B. Nagi Reddi

February 23, 2018

A commemorative postage stamp on B. Nagi Reddy, an Indian Telugu movie producer, founder of Vijaya Vauhini Studios in Chennai, then Asia‘s biggest film studio, brother of Bommireddy Narasimha Reddy :

Issued by India

Issued on Feb 23, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on B. Nagi Reddi.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 6.61 lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Bommireddy Nagi Reddy

Born on 1 Dec, 1912 at Pottipadu village, Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, India

Died on 25 Feb, 2004 at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

About :

Shri Bomi Reddi Nagi Reddi, an eminent publisher, successful film producer, philanthropist and a great lover of humanity, was born on 1^st December, 1912 as the second child of Bommi Reddy Narasimha Reddy and Erukulamma, in the village Pottipadu, in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. Till the age of 12 his schooling was done at Kothapalli village. Later he studied at Muthiaplpet Higher Secondary School, Chennai. He was married to Seshamma on 4^th December, 1933.
Initially, he took care of his father’s onion export business, but his elder brother B. N. Reddy was instrumental in getting him involved in the film industry. Taking over from him the management of Vauhini Studios in 1948, he developed it as the largest studio in South East Asia, in less than 10 years. The Telugu film ‘Shavukaru’ was the first film produced by him under the banner of Vijaya Productions. The story for this first film of his was provided by Shri Chakrapani, who became his friend philosopher and guide in later years. This exemplary collaboration heralded the golden era in the world of Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi cinema.
Starting his career as a letter press printer in 1944, he chose to join hands with Shri Chakrapani and extended his activity into publishing a socio-political monthly, ‘Andhra Jyothi’ in Telugu in 1945. He later established one of India’s largest offset printing presses, Prasad Process, which was then the only plant in India specialising in printing large size 24 sheet integrated hoarding posters. No wonder that Prasad Process was classified as an ‘A’ class printer in South India, winning the maximum number of awards from the Government of India for excellence in printing.
Conceptualised by B. Nagi Reddi and his friend Chakrapani, the monthly children’s magazine ‘Chandamama’ was launched in the year 1947, the year our nation won independence, with the idea of making the children of India learn, think and dream together, despite their different mother tongues. Soon it became a household name. Besides English and Sinhalese, Chandamama was published in 14 Indian languages – Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Odia, Assamese, Gujarati, Gurumukhi (Punjabi), Sindhi and Santhali (a tribal language). Chandamama also had a Braille edition in four languages for the visually impaired, distributed free.
As an emerging entrepreneur he held several high positions viz. President, All India Master Printers’ Federation for three terms, President of South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce for three terms, President of Film Federation of India for two terms, Chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Board etc.
B. Nagi Reddi’s dynamism could not be contained in all these achievements and the numerous accolades he received. His great aspiration was to provide quality medical service at affordable cost to the society. His vision led to the establishment of Vijaya Hospital in 1972 which was one of the first multispecialty hospitals in Chennai. With initial bed strength of 46, the hospitals have now grown to provide 700 beds under the banner of Vijaya Medical and Educational Trust. Vijaya Group of Hospitals is now one of the largest healthcare providers in South India and one of the most trusted Medical institutions.
Shri B. Nagi Reddi has won a number of awards including the most prestigious one, the Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1986. He was also given Raghupathi Venkiah Award by the A.P. Government in the year 1987. He received the ‘Kalaimamani’ award by the Government of Tamilnadu in 1973, ‘Johannes Gutenberg Fellow’ from All India Master Printer’ Federation in 1978 ‘TMA Pai Award’ by Academy of General Education of Manipal. Besides, he received D.Lit (Honoris Causa) from Sri Venkateswara University in 1982 and Sri Krishnadevaraya University, in 1990. On 25^th February, 2004 he left his mortal abode.
Text : Based on the material received from proponent.