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K. Viswanath Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth19 February 1930

Age92 Years (at death)

BirthplaceRepalle, Madras Presidency, British India (now Andhra Pradesh, India)

ProfessionFilm Director, Screenwriter, Actor, Audiographer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseKasinadhuni Jayalakshmi

FamilyChildren - Ravindranath Viswanath, Nagendranath Viswanath, Padmavathi Viswanath

K. Viswanath Biography

K. Viswanath was a celebrated Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, actor and audiographer best known for his work in Telugu cinema. His films often explored art

Early life and background

Kasinadhuni Viswanath was born on 19 February 1930 in Repalle, then part of the Madras Presidency in British India. He grew up in Pedapulivarru, Andhra Pradesh, and completed his schooling in Vijayawada before attending Hindu College in Guntur and Andhra Christian College at Andhra University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree.

He trained at Vijaya Vauhini Studios early in his career, taking acting and technical courses including audiography, a step that helped launch his long association with Indian cinema.

Career

Viswanath began his film career in the 1950s as a sound artist and audiographer. He worked on more than 50 Telugu and Tamil films in that role, contributing to projects such as Thodi Kodallu (1957), Enga Veetu Mahalakshmi (1957) and Banda Ramudu (1959). He also assisted established filmmakers before moving into direction.

His work as an assistant director dates to Pathala Bhairavi (1951), and he made his directorial debut in Telugu with Aatma Gowravam in 1965. Over the following decades he established a reputation for films that blended social themes and Indian cultural traditions. Notable Telugu directorials include Chelleli Kapuram (1971), Kalam Marindi (1972), O Seeta Katha (1974), Sankarabharanam (1980), Saptapadi (1981), Subhalekha (1982), Sagara Sangamam (1983), Swathi Muthyam (1986), Sruthilayalu (1987), Sutradharulu (1989), Aapadbandhavudu (1992), Swarnakamalam (1988) and Swathi Kiranam (1992).

Viswanath also directed Hindi films, including Sargam (1979), Kaamchor (1982), Shubh Kaamna (1983), Jaag Utha Insan (1984), Eeshwar (1989), Sangeet (1992) and Dhanwan (1993). His 1986 film Swathi Muthyam was selected as India’s official entry to the 59th Academy Awards.

Several of his films were screened at international festivals: Sankarabharanam appeared at the 8th International Film Festival of India and at festivals in Tashkent and Moscow; other works such as Sagara Sangamam, Sruthilayalu, Swarnakamalam and Swathi Kiranam also reached festival audiences.

In addition to directing, Viswanath wrote screenplays for multiple films including Kalam Marindi, Neramu Siksha, Amma Manasu, Siri Siri Muvva and Saptapadi. He later took on acting roles, appearing as a character actor in films such as Vajram (1995), Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu (2002), Tagore (2003), Aadavari Matalaku Arthale Verule (2007) and Devasthanam (2012), and in Tamil films like Kuruthipunal (1995), Mugavaree (1999), Pudhiya Geethai (2003), Lingaa (2014) and Uttama Villain (2015).

Viswanath collaborated frequently with producer Edida Nageswara Rao and Poornodaya Movie Creations on projects including Sagara Sangamam, Swathi Muthyam, Sutradharulu and Aapadbandhavudu.

Public profile

Viswanath’s films received wide recognition from major Indian film institutions. His work earned multiple National Film Awards, including Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for Sankarabharanam (1980), the Nargis Dutt Award for Saptapadi (1982), and awards for Best Feature Film in Telugu for Swathi Muthyam (1987), Sutradharulu (1990) and Swarabhishekam (2005). He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1992 and in 2017 received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifetime achievement.

He also won many regional honours such as numerous Nandi Awards and Filmfare Awards South across several decades, and received lifetime achievement and cultural awards from state and industry bodies. In 2013 two of his films, Sankarabharanam and Sagara Sangamam, were included in a list of the hundred greatest Indian films compiled by a national news outlet.

Beyond film, he appeared in television serials including Chellamay (2009), Suryavamsam (2015) and Siva Narayana Theerdhulu (2018), and featured in television commercials for several brands. A documentary biopic titled Viswadarshanam was released in 2019 exploring his life and work.

Personal life

Viswanath was married to Kasinadhuni Jayalakshmi. He was the son of Kasinadhuni Subramanyam and Kasinadhuni Saraswathy, and had three children: two sons, Ravindranath Viswanath and Nagendranath Viswanath, and a daughter, Padmavathi Viswanath. His extended family included noted figures such as the actor Chandra Mohan and singer-actor S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.

Latest updates

K. Viswanath died on 2 February 2023 in a private hospital in Hyderabad at the age of 92 from age-related ailments. His passing prompted public expressions of condolence from figures across the Indian film community and government offices.
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Recent Work

Viswadarshanam

Documentary biopic on K. Viswanath produced by TG Viswa Prasad under the People Media Factory banner.

2019
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Career Highlights

  1. Directed Sankarabharanam (1980), which won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
  2. Awarded the Padma Shri in 1992 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2017.
  3. Swathi Muthyam (1986) served as India’s official entry to the 59th Academy Awards.
  4. Worked as an audiographer on over 50 Telugu and Tamil films before becoming a director.
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was K. Viswanath born?

19 February 1930

What is K. Viswanath known for?

Film Director, Screenwriter, Actor, Audiographer

What is K. Viswanath’s marital status?

Married

Who is K. Viswanath married to?

Kasinadhuni Jayalakshmi