Sattiraju Lakshminarayana, known professionally as Bapu, was an Indian film director, painter, illustrator, cartoonist, screenwriter, music artist, and designer known for his works in Telugu cinema, and Hindi cinema. In 2013, he was awarded the Padma Shri, for his contribution to Indian art and cinema. He has garnered two National Honors, two National Film Awards, seven state Nandi Awards, two Filmfare Awards South, a Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, and a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South.
There were eminent mridangam artists like "Mrudanga Kesari" Mullapudi Lakshmana Rao and his son Mullapudi Sri Rama Murty. And his disciple " Mrudanga Shiromani" Dharmala Rama Murty and his son Dharmala Venkateshwara Rao. There were other legends like ML Lakshminarayana Raju and Kamalakara Rao.
Seetha Kalyanam is a 1976 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film directed by Bapu from a screenplay written by Mullapudi Venkata Ramana. It is an adaptation of Ranganatha Ramayanam in Telugu. Based on the Bala Kanda, the ensemble cast film relates events from the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, up to his wedding to Seetha, incarnation of Lakshmi.
Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu was an Indian filmmaker and entrepreneur widely regarded as the father of Telugu cinema. A pioneer of Indian cinema, Naidu established the first Indian-owned movie theatres in South India and founded Star of the East Films, the first film production company established by a Telugu person. He is credited with producing Bhishma Pratigna (1921), considered the first Telugu feature film, thus laying the foundation for the Telugu film industry.
Mala Pilla, or Malapilla, is a 1938 Indian Telugu-language social problem film directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam and written by Tapi Dharma Rao. The film was produced by Raja of Challapalli, Yarladadda Sivarama Prasad, under the Sarathi Films banner. It featured Kanchanamala in the title role, with Gali Venkateswara Rao, Govindarajula Subba Rao, P. Suribabu, and Sundaramma in other prominent roles.
Sri Krishna Leelalu is a 1935 Telugu-language mythological film directed by Chitrapu Narasimha Rao and produced by Pinapala Venkata Dasu under the banner of Vel Pictures. The film playfully depicts the antics of the child Krishna, from his birth to his victory over the evil Kamsa. It marks the film debut of future composer Rajeswara Rao and is one of Gaggayya’s best-known films.
Madhavapeddi Satyam was an Indian playback singer and actor who predominantly worked in Telugu cinema.
Seetha Kalyanam is a 1934 Indian Tamil-language Hindu mythological film directed by Baburao Pendharkar and K. Ramnoth and produced by Prabhat Film Company. The film stars S. Rajam and S. Jayalakshmi in the lead roles and marks the cinematic debut of notable musicians Papanasam Sivan and S. Balachander.
Kalyanam Raghuramaiah (1901–1975), popularly known as Eelapata Raghuramaiah, was an Indian actor, and thespian known for his works in Telugu cinema, and Telugu theatre. A recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and the Padmashri, He was known for the roles of Krishna or Dushyantha, Bhavanisankar, Narada etc. He performed those roles for about 60 years. He indulged in elaborate raga alapana, based on different ragas while rendering padyams.
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.
Koccharlakota Satyanarayana was a Telugu film and drama actor and playback singer during the early period of Telugu cinema.
Rallapalli Venkata Narasimha Rao, popularly known as Rallapalli, was an Indian actor known for his works primarily in Telugu films and television. He won two state Nandi Awards.
Yadavalli Suryanarayana (1888–1939) was an Indian actor and thespian known for his works in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. He made his transition from theater to cinema in 1932. He contributed to the Telugu theatre for over three decades.
Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao (1903–1964), also known as Gali Penchalayya, was an Indian film music composer. He was a representative of the first generation of music directors in Indian cinema. He debuted with the Telugu version of Seetha Kalyanam in 1934. Sri Krishna Leelalu (1935) was another musical hit of his. His music has contributed to the success of Balaraju (1948). The songs Cheliya Kanarava by Ghantasala and Evarine Nenevarine by S. Varalakshmi were the melodies which attracted many those days.
Devata is a 1941 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed by B. N. Reddy. The huge success of this film led to the making of more films with the same title in 1964 by B. Padmanabham and in 1982 by D. Ramanaidu. The film was remade in Malayalam as Pavappettaval (1967).
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.
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.
Sri Rama Paduka Pattabhishekam is a 1932 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological drama film directed by Sarvottam Badami. It is notable for being the second Telugu talkie film. The film stars renowned stage actor Yadavalli Suryanarayana as Lord Rama, alongside C. S. R. Anjaneyulu and Surabhi Kamalabai.
Lava Kusa is a 1934 Telugu-language Hindu mythological film directed by C. Pullayya and produced by Motilal Chamaria under the East India Film Company. The film is based on the play Lava Kusa, written by K. Subrahmanya Sastry, and marks an important milestone in early Telugu cinema. It was one of the first films to feature recorded songs, following the trend set by Sati Savitri (1933). All the songs in Lava Kusa were well received, contributing to its success.
Prudhvi Putra is a 1933 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film written, produced and directed by Pothina Srinivasa Rao. Recognized as one of the first Telugu talkie films financed locally by Telugu people, it features Kalyanam Raghuramaiah, Parupalli Satyanarayana, and Surabhi Kamalabai in prominent roles. The film is based on the story of Narakasura, who requests Lord Krishna to invite him to celebrate his own death, which is joyfully celebrated by others.
