K. Viswanath Age, Death, Wife, Family, Biography & More

Bio/Wiki
Other name	Kalatapasvi Viswanath [1]The Hindu
Full name	Kasinadhuni Viswanath [2]The Hindu
Profession(s)	Film Director, Screenwriter, Actor
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)	in centimeters- 170 cm in meters- 1.70 m in feet & inches- 5’ 7”
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Salt & Pepper (half bald)
Career
Debut	Film (Tamil-Telugu; As an assistant director): Pathala Bhairavi (1951) Film (Telugu; As a director): Aatma Gowravam (1965) Film (Telugu; As an actor): Subha Sankalpam (1965) as Raayudu Film (Hindi; As a director): Sargam (1979)
Awards & Honours	Civilian Honour • 1992: Padma Shri Award National Film Awards • 1980: National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for the Telugu film Sankarabharanam • 1982: Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration for the Telugu film Saptapadi • 1987: Best Feature Film in Telugu for Swathi Muthyam • 1990: Best Feature Film in Telugu for Sutradharulu • 2005: Best Feature Film in Telugu for Swarabhishekam • 2017: Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifetime achievement in cinema Nandi Awards • 1980: Second Best Story Writer for the Telugu film Sankarabharanam • 1981: Best Screenplay Writer for the Telugu film Saptapadi • 1982: Best Story Writer for the Telugu film Subhalekha • 1986: Best Director for the Telugu film Swathi Muthyam • 1987: Best Director for the Telugu film Sruthilayalu • 1992: Raghupathi Venkaiah Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to Telugu cinema • 1995: Best Character Actor for the Telugu film Subha Sankalpam • 2000: Best Supporting Actor for the Telugu film Kalisundam Raa Filmfare Awards South • 1974: Best Director for the Telugu film O Seeta Katha • 1975: Best Director for the Telugu film Jeevana Jyoti • 1982: Best Director for the Telugu film Subhalekha • 1983: Best Director for the Telugu film Sagara Sangamam • 1986: Best Director for the Telugu film Swathi Muthyam • 1987: Best Director for the Telugu film Sruthilayalu • 1992: Best Director for the Telugu film Aapadbandhavudu • 1995: Best Director for the Telugu film Subha Sankalpam • 1994: Lifetime Achievement Award Other Awards • 1988: Cinema Express Award for Best Director for the Telugu film Swarnakamalam • 1989: Filmfare Best Story Award for the Hindi film Eeshwar • 1991: Raghupathy Venkaiah award by the State Government of Andhra Pradesh for his outstanding contribution to Telugu cinema in 1991 • 2008: CineMAA Award for Lifetime Achievement • 2012: Viswa Vikhyata Darsaka Sarvabhowma for achievement in direction • 2012: Chittoor V. Nagayya Puraskaram for lifetime achievement in cinema • 2017: Film Nagar Cultural Center-Hyderabad Award for achievement in cinema • 2017: Telugu Film Director's Association Award for achievement in direction • 2017: Aathmeeya Sanmanam from the Government of Andhra Pradesh for achievement in cinema at Vijayawada Thummalapalli Kalakshetram • 2021: South Indian International Movie Award for Lifetime Achievement Note: He also received an honorary doctorate degree from Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, Telangana. Apart from this, he had many more accolades to his name.
Personal Life
Date of Birth	19 February 1930 (Wednesday)
Birthplace	Repalle, Madras Presidency, British India (now in Andhra Pradesh, India)
Date of Death	2 February 2023
Place of Death	A private hospital in Hyderabad, Telangana
Age (at the time of death)	92 Years
Death Cause	Age-related ailments [3]The Times of India
Zodiac sign	Pisces
Signature
Nationality	Indian
Hometown	Pedapulivarru, Andhra Pradesh
School(s)	• A municipal high school in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh • Hindu College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh (intermediate)
College/University	Andhra Christian College, Andhra University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh [4]ETV Bharat
Educational Qualification	Bachelor of Science [5]The Times of India
Relationships & More
Marital Status (at the time of death)	Married
Family
Wife/Spouse	Kasinadhuni Jayalakshmi
Children	Son(s)- Ravindranath Viswanath and Nagendranath Viswanath Daughter- Padmavathi Viswanath
Parents	Father- Kasinadhuni Subramanyam (regional manager at Vijaya Vauhini Studios) Mother- Kasinadhuni Saraswathy aka Saraswathamma
Siblings	He had two sisters and no brother.
Other Relatives	Cousin(s)- Chandra Mohan (actor), S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (singer and actor)

Some Lesser Known Facts About K. Viswanath

• K. Viswanath was an Indian film director, screenwriter, actor, and audiographer, who mainly worked in Telugu films. In 2017, he was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to Telugu cinema.

