HYDERABAD: Veteran actor and director K Vishwanath, who was awarded the 2016 Dadasaheb Phalke Award, died at Apollo hospital in Hyderabad on Thursday. He was 92 years old. His demise is a great loss to the Indian Film Industry.
Awarded with five National Film Awards, 11 Filmfare Awards and seven Nandi Awards for Telugu films, K Vishwanath’s contribution to Telugu films has been commendable. He has also received the Padma Shri award in 1992. He also received many international honors.
K Viswanath was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifetime achievement in cinema in 2017. He also received an honorary doctorate from the Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University alongside eight Filmfare Awards for Best Director.
On his death, many celebrities have remembered his work while paying tribute to him.
Anil Kapoor wrote on Twitter, “K Vishwanath ji, you taught me a lot, being on the set with you during the film ‘Ishwar’ was like being in a temple… Tribute to you my guru.”
K. Vishwanath Ji you taught me so much, being on set with you during Eeshwar was like being in a temple…
— Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) February 2, 2023
RIP My Guru 🙏 pic.twitter.com/vmqfhbZORx
Telangana Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan wrote, Deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of legendary film director Shri K. Vishwanath garu. Kalatapasvi’s directorial classics like Shankarabharanam, Swathi Muthyam, Sagara Sangamam etc., will continue to inspire generations to come Indiancinema lost a genius Condolences.”
Deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of legendary film director Shri K. Vishwanath garu.
— Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan (@DrTamilisaiGuv) February 2, 2023
Kalatapasvi's directorial classics like Shankarabharanam, Swathi Muthyam, Sagara Sangamam etc., will continue to inspire generations to come
Indiancinema lost a genius Condolences pic.twitter.com/Fv3aNdm8hJ
K Vishwanath’s journey
K Vishwanath started his career as a sound recordist. In his 60 years long film career, he directed 53 Telugu and Hindi films based on various issues.
His specialty was that he used to make films on social issues like caste system, untouchability, gender discrimination, dowry. His last film as a director was ‘Subhapradham’ in 2010.
K Vishwanath also started his acting career with the 1995 film ‘Subha Sankalpam’. He acted in many more Tamil and Telugu films.
His films Swarabhishekam (2005), Sutradharulu (1990) and Swathi Muthyam (1987) won him the prestigious National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu. Sankarabharanam won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment (1980). K Vishwanath was also a recipient of international honours such as the Prize of the Public at the Besancon Film Festival of France.