Boodgur Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu popularly known as BR Panthulu has made some memorable films in Tamil.

He has produced and directed 57 films in all South Indian languages under the banner of Padmini Pictures and is one of the pioneers of the Indian film industry.

Many of his films have won National Awards and State Awards. His films include legendary films such as Veera Pandiya Kattabomman, which won the Afro Asian Film Festival award, Kappalotiya Thamizhan, and Karnan.

B.R.Panthulu has introduced Jayalalitha to the silver screen first in the Kannada film “Chinnada Gombe” and later introduced the fresh MGR – Jayalalitha duo in Aayarathil Oruvan.

BR Panthulu passed away in 1974, and Kollywood is yet to pay him his dues as a filmmaker. Meanwhile the Karnataka government is celebrating 2010 as his centenary year by showing two films of his every week and also documenting his biography.