Kancharla Gopanna, popularly known as Bhakta Ramadasu or Bhadrachala Ramadasu, was a 17th-century devotee of the Hindu god Rama, a saint-poet and a composer of Carnatic music. He is a famous Vaggeyakara from the Telugu classical era. He was born in the village of Nelakondapalli in Khammam district, and orphaned as a teenager. He spent his later years in Bhadrachalam and 12 years in solitary confinement at the Golconda prison during the Qutb Shahi-rule. Different mythical stories about his life circulate in the Telugu tradition. He is renowned for constructing the famous Sita Ramachandraswamy Temple and pilgrimage center on the banks of river Godavari at Bhadrachalam. His devotional kirtana lyrics to Rama illustrate the classical Pallavi, Anupallavi and Caranam genre composed mostly in Telugu, some in Sanskrit and with occasional use of Tamil language. These are famous in South Indian classical music as Ramadaasu Keertanalu.
Sri Ramadasu is 2006 Indian Telugu-language biographical film, based on the life of musician saint Kancharla Gopanna. A reboot of V. Nagayya's 1964 film Ramadasu; the film is written and directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. Produced by Konda Krishnam Raju the film starred Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Nagarjuna, Suman, Sneha and music was composed by M. M. Keeravani. Cinematography and editing were handled by S. Gopal Reddy and Sreekar Prasad respectively. Upon release, the film got positive reviews.
The Sri Sita Ramachandraswamy temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Rama, a prominent avatar of the god Vishnu. It is located on the banks of the Godavari River in the town of Bhadrachalam in east Telangana, India. Often simply referred to as Bhadrachalam or Bhadradri, the temple is considered one of the Divya Kshetrams of Godavari and is also revered as Dakshina Ayodhya.
Pedda Manushulu is a 1954 Indian Telugu-language drama film produced and directed by K. V. Reddy. It stars Jandhyala Gaurinatha Sastry, Mudigonda Lingamurthy, Relangi, Vangara, Sriranjani Jr. in prominent roles. The film portrays corruption among so called respectable persons of the society. It was loosely based on The Pillars of Society, a 1877 play by famous Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen.
Chenchu Lakshmi is a 1958 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film produced and directed by B. A. Subba Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Anjali Devi, with music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. Along with the Telugu version, it was simultaneously shot in Tamil, with most of the actors and scenes being the same in both the versions. Another Chenchu Lakshmi was earlier made in 1943 with a different cast and crew.
Illarikam is a 1959 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film directed by T. Prakash Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jamuna and music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao. It was produced by A. V. Subba Rao under the Prasad Art Pictures banner. The film had a Silver Jubilee run and was recorded as a Blockbuster at the box office.
Panduranga Mahatyam is a 1957 Indian Telugu-language biographical film, based on the life of Pundarika, produced by N. Trivikrama Rao under the National Art Theatres banner and directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Anjali Devi and B. Saroja Devi with music composed by T. V. Raju. The film was dubbed into Tamil as Annaiyum Pithavum Munnari Dheivam (1959) and it was again remade as the Telugu film Pandurangadu (2008).
Sri Seeta Rama Jananam is a 1944 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, produced and directed by Ghantasala Balaramayya under the Pratibha Productions banner. The film stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Tripurasundari, Vemuri Gaggayya, Rushyendramani. Music was jointly composed by Prabhala Satyanarayana and Ogirala Ramachandra Rao. The film marks the debut of Akkineni Nageswara Rao as a lead actor. It is also the debut of Ghantasala as a chorus singer and in a character role. The film was a commercial failure.
Bhale Ramudu is a 1956 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by V. L. Narasu and directed by Vedantam Raghavayya. The film stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri and music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. It is a remake of the Hindi film Kismet (1943). The film was simultaneously made as the Tamil movie Prema Pasam.
Ghantasala Balaramayya was an Indian film director, producer, and actor in Telugu cinema. His notable films include Sri Seetarama Jananam (1944), Balaraju (1948), Swapna Sundari (1950), and Sri Lakshmamma Katha (1950). Balaramayya is known for providing Akkineni Nageswara Rao his first lead role in the 1944 mythological film Sri Seetarama Jananam.
Sita Rama Kalyanam is a 1961 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film directed by N. T. Rama Rao in his directorial debut. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Haranath, Geetanjali, B. Saroja Devi, Kanta Rao, Sobhan Babu. The film was produced by N. Trivikrama Rao on 'National Art Theatres' banner. The music composed by Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao.
Amarasilpi Jakkanna is a 1964 Telugu-language biographical film, produced and directed by B. S. Ranga under the Vikram Studios banner. The film stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao in the title role of Jakanachari, a legendary sculptor credited with building various temples of Kalyani Chalukyas and Hoysalas. Music was composed by S. Rajeswara Rao.
Siri Sampadalu is a 1962 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by V. Venkateswarlu and directed by P. Pullaiah. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Savitri, with music composed by Master Venu.
Sri Tirupati Venkateswara Kalyanam is a 1979 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, based on Lord Venkateswara Avatar at Tirumala, produced and directed by N. T. Rama Rao under his Ramakrishna Cine Studios banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Jaya Prada, Jayasudha, Nandamuri Balakrishna and music composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao.
Abhimanam is a 1960 Indian Telugu-language drama film produced by Sundarlal Nahatha and T. Ashwadanarayana under the Sri Productions banner and directed by C. S. Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri, Krishna Kumari, with music composed by Ghantasala.
Charana Daasi (transl. Wife) is a 1956 Indian Telugu-language drama film written by Vempati Sadasivabrahmam and directed by T. Prakash Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Anjali Devi and Savitri, with music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. The film is based on Rabindranath Tagore's 1906 Bengali novel Noukadubi. It was simultaneously made in Tamil as Mathar Kula Manikkam (1956). Story and Dialogues were by Vempati Sadasivabrahmam
Aada Pettanam is a 1958 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by M. Narayana Swamy and M. Venkata Ramadasu and directed by Adurthi Subba Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Anjali Devi and music jointly composed by S. Rajeswara Rao & Master Venu. Anisetty was announced as the director initially, but Adurthi Subba Rao took over later.
Indrajeet (Sati Sulochana) is a 1961 Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, based on the life of Indrajit from the epic Ramayana, produced by S. Rajinikanth, D. V. Subba Rao and Kancharla Madhava Rao under the Srikanth Productions banner and directed by S. Rajinikanth. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Anjali Devi with music composed by T. V. Raju. Sati Sulochana and Pendli Pilupu were released on the same day, both starred by NTR. The film is dubbed into Bengali in 1979 as Meghnad Badh/Vadh
Chenchu Lakshmi is a 1943 Indian Telugu-language mythological film produced and directed by S. Saundara Rajan. The film was written by Samudrala Sr. and starred Kamala Kotnis, C. H. Narayana Rao, and Nagayya. Kamala Kotnis' beauty, dance and acting are the main attractions of this film.
