Tyagayya (1946)

Synopsis: This is a religious drama about the life of saint/poet Tyagaraju (1767-1847), creator of the Carnatic form of classical music. At the film's outset, Tyagaraju (Nagaiah) is depicted as a humble villager who devotes himself to writing songs about the god Rama while at the same time rejecting the money and prestige offered to him by the maharaja of Tanjavur (Narayana Murthy). Thaygaraja's disinterest in social and financial gain drives his brother, Japesen (Lingamurthy), into fits of jealousy, culminating in him destroying Tyagaraju's beloved icons of Rama.
Cast: Chittooru Nagaiah (Tyagayya), Baby Vanaja (Krishna), Hemalatha (Kamalamba), Nyapathi Narayana Murthy (Sarabhoji), MC Raghavan (Marthanda Bhagavathar), Savita Devi (Chapalakshi), B. Jayamma (Dharmamba), K. Doraswamy (Sundaresa Mudaliar), Jayavanthi, Lakshmirajyam, Sundara Lakshmi, Mudigonda Lingamurthy (Japesam), Padmanabham, Baby T. Syamala (Radha), Vedantam Lakshmikantham (Narada), G. Visweswaramma, Rayaprolu Subrahmanyam (Sonthi Venkata Ramana Bhagavathar), Natesan (Bobbili Kesavayya), Prayaga Narasimha Sastry (Ganapathi), Ashwatthama (Rama)
Screenplay: Nagaiah, Samudrala Raghavacharya and Mudigonda Lingamurthy
Lyrics: Samudrala Raghavacharya and Chittooru Subrahmanya Pillai, Tyagaraju, Papanasam Sivan
Music: Chittooru Nagaiah
Playback: Nagaiah, Jamuna Rani, AP Komala, DK Pattammal, Jayavanthi Devi
Cinematography: RN Nagaraja Rao, MA Rehman
Editing: Govind Dinakar Joshi
Producer and Director: Chittooru Nagaiah
Banner: Sri Renuka Films
Trivia: This was a classic and cult film in Telugu. Nagaiah was turned as a star actor with this film. This was his first film as a writer and a director. He used carnatic tunes and they got instant hit. It run 100 days in many centres and run 25 weeks in Bangalore.
Mysore Maharaja honored Nagaiah with a Silver shawl, some Gold coins and a Gold necklace after watched a special show of this film in his palace.
Tiruvankur Maharaja honored Nagaiah with an award 'Abhinava Tyagaraja'.
Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani brought out a special issue of Andhra Jyothi monthly entirely devoted to 'Tyagayya'.
Papanasam Sivan wrote the Tamil song 'ninaindirukkum yennai' sung by DK Pattammal.
Popular Songs:
1. Madhuraa nagarilo challalamma bodu (Subrahmanya Pillai)
2. Srirama raghurama shringara rama
3. Nidhi chaala sukhama ramuni sannidhi