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Moola Narayana
Swamy founded Vauhini Studios (references are below), which
was supposed to be the largest cine studio in Asia at that
time (1940s). Moola Narayana Swamy's native was Tadipatri,
Anatapur (Dist), Andhra Pradesh, India. Narayana Swamy's
father died at very young age. His father was big in arrack
business and was very rich. After the death of his father
Narayana Swamy took over the arrack business at a very young
age. He started several businesses such as Rayalaseema
Textiles, Oil mills, Milk Co-op societies, Arrack
contracting etc.
Movies produced
1. Vande Mataram
(1939)
2. Grihalakshmi (1938)
3. Sumangali (1940)
4. Devatha (1941)
5. Bhakta Potana (1942)
6. Pedda Manushulu
7. Vaddante Dabbu (1944)
8. Swargaseema (1945)
9. Yogi Vemana (1947)
10. Guna Sundari Katha (1949)
Narayana Swamy met Bommireddi Narasimha Reddy (father of
B.N.Reddy and B.Nagi Reddy) through some business
connections. Both of them became business partners and
started exporting onions to Rangoon in Burma. Narayana Swamy
and B.N.Reddy joined as partners in Rohini Pictures owned by
H.M.Reddy. Under Rohini pictures banner they produced some
movies like Gruhalakshmi. Later H.M.Reddy and B.N.Reddy had
differences and B.N.Reddy and Narayana Swamy separated and
decided to start their own production company. With Narayana
Swamy as a major share holder Vauhini Pictures was started.
Several movies were produced under this banner like
Vandemataram, Sumangali, Devatha and Swarga Seema. Swarga
Seema movie was shot mainly in Newtone studio in Madras. But
there were so many difficulties with the studio and younger
B.N.Reddy who was also director for the movie was very upset
and expressed this to Narayana Swamy. So Narayana Swamy
suggested that they could build a new studio.
Vauhini Studio was started under the chairmanship of
Narayana Swamy. Narayana Swamy was the major share holder.
Out of two and half lakh rupees investment, Narayana Swamy's
share was two lakhs and rest were B.N.Reddy, Nagi Reddy and
others. As part of inheritance from their father Narasimha
Reddy, B.N.Reddy and Nagi Reddy got these shares.
Narayana Swamy also built theatres, Vauhini Talkies in his
native place Tadipatri and Raghuveer Talkies in Anatapur.
Narayana Swamy got his childhood friend K.V.Reddy as cashier
in Vahuini Pictures and later made him direct the movie
Bhakta Potana. Bhakta Potana was a very big hit at that
time. K.V.Reddy later directed many other movies for Vauhini
and Vijaya studios.
In the year 1948 Narayana Swamy properties and businesses
were seized due to income tax problems. At this time to save
the properties and to evade the tax avoid court cases
Narayana Swamy used binami names (naming other people) as
owners of some of his properties. He also decided to create
another company called Vijaya productions as B.N.Reddy and
B.Nagi Reddy as owners and transferred the movie business
under that name. Vauhini studio was also leased to Vijaya
Productions to save from income tax.
Narayana Swamy died in the year 1950. He was 38 years old at
the time of his death. At the time of his death all his sons
were minors. His eldest son Moola Venkata Rangaiah was 11
years old. Many of his properties were taken by the binami's
whose name was on the record. His family went into deep
financial trouble.
In the year 1961, after Narayana Swamy's son became major.
His eldest son with the help of Damodaram Sanjeevaiah (whom
Narayana Swamy helped for his education) sold the studio to
B.Nagi Reddy as part of an agreement that they'll clear all
the income tax dues that need to be paid by Narayana Swamy
family. B.Nagi Reddy later renamed the studio to Vijaya
Vauhini Studios. |
