Ghantasala Venkateswararao, known mononymously as Ghantasala, was an Indian film composer, Playback Singer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema and Kannada cinema and also in Tamil, Malayalam, Tulu and Hindi language films. In 1970, he received the Padma Shri award, India's fourth highest civilian award for his contribution to Indian cinema. According to The Hindu and The Indian Express, Ghantasala was "Such a divine talent and with his songs he could move the hearts of the people." "Ghantasala's blending of classical improvisations to the art of light music combined with his virtuosity and sensitivity puts him a class apart, above all others in the field of playback singing"." "Gifted with what Indian Film Historian V. A. K. Ranga Rao called "the most majestic voice", Ghantasala helped Telugu film music develop its own distinct character which remains unparalleled". He is referred to as the "Gaana Gandharva" for his mesmerising voice and musical skills.
Kongara Jaggayya was an Indian actor, littérateur, journalist, lyricist, dubbing artist and politician known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. He was known as Kanchu Kantham Jaggayya (Telugu) for his booming voice. In a film career spanning forty years as a matinee idol, he starred in eighty films, as a lead actor, and lead antagonist in a variety of genres. In 1967, he was elected as a member of the fourth Lok Sabha, from the constituency of Ongole, becoming the first Indian film actor to be elected as a member of the Parliament.
Drohi is a 1948 Telugu-language drama film directed by L. V. Prasad. This was the debut film for Pendyala Nageswara Rao as music director.
Thodi Kodallu (transl. Daughters-in-law) is a 1957 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed and edited by Adurthi Subba Rao who co-wrote the script with D. Madhusudhana Rao and Acharya Atreya. Madhusudhana Rao produced the film under Annapurna Pictures. It stars Savitri and Akkineni Nageswara Rao with music composed by Master Venu. The film is based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's Bengali novel Nishkriti, and was simultaneously made as the Tamil film Engal Veettu Mahalakshmi (1957); both films were made simultaneously by the same banner and director, and some of the scenes and artists are the same in both versions. Thodi Kodallu won the Certificate of merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu.
Gudi Gantalu is a 1964 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by Sunderlal Nehata and Doondy and directed by V. Madhusudhan Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao and Krishna Kumari, with music composed by Ghantasala. The film is a remake of the Tamil film Aalayamani (1962).
Bangaru Papa is a 1955 Indian Telugu-language film directed by B. N. Reddy. It is based on the 1861 English novel Silas Marner by George Eliot. B. N. Reddy personally considered it as his best cinematic work. It showcased the acting skills of S. V. Ranga Rao. This film introduced the famous writer Palagummi Padmaraju to the cine-world.
Kanna Talli is a 1953 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced and directed by K. S. Prakash Rao under the Prakash Studios banner. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, G. Varalakshmi and music composed by Pendyala Nageshwara Rao. The film is the debut of Telugu popular singer P. Suseela and actress Rajasulochana into the film industry. Kanna Talli bears some resemblance to Mehboob Khan's Aurat (1940) but is a totally different story than the former. The film was simultaneously shot in Tamil as Petra Thai. Dialogues were penned by S. A. Subbaraman.
Jeevana Tarangalu is a 1973 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed by Tatineni Rama Rao. It is based on the novel by Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani and this film won 3 Filmfare Awards South. It was remade into Hindi in 1978 entitled Dil Aur Deewar. It was then remade in Tamil as Thirumangalyam in 1974 with Muthuraman and Jayalalitha and in Kannada as Mangalya in 1991 with Malashri and Sridhar in lead roles.
Tara Sasankam is a play written by Kopparapu Subba Rao. It has been performed about 1,500 times under his own direction.
Ramalayam is a 1971 Indian Telugu-language drama film. The film stars Jaggayya and Shobhan Babu in key roles.
Rowdy Ramudu Konte Krishnudu is a 1980 Indian Telugu-language action film produced by N. T. Rama Rao under his Ramakrishna Cine Studios banner and directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Nandamuri Balakrishna and Sridevi. The music composed by Chakravarthy.
Niluvu Dopidi is a 1968 Indian Telugu-language comedy-drama film, produced by U. Visweswara Rao and directed by C. S. Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Krishna, Devika and Jayalalita, with music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. The film was released on 25 January 1968 and became a commercial success.
Bharya Biddalu is a 1972 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by A. V. Subba Rao under the Prasad Art Productions banner and directed by Tatineni Rama Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Jayalalithaa, with music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. The film is a remake of the Telugu-language movie Bratuku Theruvu (1953), starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri, which was dubbed in Tamil as Bale Raman (1956), later remade as Hindi movie Jeene Ki Raah (1969), with Jeetendra, Tanuja and after its success, the same was again remade as Bharya Biddalu and later in Tamil as Naan Yen Pirandhen, with M.G.R, Kanchana in the pivotal roles.
Rama Krishnulu is a 1978 Indian Telugu-language action drama film, produced and directed by V. B. Rajendra Prasad under his Jagapathi Art Pictures banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jayasudha and Jaya Prada, with music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. The film borrows shades of the Hindi film Hera Pheri (1976).
Vichitra Bandham is a 1972 Telugu-language drama film, produced by D. Madhusudhana Rao under the Annapurna Pictures banner and directed by Adurthi Subba Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Vanisri and music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. The film was based on the Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani novel Vijetha.
Melu Kolupu is a 1978 Telugu-language drama film, produced by A. Pundarikakshaiah under the Sri Bhaskara Chitra and directed by B. V. Prasad. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Jaya Prada, K. R. Vijaya and music composed by Master Venu. The film is a remake of the Hindi movie Jagriti (1977).
Nindu Manasulu is a 1967 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by M. Jaganatha Rao under the banner S.V.S. Films and directed by S. D. Lal. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao and Devika, with music composed by T. V. Raju. The film is a remake of 1966 Hindi film Phool Aur Patthar.
Tiger Ramudu is a 1962 Indian Telugu-language action drama film, produced by Patnam Chinna Rao and Vaddi Sriramulu and directed by C. S. Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao and Rajasulochana, with music composed by Ghantasala.
Taxi Ramudu is a 1961 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by D. V. K. Raju, K. N. Raju, K. Ramachandra Raju and C. S. Raju under the Sri Ramakrishna Productions banner and directed by V. Madhusudhan Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Devika and Jaggayya, with music composed by T. V. Raju.
Bhale Ammayilu is a 1957 Telugu-language drama film, produced by V. L. Narasu on banner and directed by Vedantam Raghavaiah. It stars Savitri, Girija, and N. T. Rama Rao and music jointly composed by S. Rajeswara Rao & Saluri Hanumantha Rao. This film was simultaneously remade into Tamil as Iru Sagodharigal.
