Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, often referred to by his initials NTR, was an Indian actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, film editor, philanthropist and politician who served as a former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for seven years over four terms. He is regarded as one of the most influential actors of Indian cinema. He starred in over 300 films, predominantly in Telugu cinema, and was referred to as "Viswa Vikhyatha Nata Sarvabhouma". Rao received three National Film Awards for co-producing Thodu Dongalu (1954) and Seetharama Kalyanam (1960) under National Art Theater, Madras, and for directing Varakatnam (1970). In 1968, The Government of India honoured him with Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award, for his contributions to Indian cinema. In 2013, Rao was voted as "Greatest Indian Actor of All Time" in a CNN-IBN national poll conducted on the occasion of the Centenary of Indian Cinema.
Akkineni Nagarjuna Rao, known mononymously as Nagarjuna, is an Indian actor and film producer who works predominantly in Telugu, Hindi and Tamil films. One of the highest paid South Indian actor, Nagarjuna has appeared in over 90 films. He is a recipient of two National Film Awards for Ninne Pelladata (1996) and Annamayya (1997), ten state Nandi Awards and three Filmfare Awards South.
Dasari Narayana Rao was an Indian film director, screenwriter, actor, producer, lyricist, and politician, primarily known for his work in Telugu cinema. Over his four decade career, he directed more than 150 feature films, earning a Limca World Record for directing the most films in the world. He was known by the epithet "Darsaka Ratna" and was recognized for addressing social issues such as gender discrimination, casteism, corruption and injustice through his films. Narayana Rao received numerous accolades, including two National Film Awards, 16 Nandi Awards including the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, and five Filmfare Awards South including the Lifetime Achievement.
Maganti Murali Mohan is an Indian actor, producer, politician, and business executive from Telugu cinema. In 1973, Murali Mohan debuted in Jagame Maya, produced by Atluri Poornachandra Rao. He gained recognition with the 1974 film Tirupati, directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. He has acted in over 350 feature films. He has served in various positions in the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the Andhra Pradesh Film Development Corporation. He was the Honorary President of the Telugu Movie Artists Association until the elections in 2015.
Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga Rao was an Indian politician from Andhra Pradesh, known for his prominent role in the state's politics during the 1980s. A member of the Congress Party, he represented the Vijayawada East assembly constituency. Ranga focused on social justice, advocating for land distribution to the landless and the welfare of marginalized communities. He also campaigned against police brutality, positioning himself as a champion of the underprivileged. His activism and confrontational style made him a key figure in Andhra Pradesh's political landscape.
Chandamama is a 2007 Indian Telugu film. It was directed by Krishna Vamsi, and it was produced by C. Kalyan and S. Vijayanand. The film stars Navdeep, Kajal Aggarwal, Siva Balaji, and Sindhu Menon, while Nagababu, Satyam Rajesh, and Ahuti Prasad play supporting roles. The musical score is provided by K. M. Radha Krishnan and the base story by Akula Venkat. The film was released on 6 September 2007 to highly positive reviews and also garnered five Nandi Awards. The film was remade in Tamil as A Aa E Ee (2009) and in Kannada as Chellidaru Sampigeya (2009).
R. Narayana Murthy is an Indian actor and filmmaker who works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He received Nandi Special Jury Award for his film Dandora (1993).
Chittajallu Pullayya was an Indian film director and screenwriter. He is one of the earliest film personalities in Telugu cinema being associated with the industry right from the silent era.
Yuvatharam Kadilindi is a 1980 Telugu-language drama film directed by Dhavala Satyam. It was produced by Madala Ranga Rao of Navatharam Pictures. It stars Murali Mohan and Radhika.The film won three Nandi Awards.
Chitrapu Narayana Rao was an Indian film director and producer known for his works in Telugu and Tamil cinema. He received a Certificate of Merit for the Third Best Tamil Film for Edhir Paradhathu (1958) and Annaiyin Aanai (1962). He also won the Nandi Award for the 1967 Telugu film Bhakta Prahlada.
Vande Mataram is a 1985 Indian Telugu-language film written and directed by T. Krishna, and produced Krishna Chitra. It stars Vijayashanti and Rajasekhar, with music composed by Chakravarthy. The film is the debut of actor Rajasekhar into the Telugu film industry.
Erra Cinema refers to a collection of films in Telugu attributed to various left oriented political ideologies. Although it cannot be understood as a genre, it owes its nomenclature to the popular coinage and reference. The Communist parties in Andhra Pradesh are popularly referred to as the 'Erra partilu' or 'Erra jenda partilu'. This reference is extended to films which portray the struggles of the oppressed and the downtrodden often banded under the aegis of a 'Red flag' party. Significant here is the ambiguity in the affiliation to the ideologies of specific political parties who commonly use red flags as symbols. This cinema is not always of an art-house variety. As with other cinemas in India, Telugu cinema attracted the cultural workers of the left and the left leaning intellectuals. Erra Cinema regularly uses their literature and particularly songs penned or performed by them. Due to the portrayal of the triumph of the proletarian collective over the hegemonic order these films are considered to be anti-establishment. This view may have strengthened with the portrayal of Naxalites or Maoists in these films. These films are also referred to as Naxalite films. K. B. Tilak, Dhavala Satyam, Vejjella Satyanarayana, Madala Ranga Rao, T. Krishna, R. Narayana Murthy, Dasari Narayana Rao, N. Shankar are some of the directors who have produced films categorised under Erra Cinema.
Pudipeddi Jogeswara Sarma was an Indian film dubbing artist, turned actor and writer, known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He has worked for over 500 films as an actor and dubbing artist. He is the father of actors P. Sai Kumar, P. Ravi Shankar and Ayyappa P. Sarma.
Mikkilineni Radhakrishna Murthy was an Indian actor and thespian known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He was the founder of the theater group Praja Natya Mandali. He has received the honorary Kalaprapoorna from Andhra University, for his contributions towards Telugu theater and cinema.
Vangaveeti is a 2016 Indian Telugu-language biographical action film written and directed by Ram Gopal Varma. The film is based on the life of politician Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga, and his elder brother Vangaveeti Radha Krishna and their altercation with communist dominated Vijayawada of the 1970s-80s in Andhra Pradesh.
Madala Rangarao was an Indian actor and producer primarily active in Telugu cinema. He is popularly known as Red Star by people and associated with Communist Party of India and Prajanatya Mandali.
Nenu Saitham is a 2004 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed by Dhavala Satyam and starring Madala Ravi and Gurleen Chopra.
Sandeep Madhav is an Indian actor who works in Telugu language films.
Erra Mallelu is a 1981 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed by Dhavala Satyam from a story written by Madala Ranga Rao. The film stars Ranga Rao, Murali Mohan, Giri Babu and Ranganath. It revolves around two men starting a revolution against their village chiefs and the owner of a factory in the neighbouring village.
Chaitanya Ratham is a 1987 Indian Telugu-language political drama film directed by Dhavala Satyam and produced by Vangaveeti Ratna Kumari. The film stars Bhanu Chander, Sarath Babu, Kalpana, Satyanarayana and Giri Babu in pivotal roles, with music composed by J. V. Raghavulu. Released on 26 June 1987, it was a commercial success, running for 100 days in 26 centres.
