Kasinadhuni Viswanath was an Indian film director, screenwriter, lyricist and actor who predominantly worked in Telugu cinema. One of the greatest auteurs of Indian cinema, he received international recognition for his works, and is known for blending parallel cinema with mainstream cinema. He was honuored with the "Prize of the Public" at the "Besançon Film Festival of France" in 1981. In 1992, he received the Andhra Pradesh state Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, and the civilian honour Padma Shri for his contribution to the field of arts. In 2016, he was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in Indian cinema. He is popularly known as "Kalatapasvi."
Veturi Sundararama Murthy, known mononymously by his surname Veturi, was an Indian poet, lyricist and journalist who is popular for writing Telugu songs. His career in Telugu cinema spanned more than four decades.
Bava Nachadu is a 2001 Indian Telugu-language romantic film directed by K. S. Ravikumar. It stars Nagarjuna Akkineni, Simran and Reema Sen, with music scored by M. M. Keeravani. The film was dubbed in Tamil as Hello Mama. The film is loosely based on the Malayalam film Life Is Beautiful (2000). The film was released to mixed-to-negative reviews. The film was a box office failure.
Eedara Veera Venkata Satyanarayana was an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer. He directed a total of 51 films in Telugu films and introduced many actors to Telugu cinema. He was well known for making comedy and melodrama films. In 2000, he established his own production company, E. V. V. Cinema. He died in 2011.
Kodi Ramakrishna was an Indian film director, screenwriter and actor. One of the most prolific directors of Telugu cinema, he directed over 100 feature films in a variety of genres. He is known as a celluloid visionary who introduced high-end visual effects to the South Indian film industry through his supernatural fantasy films. In 2012, he received the state Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for his lifetime contribution to Telugu cinema.
Peela Mallikarjuna Rao was an Indian actor and comedian who worked in Telugu films. Rao, popularly known as Battala Satti for his role in the movie Ladies Tailor. He has acted in many movies in Telugu. Over his career, he acted in at least 375 Telugu movies.
Thotakura Somaraju and Saluri Koteswara Rao, popularly known as Raj–Koti, were a duo of Indian film music composers, singer-songwriters, record producers, musicians and multi-instrumentalist in Telugu cinema. In a notable career spanning a decade, the duo has garnered particular acclaim for redefining contemporary Telugu film music. They composed music for about 180 films. Out of their 3,000 songs, about 2,500 songs were sung by singers S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra.
Salur Koteshwara Rao, known professionally as Koti, is an Indian composer and singer who predominantly works in Telugu films. He has composed music for over 475 films. The son of veteran composer S. Rajeswara Rao, in early 1980s Koti teamed with Somaraju (Raj), son of T. V. Raju, and the resulting duo was known as Raj–Koti. The duo composed music for about 180 films from their debut in 1983 till their separation in 1994. After the separation, Koti has composed music and background score for more than 350 movies. He won the Nandi Award for Best Music Director for the film Hello Brother (1994).
Sakshi Ranga Rao was an Indian character actor who worked in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. He appeared in about 450 films over a career spanning four decades, majority of which were comedies. Rao made his film debut in 1967 with Sakshi from which he derived his stage name. He then went onto to appear in successful films like Sirivennela, Swarna Kamalam, April 1st Vidudhala, Joker and Swarabhishekam.
Gundu Hanumantha Rao was an Indian actor and comedian who worked in Telugu films, theatre, and television. He first appeared in Jandhyala's film Aha Naa Pellanta in 1987 and gained popularity in comedian roles in S. V. Krishna Reddy's films. He is known for his roles in Rajendrudu Gajendrudu,Mayalodu, Yamaleela, Srivariki Premalekha,Pellaniki Premalekha Priyuraliki Subhalekha (1992), Apparao Driving School, and the TV serial Amrutham. He won three TV Nandi Awards from Andhra Pradesh Government, one of them for Amrutham serial. He was a renowned stage artist before entering into cinema, his first drama being "Ravana Bramha" at the age of 18. He acted in over 600 movies in Telugu and was a popular TV artist.
Allari Alludu is a 1993 Telugu-language comedy drama film directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy. It stars Nagarjuna, Meena, Nagma, Vanisri and music composed by M. M. Keeravani. The film was recorded as a Blockbuster at the box office. The film was dubbed and released in Tamil as Galatta Maappillai and in Malayalam as Hey Madam. The film was remade in Kannada as Gadibidi Aliya (1995).
Chalapathi Rao was an Indian actor and producer known for comedy and villainous roles in Telugu cinema. He acted in different roles in more than 600 films.
Gunupudi Viswanath Sastri, popularly known by his screen name Ironleg Sastri, was an Indian comedian who predominantly worked in Telugu-language films. He acted in more than 150 films. E. V. V. Satyanarayana introduced him to Telugu Cinema.
Swara Veenapani is a lyricist and Telugu cinema music director. He holds a Guinness world record for longest church organ marathon.
Relangi Narasimha Rao is an Indian film director and screenwriter who predominantly works in Telugu cinema. He is well known for his comedy films, especially his collaborations with actors Chandra Mohan and Rajendra Prasad. His notable films include Gundammagari Krishnulu (1987), Dabbevariki Chedu (1987), Samsaram (1988), Chinnodu Peddodu (1988), Mama Alludu (1990), Police Bharya (1990), Iddaru Pellala Muddula Police (1991), Edurinti Mogudu Pakkinti Pellam (1991).
Dattha is a 2006 Indian Kannada-language comedy drama film directed by Chi Guru Dutt and written by Janardhana Maharshi. The film stars Darshan and Ramya whilst Keerthi Chawla, Srinath, and Vinaya Prasad play other pivotal roles.
Krishnam Raju (1940–2022) was an Indian actor who acted in more than 190 films. Krishnam Raju entered Tollywood in 1966 with the film Chilaka Gorinka, directed by Kotayya Pratyagatma alongside Krishna Kumari. The film won the Nandi Award for Best Feature Film - Silver for that year. Later he acted in the mythological film Shri Krishnavataram, which also stars N. T. Rama Rao. He acted in many films with the established actors N. T. Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao. He also acted in many films with the established actresses Krishna Kumari, Rajasulochana, Jamuna and Kanchana.
Naanu Nanna Hendthi is a 1985 Kannada-language romantic drama film directed by D. Rajendra Babu and written by K. S. Satyanarayan. The film stars V. Ravichandran, Urvashi and Leelavathi. The core plot of the film was loosely based on the 1981 Telugu film Nenu Maa Aavida. The soundtrack and score composition was by Shankar–Ganesh and the film was produced by N. Veeraswamy. D. Rajendra Babu made his Bollywood debut in 1987, with the remake version of this movie, titled as Pyaar Karke Dekho. The song Akkipete Lakkamma was retained in the Hindi version as Haki Petai Lakamma- both sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. The film was also remade in Tamil as Kanna Thorakkanum Saami. The film was a box office success.
Maa Aavida Meeda Ottu Mee Aavida Chala Manchidi is a 2001 Indian Telugu-language drama film written, directed and produced by E. V. V. Satyanarayana. The film stars Srikanth, Raasi, Vadde Naveen, and Laya. In the film, two estranged lovers—Praveen (Naveen) and Subadra (Raasi)—meet unexpectedly after their respective marriages. Subadra intends to elope and remarry Praveen, leaving her husband Jagdeesh (Srikanth).
