K. Raghavendra Rao

Last updated

K. Raghavendra Rao
Khaja Afridi with Director K Raghavender Rao (cropped).jpg
K. Raghavendra Rao at an interview in 2018
Born
Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao

(1942-05-23) 23 May 1942 (age 83)
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • choreographer
  • producer
Years activeSince 1977
SpouseSarala
Children2, including Prakash Kovelamudi
Parent(s) K. S. Prakash Rao (father)
G. Varalakshmi (step-mother)
Relatives K. Bapayya (cousin)
Shobu Yarlagadda (son-in-law)

Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao (born 23 May 1942) is an Indian filmmaker known primarily for his work in Telugu cinema, besides a few Hindi film and Kannada films. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has directed over a hundred films across various genres, including romantic comedies, fantasies, melodramas, action thrillers, biographical dramas, and romances. [1] He has received numerous accolades, including ten Nandi Awards and ten Filmfare Awards South. [2]

Contents

Raghavendra Rao received the state Nandi Award for Best Director for his works such as Bobbili Brahmanna (1984), and Pelli Sandadi (1996). He received the Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu for the drama film Prema Lekhalu (1977), the fantasy film Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990), and the romance film Allari Priyudu (1993). Raghavendra Rao is known for his works in hagiographical films such as Annamayya (1997), which won two National Film Awards, and was featured at the 29th IFFI in the mainstream section. [3] Raghavendra Rao also received the Nandi Award for Best Direction, the Filmfare Award for Best Direction for his work in the film. [4] His other hagiographic works such as Sri Manjunatha (2001), Sri Ramadasu (2006), Shirdi Sai (2012) and Om Namo Venkatesaya (2017), received several state honours.

His mainstream works such as the 1987 social problem film Agni Putrudu , and the 1988 romantic action Aakhari Poratam , were featured at the 11th and 12th IFFI respectively in the mainstream section. [5] In 1992, he directed the melodrama Gharana Mogudu featured at the 24th IFFI in the mainstream section. [6] It became the first Telugu film to gross over 10 crore (US$1.2 million) at the box office. [7] Next, he directed the instant hit Allari Priyudu (1993), featured at the 25th IFFI in the mainstream section. [8] [2]

Personal life

Raghavendra Rao was born on 23 May 1942 to veteran director K. S. Prakash Rao and Koteswaramma. [9] [10] He is also the father of actor turned filmmaker Prakash Kovelamudi. Raghavendra Rao was an executive member in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Board from 2015 to 2019. [11]

Awards and honors

Nandi Awards [12]
Filmfare Awards South
IIFA Awards
SIIMA Awards
CineMAA Awards
Other Awards

