K. Raghavendra Rao
Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao (born 23 May 1942) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema besides having directed a few Hindi films. He has garnered four state Nandi Awards and five Filmfare Awards South.[1] In a film career spanning more than four decades, Rao has directed more than a hundred feature films across multiple genres such as romantic comedy, fantasy, melodrama, action thriller, biographical and romance films.[2]
K. Raghavendra Rao | |
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 Rao at an interview in 2018 | |
| Born | Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao 23 May 1942 |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1977–present |
| Spouse | Sarala |
| Children | 2, including Prakash Kovelamudi |
| Parent(s) | K. S. Prakash Rao (father) G. Varalakshmi (step-mother) |
| Relatives | K. Bapayya (cousin) Shobu Yarlagadda (son-in-law) |
Rao received the state Nandi Award for Best Director for his works such as Bobbili Brahmanna (1984), and Pelli Sandadi (1996). He garnered the Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu for the drama film Prema Lekhalu (1977), the fantasy film Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990), and the romance film Allari Priyudu (1993). Rao is known for his works in hagiographical films such as Annamayya (1997), which won two National Film Awards, and was also showcased at the 1998 International Film Festival of India in the mainstream section.[3] Rao also received the Nandi Award for Best Direction, the Filmfare Award for Best Direction for his work in the film.[4] His other hagiographic works such as Sri Manjunatha (2001), Sri Ramadasu (2006), Shirdi Sai (2012) and Om Namo Venkatesaya (2017), received several state honours.
His mainstream works such as the 1987 social problem film Agni Putrudu, and the 1988 action thriller Aakhari Poratam, were screened at the 11th and 12th International Film Festival of India respectively in the mainstream section.[5] In 1992, he directed the melodrama Gharana Mogudu which premiered at the 1993 International Film Festival of India in the mainstream section.[6] It became the first Telugu film to gross over ₹10 crore (US$1.3 million) at the box office.[7] Next, he directed the instant hit Allari Priyudu (1993), which also premiered at the 1994 International Film Festival of India in the mainstream section.[8][1]
He is also credited with introducing many actors, actresses, and technicians to the Telugu film industry, like Sridevi, Tabu, Tapsee Pannu, Manchu Lakshmi, Sreeleela, Venkatesh, Mahesh Babu, Allu Arjun, S. S. Rajamouli, and Marthand K. Venkatesh.
Personal life
Raghavendra Rao was born on 23 May 1942 to veteran director K. S. Prakash Rao and Koteswaramma.[9][10] He is also the father of actor turned filmmaker Prakash Kovelamudi. Raghavendra Rao was an executive member in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Board from 2015 to 2019.[11]
Awards and honors
- NTR National Award - 2015
- B. N. Reddy National Award for lifetime contribution to Telugu cinema (2009)
- Best Director – Annamayya (1997)
- Best Choreographer – Pelli Sandadi (1996)
- Best Director – Pelli Sandadi (1996)
- Best Director – Allari Priyudu (1993)
- Best Director – Bobbili Brahmanna (1984)
- Filmfare Awards South
- Best Director – Prema Lekhalu (1977)
- Best Director – Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990)[13]
- Best Director – Allari Priyudu (1993)
- Best Director – Annamayya (1997)[14]
- Lifetime Achievement Award (2002)
- Outstanding contribution to Indian cinema (2017)[15]
- Lifetime Achievement Award (2014)
- Lifetime Contribution Award – (2012)
- Best Film (Jury) – Shirdi Sai – (2013)
- Other Awards
- Allu Rama Lingaiah Award (2016)
Filmography
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Director
Actor
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Pelli SandaD | Vasishta | Sequel of Pelli Sandadi[16] |
Supervisor of direction
| Year | Title | Artists | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Student No.1 | NTR Jr., Gajala | Directorial debut of S. S. Rajamouli |
| 2002 | Okato Number Kurraadu | Director A. Kodandarami Reddy | |
| 2004 | Pallakilo Pellikoothuru | Director Suchitra Chandrabose | |
| 2021 | Pelli SandaD | Roshan Meka, Sree Leela | Director Gowri Ronanki[16] |
Associate director
| Year | Title | Artists | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Vagdanam | Akkineni Nageshwara Rao, Krishna Kumari | Director Acharya Aatreya |
Producer
| Year | Title | Artists | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Bhale Krishnudu | Krishna, Jaya Prada | |
| 1984 | Naya Kadam | ||
| 1993 | Allari Priyudu | ||
| 1999 | Iddaru Mitrulu | ||
| 2000 | Pelli Sambandham | ||
| 2002 | Okato Number Kurradu | Tarak Ratna,Rekha Vedavyas | |
| 2004 | Morning Raga | Shabana Azmi, Prakash Kovelamudi, Perizaad Zorabian, Lillete Dubey | English Movie |
| 2004 | Bommalata | Won Best Film in Telugu at the 53rd National Awards |
Presenter
| Year | Title | Artists | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Student No. 1 | NTR Jr., Gajala | |
| 2002 | Bobby | Mahesh Babu, Aarthi Agarwal | |
| 2011 | Anaganaga O Dheerudu | Siddharth, Shruthi Haasan, Lakshmi Manchu | |
| 2015 | Baahubali: The Beginning | Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishna, Nassar, Sathyaraj | |
| 2017 | Baahubali: The Conclusion | Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishna, Nassar, Sathyaraj |
Choreographer
| Year | Title | Artists | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Pelli Sandadi | Srikanth, Ravali, Deepti Bhatnagar |
Television
- 2002: Santhi Nivasam (ETV Telugu)
- 2010: Arundathi (ETV Kannada)
- 2013: Mangammagari Manavaralu (Zee telugu)
- 2014: Soundrya Lahari (ETV Telugu)
- 2016: Koyilamma (MAA TV)
- 2017: Sye Sye Sayyare (ETV Telugu)
- 2017: Agnisakshi (Star MAA)
- 2018: Siri Siri Muvvalu (Star MAA)
- 2020: C/o Anasuya (Star MAA)
- 2021: Krishna Tulasi (Zee telugu)
References
- CINEmaa Lifetime Achievement Award for Raghavendra Rao – The Hindu
- Candid and confident – The Hindu
- "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
- Saroja Devi, Ramoji Rao among recipients of A.P. film awards – The Hindu
- "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
- "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
- First Telugu film to gross 100 million – Times Of India
- "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
- "Tollywood extends birthday wishes to K Raghavendra Rao - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
- Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Soundaryalahari - సౌందర్యలహరి - 15th June 2014". YouTube.
- When the stars descended – The Hindu
- "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964 - 2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964 - 2008)] (PDF) (in Telugu). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. 13 March 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- http:// Refer Filmfare Magazine August 1991, 38th filmfare awards south
- "45th Filmfare South Best Director Awards". 4 February 2017. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
- IANS (30 March 2017). "'Janatha Garage', 'Kirik Party' bag top honours at IIFA Utsavam 2017". Business Standard India – via Business Standard.
- "Director K Raghavendra Rao all set to make his acting debut with 'Pelli SandaD'; see first look - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
External links
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| 2001-present |
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