Cherukuri Ramoji Rao is an Indian businessman, media entrepreneur, and film producer. He is head of the Ramoji Group which owns the world's largest film production facility Ramoji Film City, Eenadu newspaper, ETV Network of TV channels, film production company Usha Kiran Movies. His other business ventures include Margadarsi Chit Fund, Dolphin Group of hotels, Kalanjali shopping mall, Priya pickles, and Mayuri Film Distributors.
Konidela Chiranjeevi is an Indian actor, film producer and former politician who works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He is regarded as one of the most successful and influential actors in the history of Indian cinema. In a career spanning over four decades, he starred in over 150 feature films, predominantly in Telugu, as well as some films in Hindi, Tamil and Kannada. Chiranjeevi won the Andhra Pradesh state's highest film award, the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, three Nandi Awards, and nine Filmfare Awards South including the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2024, The Government of India honoured him with Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian honour. Earlier In 2006, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, for his contributions to Indian cinema. In 2013, CNN-IBN named him as one of "the men who changed the face of the Indian Cinema".
Telugu cinema, also known as Tollywood, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Telugu language, widely spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Telugu cinema is based in Film Nagar, Hyderabad. As of 2021, Telugu cinema is the largest film industry in India in terms of box-office. Telugu films sold 23.3 crore tickets in 2022, the highest among various film industries in India.
The Nandi Awards are the awards that recognise excellence in Telugu cinema, Telugu theatre, Telugu television, and Lifetime achievements in Indian cinema. Presented annually by the Government of Andhra Pradesh the awards are named after the big granite bull at Lepakshi - a cultural and historical symbol of the Telugu people.
Allu Ramalingaiah was an Indian character actor, comedian, and producer known for his works in Telugu cinema. In 1990, he was honoured with the Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian cinema. In 1998, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award - South, and the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award in 2001. Ramalingaiah appeared in over 1000 films in a variety of roles. The "Allu Ramalingaiah National Award" was instituted in his memory by the "Allu Ramalingaiah Academy of Arts". The award is presented every year to a Telugu film personality for life time achievement.
The Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu Award is an award issued by the Indian state government of Andhra Pradesh, to recognise lifetime achievements in Telugu cinema. The award was introduced in 1981 in honour of Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu, one of India's film pioneers regarded as the "father of Telugu cinema". The winner is presented a Golden Nandi, a gold medal, a citation and a cash prize of ₹50,000 (US$630) at the Nandi Awards functions.
Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu, was an Indian filmmaker, photographer, graphic artist, educationist and entrepreneur considered as the father of Telugu cinema. Regarded as one of the pioneers of Indian cinema, Naidu started his career as a commercial photographer in Madras; he was drawn into independent filmmaking, and he traveled to different regions in South east Asia to promote and teach cinematic techniques, filmmaking, and distribute foreign language silent films.
Veeramachineni Madhusudhana Rao was an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He is popularly known as ‘Victory’ Madhusudhana Rao. He directed nearly 70 films, including musical hits such as Annapurna (1960), Aradhana (1962), Aathma Balam (1964), Zamindar (1965), Antastulu (1965), Aatmiyulu (1969), Krishnaveni (1974) and produced Swati Kiranam (1992). In 1965 he received the National Film Award for directing Antastulu. Madhusudhan Rao died on 11 January 2012 at the age of 94.
Mannava Balayya was an Indian actor, writer, director, and producer known for his work in Telugu cinema. He appeared in 300 films during his career.
Annapurna, also credited as Annapurnamma, is an Indian actress who appears primarily in Telugu films. She is known for her portrayal as mother, mother-in-law, grand mother, aunt, etc. She started her film career as an actor alongside Mohan Babu in the blockbuster Telugu film Swargam Narakam directed by Dasari Narayana Rao in 1975. She appeared in over 900 films and won three Nandi Awards.
K. Chakravarthi was an Indian music director who primarily worked in Telugu cinema. He made his debut in 1971 with Mooga Prema and went on compose music for over 1000 films, predominantly in Telugu language, followed by Kannada. He won two Nandi Awards.
Nirmalamma was an Indian actress in the Telugu cinema. She appeared in more than 1000 films and was well known for her grandmother roles in several films. She won two Nandi Awards.
Kovelamudi Surya Prakash Rao (1914–1996) was an Indian film director, producer, actor and cinematographer known for his works in Telugu,Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi films. In 1977 he won the Filmfare Award for Best Director – Kannada for Ganda Hendthi. In 1995, Rao received the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for his contributions to Telugu cinema. He is the father of noted Telugu director K. Raghavendra Rao and is the uncle of another noted director K. Bapayya.
Tammareddy Krishna Murthy was an Indian film producer who worked in Telugu cinema. He received the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award from the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 2007.
Datla Venkata Suryanarayana Raju, better known as D. V. S. Raju was an Indian film producer known for his works in Telugu Cinema and Bollywood. He was instrumental in shifting the Telugu film industry from Chennai to Hyderabad. He was the recipient of the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, the Bhishma Award and the Padma Shri for his contributions to Indian cinema.
Ravindra Art Pictures is a film production company in Hyderabad, India. It was established by Tammareddy Krishna Murthy. Krishna Murthy started his career in the film industry as a production executive. Later, he started his own production house titled Ravindra Art Pictures and made Lakshadhikari (1963) with N. T. Rama Rao in the lead role as his first production. It was a big success. Other notable films produced by Ravindra Art Pictures include Zamindar (1966), Bangaru Gajulu (1968), Dharma Daata (1970), Doctor Babu (1973).
Mallemala Sundara Rami Reddy, popularly known as M. S. Reddy and Mallemala, was an Indian film producer, director, screen writer and lyricist in Telugu cinema and a writer known for his contribution to Telugu Literature. He also served as President of the Telugu Film Producers Council, South Indian Film Writers Association, and Film Nagar Co-operative Housing Society, as well as Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Film Development Corporation. He won two Nandi Awards.
Talasila Kranthi Kumar was an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He won two Filmfare Awards and four Nandi Awards. In 1985, he directed Sravanthi, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu that year. In 1991, he directed Seetharamayya Gari Manavaralu, which was premiered in the Indian panorama section, at the 1991 International Film Festival of India.
6 Teens is a 2001 Indian Telugu-language teen film directed by G.Nageswara Reddy making his directorial debut and produced by J.Srinivasa Reddy. The film stars Rohit, Ruthika, Santosh, Pavan, Abhijit and Amit. The film was remade in Kannada as Friends (2002).
Ramma Chilakamma is a 2001 Indian Telugu-language romantic drama film directed by Tammareddy Bharadwaja and starring Sumanth and Laya. The title of the film is based on a song from Choodalani Vundi (1998). Ramma Chilakamma is a remake of the Tamil film Ennamma Kannu (2000). After being delayed, the film released on 13 July 2001 and was a box-office failure.
