YR Swamy

Y.R. Swamy was an Indian director and screenwriter. He made films in the Kannada cinema. He almost gave his 35 years to the Kannada cinema. He was born in 1927 in Chitradurga, Karnataka. His adopted father was Hanumappa Muniappa Reddy, a famous Indian filmmaker. During his active years in the Kannada cinema, he directed more than 35 films. Y.R. Swamy died in October 2002 in Pune.

He entered the cinema in 1950s. He started his film career, not as a director but as an actor. He played the role of Prahlad, a Brahmin boy in Indian scriptures. In the initial years of the 1950s, he assisted his adopted father. He made his debut as a director in 1953. He directed a Telugu film titled Pratigna. Afterwards, he directed movies in the Kannada language. He made films of the mythological genre. After Pratigna, he directed the film, Vaddante Dabbu in 1954. The film starred NTR, Jamuna, and Peketi Sivaram in the lead role. 

His other movie as a director is Bhakta Kanakdasa in 1960. Actor Rajkumar played the lead role of Kanakdasa. The movie was a massive hit at that time. He has worked with the actor Rajkumar for 17 films. Swamy holds a record for working with the actor for the highest number of times. He is also known for Katari Veera (1966), Paropkari (1970), Sipayi Ramu (1972), Bhale Huccha (1972), Mooruvare Vajragalu (1973), Devaa Kannu (1975), Pavana Ganga (1977), and Apoorva Sangama in 1989. In 1991, he directed his last movie. He directed the film, Bangardantha Maga. This marked his last film.

He has also written screenplays for many movies he directed. Some of them are Swarna Gowri (1962), Katari Veera, and Bhale Raja (1969). He also produced the film Bhale Raja. He established Rohini Films to produce movies in Kannada. 

Y.R. Swamy received the Puttanna Kannagal Award 1990-91. The renowned director and screenwriter passed away in October 2002 in Pune, India.