Jhonny at 09:21, 21 February 2026

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{{distinguish|B.N. Reddi|Bhuma Nagi Reddy}}
{{Short description|Indian film director (1912–2004)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{infobox person
| name = Nagi Reddi
| birth_name = Bommireddy Nagi Reddy
| image = B Nagi Reddy 2018 stamp of India.jpg
| caption = Reddy on a 2018 stamp of India
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1912|12|2}}
| birth_place = [[Pottipadu]], [[Kadapa district]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]] (present-day [[Andhra Pradesh]], India)
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2004|2|25|1912|12|2}}
| death_place = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| occupation = {{hlist|Film producer|editor|director}}
| years_active = 1950–89
| awards = [[Dadasaheb Phalke Award]] (1986)
}}

'''Bommireddy Nagi Reddi''' (2 December 1912 – 25 February 2004) was an Indian film producer primarily associated with [[Telugu cinema]], along with notable contributions to [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]] and [[Hindi cinema|Hindi]] films. He co-founded [[Vijaya Vauhini Studios]] in [[Chennai|Madras]], which was once the largest film studio in Asia by floor space.<ref>{{Cite web |last=S Saraswathi |date=18 September 2013 |title=Looking at the Dying Studios of Chennai |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/slide-show-1-looking-at-the-dying-studios-of-chennai/20130918.htm |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=[[Rediff]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-08-06 |title=BN Reddy set up Asia's biggest film studio |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/did-you-know/bn-reddy-set-up-asias-biggest-film-studio/articleshow/15376125.cms |access-date=2024-12-23 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> To distinguish him from his elder brother, filmmaker [[B.N. Reddi|B. N. Reddi]], he was popularly known as B. Nagi Reddi.

Over his career, Nagi Reddi produced several acclaimed films, including ''[[Patala Bhairavi]]'' (1951), ''[[Missamma]]'' (1955), ''[[Mayabazar]]'' (1957), ''[[Gundamma Katha]]'' (1962), ''[[Enga Veetu Pillai]]'' (1965), and ''[[Nam Naadu (1969 film)|Nam Naadu]]'' (1969). He also produced Hindi films such as ''[[Ram Aur Shyam]]'' (1967), ''[[Julie (1975 film)|Julie]]'' (1975), and ''[[Swarg Narak]]'' (1978). His work spanned multiple languages and genres, earning him recognition across Indian cinema.

Nagi Reddi served as the president of the [[Film Federation of India]] twice, during 1960–61 and 1962–63.<ref>{{cite web |title=Film Federation Of India |url=http://filmfed.org/PRE-Members2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927031710/http://filmfed.org/PRE-Members2.html |archive-date=27 September 2016 |access-date=25 September 2016}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
B. Nagi Reddi was born in a [[Telugu people|Telugu]] family in [[Pottipadu]], a village in the [[Kadapa]] district of [[Andhra Pradesh]], and was raised by his maternal grandparents during the first 14 years of his life.

He was married and had four sons and two daughters. One of his sons, [[B. Venkatarama Reddy|B. Venkatarama Reddi]], was a film producer. Another son, B. Viswanatha Reddi, was the publisher of [[Chandamama]]. <ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/a-true-karma-yogi/article4153840.ece The Hindu : Arts / Cinema : A true karma yogi]</ref>

== Film career ==
Nagi Reddi along with his friend and partner [[Aluri Chakrapani]] produced over fifty films in four decades in the four South Indian languages and also in Hindi.<ref name="NagiReddyCondol">{{cite news |date=27 February 2004 |title=TTD condoles B. Nagi Reddy |url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/27/stories/2004022709540300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040918065608/http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/27/stories/2004022709540300.htm |archive-date=18 September 2004 |access-date=17 April 2007 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> He made mythological, devotional, and historical [[Telugu cinema|Telugu]] movies. Some of his more notable films include ''[[Pathala Bhairavi]]'', ''[[Maya Bazaar]]'', and ''[[Missamma]]''. He made most of his films in association with screenwriter [[Aluri Chakrapani|Chakrapani]]. Nagi Reddi closed down Vijaya-Vahini after the Telugu film industry moved out of studios in the 1970s, and started the Vijaya Hospital and Vijaya Health Centre.

A new award was incorporated, commemorating his 100th birth year, the Nagi Reddi, memorial Award for the best Telugu and Tamil family entertainers.<ref>[http://www.123telugu.com/mnews/mr-perfect-wins-nagireddy-award.html Mr. Perfect wins Nagireddy award | 123telugu.com]</ref><ref>[[Eenadu]] daily, page 10, 2 April 2012, [[Dil Raju]] bags new Nagi Reddy Award</ref>

==Awards==
;[[National Film Awards]]
*[[Dada Saheb Phalke Award]] – 1986.
*[[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada]] – ''Maduve Madinodu'' (1965)

;[[Filmfare Awards South|Filmfare Awards]]
*[[Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu)]] – ''[[Mayabazar]]'' (1957)
* Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu) – ''[[Gundamma Katha]]'' (1962)

;[[Nandi Awards]]
* The Government of [[Andhra Pradesh]] awarded him the [[Raghupathi Venkaiah Award]] in 1987.

