J. V. Somayajulu

Jonnalagadda Venkata Somayajulu was born in Lukalam Agraharam in Srikakulam district of present-day Andhra Pradesh.^[1] His father worked as an Inspector in the Prohibition and Excise department in Gudivada and other towns. He spent his childhood in Vizianagaram and also participated in stage dramas there. He was a government official and worked as a Deputy collector for Mahabub Nagar district.^[1][2]

His career spanned five decades in stage dramas, films and television. His passion for Gurazada Apparao's play, Kanyasulkam, was such that he, along with his actor brother J V Ramana Murthy, played it about 500 times in 45 years. His exposition of the delightfully notorious character, "Ramappanthulu" in the play, has become legendary. The woman behind the success of Somayajulu was his mother Saradamma. Somayajulu had two sons and a daughter.^[2]

For the development of Telugu theatre in the twin cities Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Somayajulu established 'Rasaranjani' along with his contemporaries, Chatla Sriramulu, Garimella Rama Murthy and Rallapalli.^[2] Somayajulu worked in the Directorate of Cultural Affairs before retiring from government service.

Somayajulu died of heart attack in Hyderabad in 2004 at a reported age of 76.^[2][3]

• J. V. Somayajulu at IMDb