Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao (born 23 May 1942) is an Indian filmmaker known primarily for his work in Telugu cinema, besides a few Hindi 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 four Nandi Awards and five Filmfare Awards South.[2]
K. Raghavendra Rao | |
|---|---|
 Rao at an interview in 2018 | |
| Born | Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao 23 May 1942 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Spouse | Sarala |
| Children | 2, including Prakash Kovelamudi |
| Parent(s) | K. S. Prakash Rao (father) G. Varalakshmi (step-mother) |
| Relatives | K. Bapayya (cousin) Shobu Yarlagadda (son-in-law) |
Raghavendra Rao received the state Nandi Award for Best Director for his works such as Bobbili Brahmanna (1984), and Pelli Sandadi (1996). He fetched 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). 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] 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
editRaghavendra 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
edit- NTR National Award - 2015
- B. N. Reddy National Award for lifetime contribution to Telugu cinema (2009)
- Best Director – Annamayya (1997)
- Best Choreographer – Pelli Sandadi (1996)
- Best Director – Pelli Sandadi (1996)
- Best Director – Allari Priyudu (1993)
- Best Director – Bobbili Brahmanna (1984)
- Filmfare Awards South
- Best Director – Prema Lekhalu (1977)
- Best Director – Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990)[13]
- Best Director – Allari Priyudu (1993)
- Best Director – Annamayya (1997)[14]
- Lifetime Achievement Award (2002)
- Outstanding contribution to Indian cinema (2017)[15]
- Lifetime Achievement Award (2014)
- Lifetime Contribution Award – (2012)
- Best Film (Jury) – Shirdi Sai – (2013)
- Other Awards
- Allu Rama Lingaiah Award (2016)
Filmography
edit| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Director
edit| Year | Title | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Babu | Telugu | |
| 1976 | Jyothi | Telugu | |
| Raja | Telugu | ||
| 1977 | Aame Katha | Telugu | |
| Amara Deepam | Telugu | Remake of Tamil film Dheepam (1977) | |
| Prema Lekhalu | Telugu | ||
| Kalpana | Telugu | Remake of Hindi film Anamika | |
| Adavi Ramudu | Telugu | ||
| 1978 | Padaharella Vayasu | Telugu | Remake of Bharathi Raja's 16 Vayathinile (Tamil) |
| Simha Baludu | Telugu | ||
| Radha Krishna | Telugu | ||
| KD No:1 | Telugu | ||
| 1979 | Driver Ramudu | Telugu | |
| Nindu Noorellu | Telugu | ||
| Vetagaadu | Telugu | ||
| 1980 | Nippulaanti Nijam | Telugu | |
| Nishana | Hindi | ||
| Bhale Krishnudu | Telugu | ||
| Gharana Donga | Telugu | ||
| Mosagadu | Telugu | ||
| Rowdy Ramudu Konte Krishnudu | Telugu | ||
| 1981 | Satyabhama | Telugu | Remake of Tamil film Mouna Geethangal |
| Ragile Jwala | Telugu | ||
| Gaja Donga | Telugu | ||
| Ooriki Monagadu | Telugu | ||
| Tirugu Leni Manishi | Telugu | ||
| Satyam Shivam | Telugu | ||
| Prema Kanuka | Telugu | ||
| Kondaveeti Simham | Telugu | ||
| 1982 | Madhura Swapnam | Telugu | |
| Trishulam | Telugu | ||
| Justice Chowdary | Telugu | ||
| Iddaru Kodukulu | Telugu | ||
| Farz Aur Kaanoon | Hindi | ||
| Devata | Telugu | ||
| 1983 | Himmatwala | Hindi | |
| Adavi Simhalu | Telugu | ||
| Jaani Dost | Hindi | ||
| Justice Chaudhury | Hindi | ||
| Shakthi | Telugu | ||
| 1984 | Tohfa | Hindi | |
| Bobbili Brahmanna | Telugu | ||
| Kaamyab | Hindi | ||
| Naya Kadam | Hindi | ||
| Iddaru Dongalu | Telugu | ||
| 1985 | Hoshiyar | Hindi | |
| Pattabhishekam | Telugu | ||
| Adavi Donga | Telugu | ||
| Masterji | Hindi | Remake of Tamil film Mundhanai Mudichu | |
| Mera Saathi | Hindi | ||
| Agni Parvatam | Telugu | ||
| Vajrayudham | Telugu | ||
| 1986 | Apoorva Sahodarulu | Telugu | |
| Kaliyuga Pandavulu | Telugu | ||
| Dharm Adhikari | Hindi | ||
| Ravana Brahma | Telugu | ||
| Kondaveeti Raja | Telugu | ||
| Suhaagan | Hindi | ||
| Chanakya Shapadham | Telugu | ||
| 1987 | Bharatamlo Arjunudu | Telugu | |
| Sahasa Samrat | Telugu | ||
| Agni Putrudu | Telugu | ||
| 1988 | Janaki Ramudu | Telugu | |
| Donga Ramudu | Telugu | ||
| Manchi Donga | Telugu | ||
| Aakhari Poratam | Telugu | ||
