Vemuri Gaggaiah

Vemuri Gaggaiah (1895–1955) was an Indian film actor, character actor, singer, and thespian known for his works in Telugu cinema, and Telugu theater. In 1933, East India Film Company produced its first Indian film, Savitri, in Telugu. Shot in Calcutta on a budget of 75 thousand, and based on a popular stage play by Mylavaram Bala Bharathi Nataka Samajam, the film was directed by the father of the "Telugu Theater Movement", Chittajallu Pullaiah, casting Vemuri Gaggaiah and Dasari Ramathilakam as "Yama" and "Savithri" respectively. The blockbuster film has received an honorary diploma at Venice Film Festival. Gaggaiah was an important member of the "Mylavarama Bala Bharathi Nataka Samajam" in Mylavaram, Krishna district during 1913–28. Through "Mylavaram Theatre". Gaggaiah became a household name for mythological roles. He won recognition in drama as Yama, god of death, in Sati Savitri, as the demon Hiranyakasipu in Bhakta Prahlada. Some other prominent roles were as the eponymous Mymvana, and as Jalandhara in Sati Tulasi. His theatrical performances made C. Pullayya to persuade to him to enter motion picture. His other notable films include works such as Kamsa in Sri Krishna Leelalu (1935) and the womanizer in Chandika (1940). He is known for rendering songs such as "Po Bala Pommikan" and "Dhikkaramulu Saituna".

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