Noted Filmmaker Kasinadhuni Viswanath recently passed away of age-related health issues at 92. He was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Hyderabad. His last rites were to be performed in the city. Many big names in the Tamil and Telugu film industries paid their last respects to the deceased in Hyderabad.
‘RRR’ director SS Rajamouli and music composer MM Keeravani arrived together to bid adieu to the late director. Chiranjeevi and Pawan Kalyan, and Venkatesh Daggubati were also seen offering prayers and paying their last respects to the late Dadasaheb Phalke awardee.
K Viswanath started his professional life as an audiographer. His filmmaking career began under director Adurthi Subba Rao after a brief stint as a sound engineer. He later went on to work as an assistant director for the Telugu film ‘Pathala Bhairavi’ in 1951. He made his directorial debut with the 1965 movie ‘Aatma Gowravam’ and went on to win the state Nandi award. Some of his other most memorable directorials include ‘Chelleli Kapuram’, ‘O Seeta Katha’, ‘Jeevana Jyoti’, and ‘Sarada’.
He was honoured with Padma Shri in 1992 and the Dada Saheb Phalke in 2017. Over the course of a career spanning over four decades, he won many other film awards.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his condolences on the filmmaker's death and called him the “stalwart of cinema”. He tweeted, “Saddened by the passing away of Shri K. Viswanath Garu. He was a stalwart of the cinema world, distinguishing himself as a creative and multifaceted director. His films covered various genres and enthralled audiences for decades. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.”