Dasari Narayana Rao was an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, lyricist, and politician known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema, in addition to Hindi cinema. He has directed more than 150 feature films in a variety of genres. He holds the Limca World Record for directing the most number of films in the world. He is known by the moniker Darsaka Ratna. His works emphasize social injustice, corruption and gender discrimination. Narayana Rao has received two National Film Awards, nine state Nandi Awards including the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, and four Filmfare Awards South including the Lifetime Achievement. During his career he had also acted in Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada films.
Meghasandesam is a 1982 Telugu-language drama film, produced and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao under his Taraka Prabhu Films banner. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jaya Prada, Jayasudha and music composed by Ramesh Naidu. This film is the 200th movie of Akkineni Nageswara Rao. The film was featured in the Indian Panorama section at the 9th International Film Festival of India, and the Moscow film festival. It won four Awards including Best Feature Film in Telugu at the 30th National Film Awards "For its lyrical and aesthetic qualities", the Filmfare award for Best Telugu Film and Nandi award for Best Feature Film. The film won nine Nandi Awards.
Madhura Swapnam is a 1982 Telugu-language film based on A. J. Cronin's novel, The Citadel. It was directed by K. Raghavendra Rao and stars Krishnam Raju, Jaya Prada and Jayasudha in the lead. The movie is also inspired by Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani's novel of the same name. This is the remake of 1972 Bengali film Jiban Saikate.
Karthika Deepam is a 1979 Indian Telugu-language film directed by Laxmi Deepak and starring Sobhan Babu, Sridevi and Sharada. The music score by Satyam are memorable. Sobhan Babu won Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu). The film was declared a blockbuster at the box office.
Majnu is a 1987 Indian Telugu-language romantic tragedy film produced, written and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. It stars Nagarjuna and Rajani, with music composed by Laxmikant–Pyarelal. The film released on 14 January 1987 alongside Sobhan Babu's Punnami Chandrudu, Balakrishna's Bhargava Ramudu and Krishna's Thandri Kodukula Challenge was recorded as a Blockbuster at the box office outperforming the other films. The film was remade in Tamil as Anand.
Jeevana Tarangalu is a 1973 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed by T. Rama Rao. The film stars Sobhan Babu, Krishnam Raju, Vanisri, Chandramohan, and Lakshmi. It is based on a novel by Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani, and won three Filmfare Awards South. It was remade in Tamil as Thirumangalyam (1974), in Hindi in as Dil Aur Deewaar (1978), and in Kannada as Mangalya (1991).
Chandipriya is a 1980 Telugu language film directed by V. Madhusudhana Rao starring Jaya Prada and Sobhan Babu. The film was based on the novel of the same name written by Polkampalli Santha Devi.
Mundadugu is a 1983 Indian Telugu-language drama film produced by D. Rama Naidu of Suresh Productions and directed by K. Bapaiah, starring Krishna, Sobhan Babu, Sridevi and Jaya Prada.
Tandra Paparayudu is a 1986 Indian Telugu-language biographical war film directed by Dasari Narayana Rao and produced by U. Suryanarayana Raju. The film stars Krishnam Raju, Jaya Prada, Jayasudha, Sumalatha, Pran and Mohan Babu. It is based on the life of 18th century warrior Tandra Paparayudu, the General of Bobbili, and General Bussy. Made on a big-budget of ₹1.5 crore, Tandra Paparayudu was a major box-office failure. The film was featured at the 11th International Film Festival of India. It won two Nandi Awards.
Rangoon Rowdy is a 1979 Telugu drama film directed by Dasari Narayana Rao and produced by Vadde Sobhanadri under Vijaya Madhavi Pictures. The film was presented by Vadde Kishore. The film stars Mahanati Savitri, Krishnam Raju, Jaya Prada, Mohan Babu and Deepa in the lead roles. The music was composed by J. V. Raghavulu. The song "o jabilee" is taken from the Hindi movie Muqaddar ka sikandar ". It is Krishnam Raju's 100th film. It is the first Indian film to be shot in Burma.
Sita Ramulu is a 1980 Telugu-language drama film directed by Dasari Narayana Rao starring Krishnam Raju, Jaya Prada and Mohan Babu. The music was composed by Satyam. The song "Toli Sandhya Velalo" is a chartbuster and is remembered even today. This film is a remake of the Tamil film Kanavan Manaivi.
Kurukshetram is a 1977 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film produced by A. S. R. Anjaneyulu and directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. It stars Krishna, Sobhan Babu, Krishnam Raju and Kaikala Satyanarayana while Jamuna, Vijaya Nirmala, Anjali Devi and Gummadi played other important roles.
Gandhinagara is a 1968 Indian Kannada-language film, directed by K. S. L. Swamy and produced by C Venku Reddy. The film stars Rajkumar, Kalpana, K. S. Ashwath, Balakrishna and Narasimharaju. The film had musical score by Satyam. The movie is based on a short story by GVG. Rajkumar played dual role in a small portion of the movie where the second character appears for only nine minutes towards the end of the movie.
Devatha (transl. Goddess) is a 1982 Indian Telugu-language film directed by K. Raghavendra Rao, starring Sobhan Babu, Sridevi, Jaya Prada and Mohan Babu. The film was produced by D. Rama Naidu on Suresh Productions banner. The film is about two sisters and their love triangle with a man. K. Raghavendra Rao remade the film in Hindi as Tohfa (1984), with both Sridevi and Jaya Prada reprising their roles. It was also remade in Tamil as Deiva Piravi (1985) and also remade into Bengali Bangladesh as Obuj Hridoy (1989).
Golconda Abbulu is a 1982 Telugu drama film directed by Dasari Narayana Rao and produced by Kumarjee. The film stars Krishnam Raju and Jaya Prada in the lead roles. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan.
Ugra Narasimham is a 1986 Telugu-language action drama film written, directed and produced by Dasari Narayana Rao under Tharaka Prabhu Films banner. The film stars Krishnam Raju, Jaya Prada and Mohan Babu. The music was composed by Satyam.
Buchi Babu is a 1980 Indian Telugu-language comedy film, produced by Venkat Akkineni, Nagarjuna Akkineni under the Annapurna Studios banner, and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Jaya Prada, with music composed by Chakravarthy.
Prema Mandiram is a 1981 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by D. Ramanaidu under the Suresh Productions banner and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Jaya Prada, with music composed by K. V. Mahadevan.
Driver Babu is a 1986 Indian Telugu language action drama film directed by Boyina Subba Rao starring Sobhan Babu and Radha. A remake of the Hindi film, Khud-daar, it emerged as a critical and commercial success.
