated with a degree in Law from the University of Madras in 1955. He worked as a political cartoonist for the newspaper Andhra Patrika in 1945. 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 any mentorship or training, which has economy of strokes and bright colors. His paintings mainly focused on Native culture, Mythological characters and exceptionally beautiful female portraits. The phrase Bapu Bomma ("Bapu's painting") has become synonymous with a beautiful Telugu girl. "If there is one artist who vividly captures the telugu culture, life, ethos and charm of myriad moods of characters from epics or day to day life, it is Bapu. His works are nothing but treasure trove of telugu culture that are to be preserved for posterity". His paintings sway the hearts for generations .Since 1945 he has been doing story illustrations, cartoons, comic strips and cover designs for telugu magazines. Bapu has devoted his life to pursue his passion for creativity. Bapu worked as the Asthana Chitrakar of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams(TTD), he has illustrated many works of Saint Annamacharya. Bapu has designed and produced the TTD Video 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) of Andal (Tiruppavai). He also introduced his own CURSIVE WRITING of Telugu alphabets, which became a font. 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 Andhra Pradesh and also at the National Film Theatre, London in 1978 and at the Telugu Conferences 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, for the Government of Andhra pradesh, Audio and Video lessons to be used in the Telugu medium primary schools.Bapu has also designed pilot lessons forAdult literacy. BOOKS PUBLISHED: Illustrated Book of Ramayana for Children, BUDUGU, and Amravati Kathalu among many. AMovie maker: Bapu entered into cine field with Mr. Mullapudi Venkata Ramana and was an assistant producer for some movies. The most notable achievement in Bapu's movie making is his success in capturing the nativity of the Telugu people and translating it into visuals. His movies center on realistic family issues and relationships, however his recurring theme is

magic realism, with vignettes of mythological characters aiding in the narration. Bapu has so far 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 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. 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 Artist

Number of drawings
Total : Over 1,50,000. About 75,000 available.

Illustrations
Popular Poems

Leela Janardhanam

Galeeb Poems

Bhagavatham

Gajendra Moksham

Bhakta Prahlada

19

Cover Page Drawings

Swathi (Weekly)

Bapus Drawing Compilation

Cartoons

Come out Rascals! We know you are there-

I told you not to push.

First Published Drawing

Bala Magazine (1945)

Some of the Popular Drawings

Gangavataran

Gayathri Mantra

Village Atmosphere

Yashoda s Vision of Universe

Mother s Love

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

Bapu Art Gallery in India

Art Exhibition at London, 1978

State Art Gallery, Hyderabad - 2011

Awards received for artwork

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

Kala Prapoorna from Andhra Unversity, 1991

Lifetime Achievement Award Indian Institute of Cartoonists, 2001

Books
Edited & Published

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

Snskrit

Telugu English

Bapu Educationist
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.

Chief Minister honoring for their contribution

TV 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 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 - Filmography
Directed
40 Telugu Films 9 Hindi Films 1 Tamil Film

Awards

Sl. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

3 National Awards, 3 State Awards 2 Film Fare Awards.

Year 1967 1968 1969 1970 1970 1971 1973 1974 1975 1976 1976 1976 1976 1977 1978 1978 1978 1979 1980 Movie Sakshi Bangaru Pichika Buddhimantudu Inti Gowravam Balaraju Katha Sampoorna Ramayanam Andala Ramudu Shri Ramanjaneya Yuddham Mutyala Muggu Seeta Kalyanam Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club Bhakta Kannappa Sita Swayamvar Sneham Manavoori Pandavulu Goranta Deepam Anokha Shivbhakt Toorpu Velle Railu Vamsha Vriksham Language Telugu Telugu Telugu Telugu Telugu Telugu Telugu Telugu Telugu Telugu Telugu Telugu Hindi Telugu Telugu Telugu Hindi Telugu Telugu

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

1980 1980 1980 1981 1981 1981 1982 1982 1982 1982 1983 1983 1984 1985 1985 1985 1985 1986 1986 1986 1987 1989 1991 1993 1993 1994 1994 1996 2005 2008 2011

Rajathi Raju Kaliyuga Ravanaasurudu Hum Paanch Tyagayya Radha Kalyanam Bezubaan Krishnaavataram Pelleedu Pillalu Neethi Devan Mayangugiran Edi Dharmam Edi Nyayam Mantri gari Viyyankudu Woh Saat Din Seetamma Pelli Mohabbat Pyari Behna Bullet Jackie Mera Dharam Pyaar Ka Sindoor Kalyana Thamboolam Diljala Prem Pratigyaa Pelli Pusthakam Mr. Pellam Srinatha Kavi Sarvabhoumudu Pelli Koduku Paramaatma Rambantu Radha Gopalam Sundarakanda Sri Rama Rajyam

Telugu Telugu Hindi Telugu Telugu Hindi Telugu Telugu Tamil Telugu Telugu Hindi Telugu Hindi Hindi Hindi Hindi Hindi Hindi Telugu Hindi Hindi Telugu Telugu Telugu Telugu Telugu Telugu Telugu Telugu Telugu

Films showcased in the International Arena:

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

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

Nandi Awards by Govt of AP

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 Awards South

Filmfare Best Director Award (Telugu) - Seeta Kalyanam (1976) Filmfare Best Director Award (Telugu) - Vamsha Vriksham (1980)

Bapu s debut film - Sakshi:

Made with upcoming artists with no make-up. Shot completely outdoors. Won accolades at Tashkent Film Festival (1968)

Mutyala Muggu
A social story with Sundarakanda of Ramayana as an inspiration. Completely shot outdoors with several new actors including Heroine. Won National award for best Regional film.

Seetha Kalyanam
Highly critically acclaimed film of Bapu. 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 studied along with Sampoorna Ramayanam in some US universities

Bapu addressing British Audiance

Hum Paanch
Social drama with Mahabharatha Story as inspiration. 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
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
"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 friendship

Bapu and Ramana

NAVARASALU (Nine Emotions)

Erotic

Humorous

Pathos

Terror

Fright

Heroism

Odium

Wonder

Peace