• After completing his graduation, he wanted to do an administrative job but his uncle suggested him to do an acting course at Vijaya Vauhini Studios. Apart from an acting course, he did a few training courses there including a course in audiography. In 1957, he started his career as a sound artist and assisted the Telugu filmmaker Adurthi Subba Rao.
  

  K. Vishnwanath working as a sound recordist

• Thereafter, he worked as an audiographer in more than 50 Telugu and Tamil films which include ‘Thodi Kodallu’ (1957; Telugu), ‘Enga Veetu Mahalakshmi’ (1957; Tamil), and ‘Banda Ramudu’ (1959; Telugu).

• In 1965, he started his career as a film director. He worked as a director in various Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi films. Some of his award-winning directorial films are ‘Chelleli Kapuram’ (1971; Telugu), ‘Kalam Marindi’ (1972; Telugu), ‘O Seeta Katha’ (1974; Telugu), ‘Eeshwar’ (1989; Hindi), ‘Sankarabharanam’ (1980; Telugu), ‘Aapadbandhavudu’ (1992; Telugu), and ‘Chinnabbayi’ (1997; Telugu). In 1980, his film ‘Sankarabharanam’ was premiered at the 8th International Film Festival of India, Tashkent Film Festival, and Moscow International Film Festival.
  

  K. Vishnwanath on the sets of a film

• Viswanath was one of the directors who is known for depicting social issues and Indian culture through his films like ‘Saptapadi’ (1981), ‘Subhalekha’ (1982), ‘Sirivennela’ (1986), ‘Swayamkrushi’ (1987), and ‘Sutradharulu’ (1989).

• He collaborated with the Poornodaya Movie Creations’ founder Edida Nageswara Rao to work as a director in South Indian films like ‘Sagara Sangamam; (1983), ‘Swathi Muthyam’ (1986), ‘Sutradharulu’ (1989), and ‘Aapadbandhavudu’ (1992).

• Viswanath wrote the screenplay of many popular Telugu films like ‘Kalam Marindi’ (1972), ‘Neramu Siksha’ (1973), ‘Amma Manasu’ (1976), ‘Siri Siri Muvva’ (1981), and ‘Saptapadi’ (1981).

• His film ‘Swathi Muthyam’ (1986) became India’s official entry to the 59th Academy Awards. Whereas, his films ‘Sankarabharanam’ (1980), ‘Sagara Sangamam’ (1983), ‘Sruthilayalu’ (1987), ‘Swarnakamalam’ (1988), and ‘Swathi Kiranam’ (1992) were screened at various film festivals like the International Film Festival of India, Ann Arbor Film Festival, and AISFM Film Festival.
  

  K. Vishnwanath directing Kamal Haasan in Sagara Sangamam (1983)

• Apart from South Indian films, he directed various Hindi films like ‘Kaamchor’ (1982), ‘Shubh Kaamna’ (1983), ‘Jaag Utha Insan’ (1984), ‘Eeshwar’ (1989), ‘Sangeet’ (1992), and ‘Dhanwan’ (1993).

• Viswanath played the character actor in many Telugu films like ‘Vajram’ (1995), ‘Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu’ (2002), ‘Tagore’ (2003), ‘Aadavari Matalaku Arthale Verule’ (2007), and ‘Devasthanam’ (2012).
  

  A still of K. Viswanath from Aadavari Matalaku Arthale Verule (2007)

• Some of his Tamil films as an actor are ‘Kuruthipunal’ (1995), ‘Mugavaree’ (1999), ‘Pudhiya Geethai’ (2003), ‘Lingaa’ (2014), and ‘Uttama Villain’ (2015).
  

  A still of K. Viswanath from Uttama Villain (2015)

• Apart from films, he appeared in a few South Indian TV serials like ‘Chellamay’ (2009; aired on Sun TV), ‘Suryavamsam’ (2015; aired on Vendhar TV), and ‘Siva Narayana Theerdhulu’ (2018; aired on SVBC).
  

  A still of K. Viswanath from the TV serial Suryavamsam

• He was also featured in the TV commercial for various brands like Ramraj Panchalu, Triplex Soap, and GRT Jewellers.

• In 2013, his directorial films ‘Sankarabharanam’ (1979) and ‘Sagara Sangamam’ (1983) were included in CNN-IBN’s list of one hundred greatest Indian films of all time. ^[6]Twitter – Sun NXT

• In 2019, a biopic documentary titled ‘Viswadarshanam’ was released on the life of K. Viswanath which was produced by TG Viswa Prasad under the People Media Factory banner.

• On 2 February 2023, he died of age-related ailments. On his demise, various Indian celebrities shared their grief. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted,
  

  Saddened by the passing away of Shri K. Viswanath Garu. He was a stalwart of the cinema world, distinguishing himself as a creative and multifaceted director. His films covered various genres and enthralled audiences for decades. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.”