which starred Mohan Babu as lead and was directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. He turned into producer with a film Padandi Munduku, under the banner of Jagruthi Chitra. The film was released in January 1962 and was a regarded as first Telugu social film made on the basis of Indian Independence movement. He was awarded the 'Kala Vachaspathi' for his sonorous voice. Political career Jaggayya was active in politics right from his student days and was allied with the socialist group within the Congress party. When the group was disbanded, he joined Jayaprakash Narayan's Praja Socialist Party, but returned to Congress in 1956, heeding the call of Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1967, he was elected as a member of the fourth Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India from the constituency of Ongole on a Congress Party ticket. He was the first Indian film actor to be elected as a member of parliament. Literary achievements He translated Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's Geetanjali and multiple poems into Telugu under the name Ravindra Geetha. He also translated Tagore's play "Sacrifice" into Telugu under the name Balidaanam. He also co-founded Manasvini Charitable Trust to honor the film literature of Acharya Aatreya. The lyrics of all the film songs written by Athreya was consolidated into seven volumes. Death Jagayya died on 5 March 2004 in Chennai, Tamilnadu. Awards Civilian honours Padma Bhushan, Government of India in 1992 Nandi Awards Nandi Award for Best Character Actor State Awards Andhra Pradesh Government cash award for producing Padandi Munduku in 1962 Title of Kalaimamani from Tamil Nadu government Other honours Title of Kala Vachaspathi from the Sanskrit Viswa Vidyalaya, Delhi Title of Kala Prapoorna from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam Honorary D.Litt. from the Telugu University, Hyderabad Filmography Death He underwent a Hip Replacement surgery and complications after the surgery resulted in his death. References External links 1926 births 2004 deaths People from Tenali Telugu male actors Indian actor-politicians Nandi Award winners Indian male voice actors Indian male screenwriters Indian socialists Male actors from Andhra Pradesh Indian male film actors India MPs 1967–1970 20th-century Indian male actors Male actors in Telugu cinema Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts Indian male dramatists and playwrights Indian National Congress politicians from Andhra Pradesh 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights Praja Socialist Party politicians Lok Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh Dramatists and playwrights from Andhra Pradesh 20th-century Indian translators 20th-century Indian