Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu (15 October 1869 â€" 15 March 1941), widely
regarded as a pioneer of Telugu cinema, was an Indian artist and
filmmaker who produced silent Indian films and talkies. Starting in
1909, he was involved in many aspects of Indian cinema's history, like
travelling to different regions in Asia to promote film work. In 1912,
he had built a permanent cinema named Gaiety Theatre which was the
first in Madras to screen films on a full-time basis. The Raghupati
Venkaiah Award is an annual award incorporated into the Nandi Awards.
It is considered Telugu cinema's highest award to recognize people for
their lifetime achievements and contributions to the Telugu film
industry.Venkaiah Naidu was born as the second son of an Indian Army
official Subedar Appayya Naidu in Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh,
India. His brother Raghupathi Venkataratnam Naidu was a famous
educationalist and social reformer. His forefathers worked as
Commanders in the Army of East India Company and Madras Army in Telaga
Regiments. At the age of 18, he moved to Madras and started drawing
pictures and carving sculptures at Mount Road and selling them. He
then learned photography and started a photo studio.In 1909, he
ordered a Chrono Mega phone, equipment that relates sounds with
pictures, from John Dickinson and Company. To pay for the Chrono Mega
phone he bought for Rs 30,000, he rented out his photo studio. He shot
12 short films and exhibited them in Victoria Public Hall. He also
travelled to Bangalore, Vijayawada, Sri Lanka, Rangoon and Pegu to
exhibit his films.
regarded as a pioneer of Telugu cinema, was an Indian artist and
filmmaker who produced silent Indian films and talkies. Starting in
1909, he was involved in many aspects of Indian cinema's history, like
travelling to different regions in Asia to promote film work. In 1912,
he had built a permanent cinema named Gaiety Theatre which was the
first in Madras to screen films on a full-time basis. The Raghupati
Venkaiah Award is an annual award incorporated into the Nandi Awards.
It is considered Telugu cinema's highest award to recognize people for
their lifetime achievements and contributions to the Telugu film
industry.Venkaiah Naidu was born as the second son of an Indian Army
official Subedar Appayya Naidu in Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh,
India. His brother Raghupathi Venkataratnam Naidu was a famous
educationalist and social reformer. His forefathers worked as
Commanders in the Army of East India Company and Madras Army in Telaga
Regiments. At the age of 18, he moved to Madras and started drawing
pictures and carving sculptures at Mount Road and selling them. He
then learned photography and started a photo studio.In 1909, he
ordered a Chrono Mega phone, equipment that relates sounds with
pictures, from John Dickinson and Company. To pay for the Chrono Mega
phone he bought for Rs 30,000, he rented out his photo studio. He shot
12 short films and exhibited them in Victoria Public Hall. He also
travelled to Bangalore, Vijayawada, Sri Lanka, Rangoon and Pegu to
exhibit his films.
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