| Yuddha Bhoomi | Telugu | ||
| 1989 | Agni | Telugu | |
| Rudranetra | Telugu | ||
| Ontari Poratam | Telugu | ||
| 1990 | Alludugaru | Telugu | |
| Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari | Telugu | ||
| 1991 | Coolie No.1 | Telugu | |
| Rowdy Alludu | Telugu | ||
| 1992 | Sundarakanda | Telugu | |
| Allari Mogudu | Telugu | ||
| Gharana Mogudu | Telugu | remake of the Rajkumar's superhit Kannada film, Anuraga Aralithu | |
| Aswamedham | Telugu | ||
| 1993 | Allari Priyudu | Telugu | |
| Major Chandrakanth | Telugu | ||
| 1994 | Allari Premikudu | Telugu | |
| Muddula Priyudu | Telugu | ||
| Mugguru Monagallu | Telugu | ||
| 1995 | Raja Simham | Telugu | |
| Gharana Bullodu | Telugu | ||
| 1996 | Sahasa Veerudu Sagara Kanya | Telugu | |
| Bombay Priyudu | Telugu | ||
| Pelli Sandadi | Telugu | ||
| 1997 | Annamayya | Telugu | |
| Mere Sapno Ki Rani | Hindi | ||
| 1998 | Shrimati Vellosta | Telugu | |
| Love Story 1999 | Telugu | ||
| Paradesi | Telugu | ||
| 1999 | Iddaru Mitrulu | Telugu | |
| Raja Kumarudu | Telugu | ||
| 2000 | Pelli Sambandham | Telugu | |
| Moodu Mukkalaata | Telugu | ||
| 2001 | Sri Manjunatha | Kannada | Partially reshot in Telugu |
| Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiyaa | Hindi | Remake of the Tamil film Viralukketha Veekkam | |
| 2003 | Gangotri | Telugu | 100th film |
| 2005 | Subash Chandra Bose | Telugu | |
| Allari Bullodu | Telugu | ||
| 2006 | Sri Ramadasu | Telugu | |
| 2008 | Pandurangadu | Telugu | |
| 2010 | Jhummandi Naadam | Telugu | |
| 2012 | Shirdi Sai | Telugu | |
| 2017 | Om Namo Venkatesaya | Telugu |
Actor
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Pelli SandaD | Vasishta | Sequel of Pelli Sandadi[16] |
Supervisor of direction
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 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
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Vagdanam | Director Acharya Aatreya |
Producer
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Bhale Krishnudu | |
| 1984 | Naya Kadam | |
| 1993 | Allari Priyudu | |
| 1999 | Iddaru Mitrulu | |
| 2000 | Pelli Sambandham | |
| 2002 | Okato Number Kurradu | |
| 2004 | Morning Raga | English Movie |
| 2004 | Bommalata | Won Best Film in Telugu at the 53rd National Awards |
Presenter
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Student No. 1 | |
| 2002 | Bobby | |
| 2011 | Anaganaga O Dheerudu | |
| 2015 | Baahubali: The Beginning | |
| 2017 | Baahubali: The Conclusion |
Choreographer
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Pelli Sandadi |
Television
edit- 2002: Santhi Nivasam (ETV Telugu)
- 2010: Arundathi (ETV Kannada)
- 2013: Mangammagari Manavaralu (Zee telugu)
- 2014: Soundrya Lahari (ETV Telugu)
- 2016: Koyilamma (MAA TV)
- 2017: Sye Sye Sayyare (ETV Telugu)
- 2017: Agnisakshi (Star MAA)
- 2018: Siri Siri Muvvalu (Star MAA)
- 2020: C/o Anasuya (Star MAA)
- 2021: Krishna Tulasi (Zee telugu)
References
edit- ^ Candid and confident – The Hindu
- ^ a b CINEmaa Lifetime Achievement Award for Raghavendra Rao – The Hindu
- ^ "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
- ^ Saroja Devi, Ramoji Rao among recipients of A.P. film awards – The Hindu
- ^ "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
- ^ "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
- ^ First Telugu film to gross 100 million
- ^ "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
- ^ "Tollywood extends birthday wishes to K Raghavendra Rao". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Soundaryalahari - సౌందర్యలహరి - 15th June 2014". YouTube.
- ^ When the stars descended – The Hindu
- ^ "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.
- ^ http:// Refer Filmfare Magazine August 1991, 38th filmfare awards south
- ^ "45th Filmfare South Best Director Awards". 4 February 2017. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
- ^ IANS (30 March 2017). "'Janatha Garage', 'Kirik Party' bag top honours at IIFA Utsavam 2017". Business Standard India – via Business Standard.
- ^ a b "Director K Raghavendra Rao all set to make his acting debut with 'Pelli SandaD'; see first look". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 July 2021.