J. V. Ramana Murthi

Biography:

J. V. Ramana Murthi is an Indian actor predominantly active in the South Indian film industry. He was born on May 20, 1933, in the Vizianagaram district. Notably, he is the younger sibling of the well-known Indian actor Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu, who was a prominent figure in the Tollywood film industry.

J.V. Ramana Murthi passed away on June 22, 2016, Hyderabad.

During his school years, J.V. Ramana actively participated in school plays, showcasing his early interest in acting. He took part in various school productions, including “NGO,” “Kappalu,” “Natakam,” “Evaru Donga,” “Phani,” “Keerthi Seshulu,” and “Katamraju Katha.” J.V. earned recognition for his exceptional performance in a drama titled “Vishwa Shanti of Athreya,” which won him an award in the Interuniversity Competition for best performance.

In 1957, he made his foray into the film industry with a role in the Telugu movie “MLA,” directed by K.B. Tilak. Besides his film career, J.V. Ramana also ventured into directing and appeared in various theatrical performances. Some of the notable films in his extensive filmography include “Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu” (1958), “Bavan Maradallu” (1961), “Siri Siri Muvva” and “Dongala Dopidi” (1978), “Illu Illualu Pillalu” (1988), “Edu Kondalaswamy” and “Karthavyam” (1991), “Maayajaalam” (2006), “Shankar Dada Zindabad” (2007), among others. In total, J.V. Ramana Murthi has contributed to approximately 150 movies.

He is particularly renowned for his remarkable portrayal of the character Gireesham in the film adaptation of Gurajada Appa Rao’s iconic play “Kanyasulkam.”