K. Raghavendra Rao

K. Raghavendra Rao
Rao at an interview in 2018
Born
Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao

(1942-05-23) 23 May 1942 (age 82)
Kolavennu, Madras Presidency, British India (now Andhra Pradesh, India)
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • choreographer
  • producer
Years active1977–present
SpouseSarala
Children2, including Prakash Kovelamudi
Parent(s)K. S. Prakash Rao (father)
G. Varalakshmi (step-mother)
RelativesK. Bapayya (cousin)
Shobu Yarlagadda (son-in-law)

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]

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

[edit]

Raghavendra 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]
Nandi Awards[12]
Filmfare Awards South
IIFA Awards
  • Outstanding contribution to Indian cinema (2017)[15]
SIIMA Awards
CineMAA Awards
  • Lifetime Contribution Award – (2012)
  • Best Film (Jury) – Shirdi Sai – (2013)
Other Awards
  • Allu Rama Lingaiah Award (2016)

Filmography

[edit]
Key
† 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]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Candid and confident – The Hindu
  2. ^ a b CINEmaa Lifetime Achievement Award for Raghavendra Rao – The Hindu
  3. ^ "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  4. ^ Saroja Devi, Ramoji Rao among recipients of A.P. film awards – The Hindu
  5. ^ "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  6. ^ "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  7. ^ First Telugu film to gross 100 million
  8. ^ "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  9. ^ "Tollywood extends birthday wishes to K Raghavendra Rao". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  10. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Soundaryalahari - సౌందర్యలహరి - 15th June 2014". YouTube.
  11. ^ When the stars descended – The Hindu
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ http:// Refer Filmfare Magazine August 1991, 38th filmfare awards south
  14. ^ "45th Filmfare South Best Director Awards". 4 February 2017. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  15. ^ IANS (30 March 2017). "'Janatha Garage', 'Kirik Party' bag top honours at IIFA Utsavam 2017". Business Standard India – via Business Standard.
  16. ^ 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.
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