Ghantasala Venkateswararao, known mononymously by his surname as Ghantasala, was an Indian playback singer and film composer known for his works predominantly in Telugu and Kannada cinema and also in Tamil, Malayalam, Tulu and Hindi language films. He is considered one of the greatest singers of Telugu cinema. 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.
Pingali Nagendra Rao, known mononymously by his surname Pingali, was an Indian screenwriter, lyricist, and playwright who worked in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. Famous for his witty and romantic lyrics, he also wrote dialogues for many films. Pathala Bhairavi (1951), Missamma (1955), and Mayabazar (1957) are some of his best known works for story, script and song lyrics. Pingali is famous for his coining of new and funny words and phrases in Telugu such as Dhimbaka, Dingari, Gimbali.
Chakrapani was an Indian film producer, screenwriter, and director known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He won two Filmfare Awards for Telugu films. He was also notable for his association with Vijaya Vauhini Studios, one of the largest studios in Asia at that time. Chakrapani was also a partner of Vijaya Productions along with B. Nagi Reddy and founder of Chandamama children magazine.
Bommireddy Nagi Reddi was an Indian film producer and director mainly in Telugu cinema. He set up Vijaya Vauhini Studios in Chennai, which was then Asia's biggest film studio. As his elder brother had the same initials and was known as B. N. Reddi, Nagi Reddi was popularly known as B. Nagi Reddi. Some of the movies produced by Nagi Reddi include Patala Bhairavi (1951), Missamma (1955), Maya Bazaar (1957), Gundamma Katha (1962), Maduve Maadi Nodu (1965-Kannada), Enga Veetu Pillai (1965), Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Nam Naadu (1969-Tamil),Shriman Shrimati (1982), Julie (1975), and Swarg Narak (1978), the latter two of which were in Hindi. Reddi has served as the president of Film Federation of India twice, in 1960–61 and 1962–63.
Kadiri Venkata Reddy was an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer who primarily worked in Telugu cinema. He is regarded as an influential director in South Indian cinema. He directed 14 feature films and won three National Film Awards and a Filmfare Award South.
Vauhini Studios was an Indian film production company and studio facility in Madras. It was founded by Moola Narayana Swamy and B. N. Reddy. In later years, Nagi Reddi, owner of Vijaya Productions, acquired Vauhini studios on lease. In 1961, Nagi Reddi purchased Vauhini Studios from Narayana Swamy's son Moola Venkata Rangaiah and merged it with his Vijaya Productions and named it Vijaya Vauhini Studios.
Suvarna Sundari is a 1957 Indian Telugu-language swashbuckler film directed by Vedantam Raghavayya. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Anjali Devi with music composed by P. Adinarayana Rao. The film was produced by Adinarayana Rao under the Anjali Pictures banner.
Gundamma Katha is a 1962 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao and co-produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani under their banner Vijaya Productions. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri, and Jamuna, with S. V. Ranga Rao, Suryakantham, and Ramana Reddy in supporting roles.
Agamani are genres of Bengali folk songs celebrating the return of the Goddess Parvati to the home of her parents on the eve of the Hindu autumn festival of Durga Puja. The Aagamani songs describe the return of Parvati to in her rural home, not as Goddess but as daughter, and are followed by Vijaya songs which describe the sorrow of separation three days later as Parvati returns to her husband Shiva.
Gunasundari Katha is a 1949 Indian Telugu language fantasy film produced and directed by K. V. Reddy, starring Sriranjani, Kasturi Siva Rao, Santha Kumari. The script was written by Pingali Nagendra Rao, K. V. Reddy, and Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. Kameswara Rao was also the associate director. William Shakespeare's play King Lear was the inspiration for the core plot. However the writers changed the tone from the tragedy of King Lear to a more entertaining one for the film. The film was commercially successful.
Marcus Bartley was an Anglo-Indian cinematographer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema along with a few Hindi, Malayalam, and Tamil films. He was the cinematographer of all time classics like Shavukaru (1950), Pathala Bhairavi (1951), Missamma (1955), Maya Bazaar (1957), Gundamma Katha (1962), Chemmeen (1965), Ram Aur Shyam (1967). He won the National Film Award for Best Cinematography in 1970 for Shanti Nilayam. He also won the Gold Medal at the Cannes Film Festival for Best Cinematography, becoming the first Indian to win the award.
Gulebakavali Katha is a 1962 Indian Telugu-language fantasy swashbuckler film directed by N. T. Rama Rao. The film was produced by N. Trivikrama Rao on National Art Theatres banner. It is based on the folk tale Gulebakavali from the folk tale collection Arabian Nights. Rama Rao also stars alongside Jamuna and Nagarathna. The film focuses on a man's quest to search for the Gulebakavali flower, which he needs to cure the king's blindness. It was released on 5 January 1962, and became a commercial success.
Kamalakara Kameswara Rao was an Indian film director known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema, and a few Tamil and Hindi films. Widely known as Pauranika Chitra Brahma, Kameswara Rao directed fifty feature films in a variety of genres.
Jagadeka Veeruni Katha is a 1961 Indian Telugu-language fantasy swashbuckler film, produced and directed by K. V. Reddy under the Vijaya Productions banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, B. Saroja Devi with music composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao.
Maa Aavida Collector is a 1996 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by Kolli Venkateswara Rao and S. Adi Reddy under the Amma Art Creations banner and directed by Kodi Ramakrishna. It stars Jagapati Babu, Prema and music composed by Vandemataram Srinivas. The film is dubbed into Tamil as En Pondatti Collector.
Uma Chandi Gowri Sankarula Katha is a 1968 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film directed by K. V. Reddy. The film was produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani under the Vijaya Productions banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao and B. Saroja Devi, with music composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao. Released on 11 January 1968, the film was a commercial failure.
Kasturi Siva Rao was an Indian actor, comedian, playback singer, producer and director known for his works in Telugu cinema. He was one of the first star comedians of Telugu cinema.
Manithan Maravillai is a 1962 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film written, co-produced and directed by Chakrapani and produced by Nagi Reddi under Vijaya Productions. It is a remake of the Telugu film Gundamma Katha, which itself is based on the 1958 Kannada film Mane Thumbida Hennu.
Karthavarayuni Katha is a 1958 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, produced and directed by T. R. Ramanna under the R. R. Pictures banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Savitri with music composed by G. Ramanadhan and Ashwathama. The film was simultaneously made as the Tamil movie Kathavarayan (1958) by the same banner and director.
Gunsundari or Gunasundari is an Indian name.