Filmography

Key
Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released

Director

YearTitleLanguageNotes
1975 Babu Telugu
1976 Jyothi
Raja
1977 Aame Katha
Amara Deepam Remake of Tamil film Dheepam (1977)
Prema Lekhalu
KalpanaRemake of Hindi film Anamika
Adavi Ramudu
1978 Padaharella Vayasu Remake of Bharathi Raja's 16 Vayathinile (Tamil)
Simha Baludu
Radha Krishna
KD No:1
1979 Driver Ramudu
Nindu Noorellu
Vetagaadu
1980Nippulaanti Nijam
Nishana Hindi
Bhale Krishnudu Telugu
Gharana Donga
Mosagadu
Rowdy Ramudu Konte Krishnudu
1981SatyabhamaRemake of Tamil film Mouna Geethangal
Ragile Jwala
Gaja Donga
Ooriki Monagadu
Tirugu Leni Manishi
Satyam Shivam
Prema Kanuka
Kondaveeti Simham
1982 Madhura Swapnam
Trishulam
Justice Chowdary
Iddaru Kodukulu
Farz Aur Kaanoon Hindi
Devata Telugu
1983 Himmatwala Hindi
Adavi Simhalu Telugu
Jaani Dost Hindi
Justice Chaudhury
Shakthi Telugu
1984 Tohfa Hindi
Bobbili Brahmanna Telugu
Kaamyab Hindi
Naya Kadam
Iddaru DongaluTelugu
1985 Hoshiyar Hindi
Pattabhishekam Telugu
Adavi Donga
Masterji HindiRemake of Tamil film Mundhanai Mudichu
Mera Saathi
Agni Parvatam Telugu
Vajrayudham
1986 Apoorva Sahodarulu
Kaliyuga Pandavulu
Dharm Adhikari Hindi
Ravana BrahmaTelugu
Kondaveeti Raja
Suhaagan Hindi
Chanakya Shapadham Telugu
1987 Bharatamlo Arjunudu
Sahasa Samrat
Agni Putrudu
1988 Janaki Ramudu
Donga Ramudu
Manchi Donga
Aakhari Poratam
Yuddha Bhoomi
1989 Agni
Rudranetra
Ontari Poratam
1990 Alludugaru
Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari
1991 Coolie No.1
Rowdy Alludu
1992 Sundarakanda
Allari Mogudu
Gharana Mogudu remake of the Rajkumar's superhit Kannada film, Anuraga Aralithu
Aswamedham
1993 Allari Priyudu
Major Chandrakanth
1994 Allari Premikudu
Muddula Priyudu
Mugguru Monagallu
1995 Raja Simham
Gharana Bullodu
1996 Sahasa Veerudu Sagara Kanya
Bombay Priyudu
Pelli Sandadi
1997 Annamayya
Mere Sapno Ki Rani Hindi
1998 Shrimati Vellosta Telugu
Love Story 1999
Paradesi
1999 Iddaru Mitrulu
Raja Kumarudu
2000 Pelli Sambandham
Moodu Mukkalaata
2001 Sri Manjunatha KannadaPartially reshot in Telugu
Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiyaa HindiRemake of the Tamil film Viralukketha Veekkam
2003 Gangotri Telugu100th film
2005 Subash Chandra Bose
Allari Bullodu
2006 Sri Ramadasu
2008 Pandurangadu
2010 Jhummandi Naadam
2012 Shirdi Sai
2017 Om Namo Venkatesaya

Actor

YearTitleRoleNotes
2021 Pelli SandaD VasishtaSequel of Pelli Sandadi [16]

Supervisor of direction

YearTitleNotes
2001 Student No.1 Directorial debut of S. S. Rajamouli
2002 Okato Number Kurraadu Director A. Kodandarami Reddy
2004 Pallakilo Pellikoothuru Director Suchitra Chandrabose
2021 Pelli SandaD Director Gowri Ronanki [16]

Associate director

YearTitleNotes
1961 Vagdanam Director Acharya Aatreya

Producer

YearTitleNotes
1980 Bhale Krishnudu
1984 Naya Kadam
1993 Allari Priyudu
1999 Iddaru Mitrulu
2000 Pelli Sambandham
2002 Okato Number Kurradu
2004 Morning Raga English Movie
Bommalata Won Best Film in Telugu at the 53rd National Awards

Presenter

YearTitleNotes
2001 Student No. 1
2002 Bobby
2011 Anaganaga O Dheerudu
2015 Baahubali: The Beginning
2017 Baahubali: The Conclusion

Choreographer

YearTitleNotes
1996 Pelli Sandadi

Television

References

  1. Candid and confident – The Hindu
  2. 1 2 CINEmaa Lifetime Achievement Award for Raghavendra Rao – The Hindu
  3. "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  4. Saroja Devi, Ramoji Rao among recipients of A.P. film awards – The Hindu
  5. "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  6. "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  7. First Telugu film to gross 100 million
  8. "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  9. "Tollywood extends birthday wishes to K Raghavendra Rao". The Times of India. 23 May 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  10. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : "Soundaryalahari - సౌందర్యలహరి - 15th June 2014". YouTube . 15 June 2014.
  11. When the stars descended – The Hindu
  12. "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964 - 2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964 - 2008)](PDF) (in Telugu). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. 13 March 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  13. http:// Refer Filmfare Magazine August 1991, 38th filmfare awards south
  14. "45th Filmfare South Best Director Awards". 4 February 2017. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  15. IANS (30 March 2017). "'Janatha Garage', 'Kirik Party' bag top honours at IIFA Utsavam 2017". Business Standard India via Business Standard.
  16. 1 2 "Director K Raghavendra Rao all set to make his acting debut with 'Pelli SandaD'; see first look". The Times of India. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.