K. Raghavendra Rao
Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao is an Indian film director, screenwriter, choreographer, and producer known primarily for his work in Telugu cinema, besides a few Hindi film and Kannada films. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has directed over a hundred films across various genres, including romantic dramas, romantic comedies, fantasies, melodramas, action thrillers, and biographical dramas. He has received numerous accolades, including the National Film Award, ten state Nandi Awards and ten Filmfare Awards South.
Raghavendra Rao received the state Nandi Award for Best Director for his works such as Bobbili Brahmanna, and Pelli Sandadi. He received the Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu for the drama film Prema Lekhalu, the fantasy film Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari, and the romance film Allari Priyudu. Raghavendra Rao is known for his works in hagiographical films such as Annamayya, which won two National Film Awards, and was featured at the 29th IFFI in the mainstream section. Raghavendra Rao also received the Nandi Award for Best Direction, the Filmfare Award for Best Direction for his work in the film. His other hagiographic works such as Sri Manjunatha, Sri Ramadasu, Shirdi Sai and Om Namo Venkatesaya, 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. In 1992, he directed the melodrama Gharana Mogudu featured at the 24th IFFI in the mainstream section. It became the first Telugu film to gross over at the box office. Next, he directed the instant hit Allari Priyudu, featured at the 25th IFFI in the mainstream section. In 2004 he produced Bommalata which fetched the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu at the 53rd National Film Awards.
Personal life
Raghavendra Rao was born on 23 May 1942 to veteran director K. S. Prakash Rao and Koteswaramma. 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.Awards and honors
;National Film Awards- Best Feature Film in Telugu - Bommalata
- NTR National Award - 2015
- B. N. Reddy National Award for lifetime contribution to Telugu cinema
- Best Director – Annamayya
- Best Choreographer – Pelli Sandadi
- Best Director – Pelli Sandadi
- Best Director – Allari Priyudu
- Best Director – Bobbili Brahmanna
- Best Director – Prema Lekhalu
- Best Director – Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari
- Best Director – Allari Priyudu
- Best Director – Annamayya
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Outstanding contribution to Indian cinema
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Lifetime Contribution Award –
- Best Film – Shirdi Sai –
- Allu Rama Lingaiah Award
Filmography
Director
Actor
Supervisor of direction
Associate director
Producer
Presenter
Choreographer
Television
- 2002: Santhi Nivasam
- 2010: Arundathi
- 2013: Mangammagari Manavaralu
- 2014: Soundrya Lahari
- 2016: Koyilamma
- 2017: Sye Sye Sayyare
- 2017: Agnisakshi
- 2018: Siri Siri Muvvalu
- 2020: C/o Anasuya
- 2021: ''Krishna Tulasi''