;Tamil Nadu State Awards
* The Government of [[Tamil Nadu]] awarded him the [[Kalaimamani|Kalaimamani Award]] in 1972.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.indiainfo.com/tamil/movienews/morenews134.html |title='Vijaya' NagiReddy passes away |date=25 February 2004 |access-date=17 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051119153045/http://movies.indiainfo.com/tamil/movienews/morenews134.html |archive-date=19 November 2005 }}</ref>

;Other Honours
* He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Srikrishnadevaraya University and Sri Venkateswara University.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0714769/bio B. Nagi Reddy – Biography]</ref>

* A commemorative postage stamp was issued by [[India Post]] on 23 February 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhatiya |first1=Anubhav |title=Commemorative Stamp In The Honour Of Late Legend B. Nagi Reddy Released |url=https://www.desimartini.com/news/tamil/commemorative-stamp-in-the-honour-of-late-legend-b-nagi-reddy-released-article77528.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917162446/https://www.desimartini.com/news/tamil/commemorative-stamp-in-the-honour-of-late-legend-b-nagi-reddy-released-article77528.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 September 2021 |access-date=14 March 2024 |publisher=Desimartini |date=23 February 2018}}</ref>

==Other businesses and philanthropy==
Nagi Reddi served as chairman of the board of Trustees of [[Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams]] between 1980 and 1983, and is credited for building the [[Vaikuntam Queue Complex]] that now serves to regulate pilgrims for darshan in the [[Tirumala Venkateswara Temple]].<ref name='NagiReddyCondol'/> Nagi Reddi founded the Vijaya Medical & Educational Trust in 1972.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vijayahospital.org/overview.HTM |title=VIJAYA MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL TRUST – Overview |access-date=17 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129034342/http://www.vijayahospital.org/overview.HTM |archive-date=29 January 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The trust runs the Vijaya Hospital (1972), Vijaya Health Center (1987) and Vijaya Heart Foundation (1996). Nagi Reddi headed the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce four times and the All-India Film Sammelan for two terms.

He established the children's magazine ''[[Chandamama]]'' in July 1947.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rediff.com/business/1999/sep/22chand1.htm | title= Investors revive Chandamama | date=22 September 1999 | access-date =17 April 2007}}</ref> The magazine was eventually printed in nearly a dozen different languages.

He was the founder of Vijaya Hospitals in Vadapalani, Chennai.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}}

==Filmography==

===As producer===
{{Colbegin}}
*''[[Shavukaru]]'' (1950) (producer)
*''[[Patala Bhairavi]]'' (1951) (producer)
*''[[Pelli Chesi Choodu]]'' (1952) (producer)
*''[[Chandraharam]]'' (1954) (producer)
*''[[Guna Sundari]]'' (1955) (producer as B. Nagi Reddi)
*''[[Missiamma]]'' (1955) (producer)
*''[[Missamma]]'' (1955) (producer)
*''[[Maya Bazaar]]'' (1957/II) (producer)
*''[[Maya Bazaar]]'' (1957/I) (producer)
*''[[Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu]]'' (1958) (producer)
*''[[Paigham]]'' (1959) (Producer)
*''[[Manithan Maravillai]]'' (1962) (producer)
*''[[Gundamma Katha]]'' (1962) (producer)
*''[[Enga Veettu Pillai]]'' (1965) (producer) (as B.Naggi Reddi)
*''[[Ram Aur Shyam]]'' (1967) (producer) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
*''[[Nam Naadu (1969 film)|Nam Naadu]]'' (1969) (producer) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
*''[[Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1970 film)|Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani]]'' (1970) (producer) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
*''[[Ganga Manga]]'' (1973) (producer)
*''[[Julie (1975 film)|Julie]]'' (1975) (producer) (as B. Nagi Reddi-Chakrapani)
*''Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club'' (1976) (producer)
*''[[Yehi Hai Zindagi]]'' (1977) (producer) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
*''[[Swarg Narak]]'' (1978) (producer) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
*''Swayamvar'' (1980) (producer) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
*''[[Shriman Shrimati]]'' (1982) (producer) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
*''[[Meendum Savithri]]'' (1996) (producer) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
*''Neti Savithri'' (1996) (producer) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
{{Colend}}

===As Presenter===
*''[[Shriman Shrimati]]'' (1982) (presenter) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
*''[[Swayamvar]]'' (1980) (presenter) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
*''[[Swarg Narak]]'' (1978) (presenter) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
*''[[Yehi Hai Zindagi]]'' (1977) (presenter) (as B. Nagi Reddi) a.k.a. Yehi Hai Zindagi (India: Hindi title: video box title)
*''[[Julie (1975 film)|Julie]]'' (1975) (presenter) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
*''[[Prem Nagar (1974 film)|Prem Nagar]]'' (1974) (presenter) (as B. Nagi Reddi)
*''[[Ram Aur Shyam]]'' (1967) (presenter) (as B. Nagi Reddi)

===In Editorial Department===
*''[[Hai Hai Nayaka]]'' (1989) (assistant editor)

===As director===
*''[[Enga Veetu Penn]]'' (1966)

===Thankful===
*''[[Ram Tere Kitne Nam]]'' (1985) (sincere thanks) (as Shri Nagi Reddi)

==See also==
* [[Raghupathi Venkaiah Award]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0714769}}

{{Dadasaheb Phalke Award}}
{{Raghupathi Venkaiah Award Recipients}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reddy B. Nagi}}
[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards South winners]]
[[Category:Tamil film directors]]
[[Category:Film producers from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipients]]
[[Category:People from Kadapa district]]
[[Category:Film directors from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Telugu film producers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian businesspeople]]

B. Nagi Reddi - Revision history

Jhonny at 09:21, 21 February 2026