Akkineni Nageswara Rao, widely known as ANR, was an Indian actor and producer, known for his work majorly in Telugu cinema. He starred in many landmark films in his seventy five-year career, and became one of the most prominent figures of Telugu cinema. Akkineni received seven state Nandi Awards, and five Filmfare Awards South. He is a recipient of the Dada Saheb Phalke Award and Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, for his contributions to the fields of Art and Cinema.
Dasari Narayana Rao was an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, lyricist, and politician known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema, in addition to Hindi cinema. He has directed more than 150 feature films in a variety of genres. He holds the Limca World Record for directing the most number of films in the world. He is known by the moniker Darsaka Ratna. His works emphasize social injustice, corruption and gender discrimination. Narayana Rao has received two National Film Awards, nine state Nandi Awards including the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, and four Filmfare Awards South including the Lifetime Achievement. During his career he had also acted in Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada films.
The Filmfare Best Actor Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Telugu films. The awards were extended to "Best Actor" in 1972. The year indicates the year of release of the film. Chiranjeevi is the most nominated with 21 nominations and the most awarded with seven times winning the award.
Meghasandesam is a 1982 Telugu-language drama film, produced and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao under his Taraka Prabhu Films banner. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jaya Prada, Jayasudha and music composed by Ramesh Naidu. This film is the 200th movie of Akkineni Nageswara Rao. The film was featured in the Indian Panorama section at the 9th International Film Festival of India, and the Moscow film festival. It won four Awards including Best Feature Film in Telugu at the 30th National Film Awards "For its lyrical and aesthetic qualities", the Filmfare award for Best Telugu Film and Nandi award for Best Feature Film. The film won nine Nandi Awards.
Sudigundalu (transl. Whirlpools) is a 1968 Indian Telugu-language philosophical film, produced by Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Adurthi Subba Rao under the Chakravarthy Chitra banner and directed by Adurthi Subba Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and has music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. It was released on 28 June 1968. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, The Nandi Award for Best Feature Film, and the Filmfare Award for Best Film – Telugu. It marked the debut of Nageswara Rao's son Nagarjuna as child artist in a cameo. The cult classic film was screened at the Tashkent Film Festival, and the International Film Festival of India.
Bangaru Gaajulu is a 1968 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed by C. S. Rao from a story written by Rajasri. Produced by Tammareddy Krishna Murthy, it stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Bharathi, and Vijaya Nirmala with the music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao. Released on 22 August 1968, the film won Nandi Awards from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, including Third Best Feature Film and Best Story Writer (Rajasri).
Seetharamayya Gari Manavaralu is a 1991 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed by Kranthi Kumar, and produced by V. Doraswamy Raju under the VMC Productions banner. The film stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Meena and Rohini Hattangadi with the music composed by M. M. Keeravani. Based on the novel Navvina Kanneelle by Manasa, the plot follows Seetha (Meena) who arrives from the US to visit her grandparents, Seetharamayya (Rao) and Janakamma (Hattangadi) who are uninformed of her parents' accidental death.
Premabhishekam is a 1981 Indian Telugu-language romantic drama film written and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. Produced by Venkat Akkineni and Nagarjuna Akkineni under Annapurna Studios banner. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jayasudha, Sridevi, Murali Mohan, Mohan Babu and music composed by Chakravarthy. This film is copied from "send me no flowers" 1964 hollywood movie. Released on 18 February 1981, Premabhishekam was a commercial success and industry hit grossing over ₹4crore at the box office. It had a theatrical run of 527 days and became the first film to complete a 75-week run in Andhra Pradesh. The film won four Nandi Awards and two Filmfare Awards South. It was later remade in Tamil as Vazhvey Maayam and in Hindi as Prem Tapasya
Bangaru Kutumbam is a 1994 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by Kaikala Nageswara Rao under the Ramaa Films banner, presented by Satyanarayana and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Jayasudha with music composed by Raj–Koti. The film was a box office success and won two Nandi Awards.
Sri Ranga Neethulu is a 1983 Indian Telugu-language comedy film, produced by Venkat Akkineni, Nagarjuna Akkineni under the Annapurna Studios banner and directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Sridevi, with music composed by Chakravarthy. It is a remake of the Tamil film Ooty Varai Uravu (1967). The film was recorded as a Super Hit at the box office.
Yuvaraju (transl. Prince) is a 1982 Telugu-language drama film, produced by Venkat Akkineni, Nagarjuna Akkineni on Annapurna Studios banner and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. Starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jayasudha, Sujatha and music composed by Chakravarthy.
Srivari Muchatlu is a 1981 Telugu-language drama film, produced by N. R. Anuradha Devi under the Lakshmi Films Combines banner and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. The film stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jaya Prada, Jayasudha and music composed by Chakravarthy. The film is remade in Hindi as Asha Jyoti (1984).
Yedanthasthula Meda is a 1980 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced under the Jhansi Enterprises banner and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Sujatha and Jaya Sudha, with music composed by Chakravarthy. The film was remade in Hindi as Pyaasa Sawan (1981) and in Tamil as Maadi Veettu Ezhai (1981).
Vichitra Jeevitham is a 1978 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed by V. Madhusudhana Rao. The film stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Vanisri and Jayasudha, with music composed by Chakravarthy. It is a remake of the Hindi film Daag (1973), which itself is based on Thomas Hardy's 1886 novel The Mayor of Casterbridge. The film was released on 14 April 1978.
Raaga Deepam is a 1982 Indian Telugu-language drama film, written and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao and produced by Kodali Bosu Babu under the banner of Veera Rani Enterprises.
Oorantha Sankranthi is a 1983 Telugu-language drama film, produced by Kodali Bosu Babu Kotagiri Gopal Rao under the Veera Rani Enterprises & Kotagiri Films banner and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Krishna, Sridevi, Jayasudha and music composed by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.
Ramudu Kadu Krishnudu is a 1983 Telugu-language drama film, produced by N. R. Anuradha Devi under the Lakshmi Films Combines banner and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. The film stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jayasudha, Radhika and music composed by Chakravarthy. The film was recorded as a Super Hit at the box office.
Justice Chakravarthy is a 1984 Telugu-language legal drama film, produced and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao under his Taraka Prabhu Films banner. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jayasudha, Sumalatha, Suhasini and music composed by Ramesh Naidu.
Aadi Dampatulu is a 1986 Telugu-language drama film, produced by Nitin D. Kapoor under the JSK Combines banner and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jayasudha with music composed by Satyam. The film is a remake of the Hindi movie Ghar Dwaar (1985).
Rayudugaru Nayudugaru is a 1996 Telugu-language action-drama film, produced and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao under the Dasari Film University banner. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Dasari Narayana Rao, Vinod Kumar Alva and Roja, with music composed by M. M. Keeravani.
