K. Raghavendra Rao

K. Raghavendra Rao
K. Raghavendra Rao
	Rao at an interview in 2018
Born	Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao; 23 May 1942 (age 82); Kolavennu, Madras Presidency, British India (now Andhra Pradesh, India)
Occupations	Film director; screenwriter; choreographer; producer;
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)

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

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

Nandi Awards^[12]

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)

IIFA Awards

Outstanding contribution to Indian cinema (2017)^[15]

SIIMA Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award (2014)

CineMAA Awards

Lifetime Contribution Award – (2012)
Best Film (Jury) – Shirdi Sai – (2013)

Other Awards

Allu Rama Lingaiah Award (2016)

Filmography

Key
†	Denotes films that have not yet been released

Director

Year	Title	Language	Notes
1975	Babu	Telugu
1976	Jyothi	Telugu
1976	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
1990	Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari	Telugu
1991	Coolie No.1	Telugu
1991	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
1993	Major Chandrakanth	Telugu
1994	Allari Premikudu	Telugu
	Muddula Priyudu	Telugu
	Mugguru Monagallu	Telugu
1995	Raja Simham	Telugu
1995	Gharana Bullodu	Telugu
1996	Sahasa Veerudu Sagara Kanya	Telugu
	Bombay Priyudu	Telugu
	Pelli Sandadi	Telugu
1997	Annamayya	Telugu
1997	Mere Sapno Ki Rani	Hindi
1998	Shrimati Vellosta	Telugu
	Love Story 1999	Telugu
	Paradesi	Telugu
1999	Iddaru Mitrulu	Telugu
1999	Raja Kumarudu	Telugu
2000	Pelli Sambandham	Telugu
2000	Moodu Mukkalaata	Telugu
2001	Sri Manjunatha	Kannada	Partially reshot in Telugu
2001	Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiyaa	Hindi	Remake of the Tamil film Viralukketha Veekkam
2003	Gangotri	Telugu	100th film
2005	Subash Chandra Bose	Telugu
2005	Allari Bullodu	Telugu
2006	Sri Ramadasu	Telugu
2008	Pandurangadu	Telugu
2010	Jhummandi Naadam	Telugu
2012	Shirdi Sai	Telugu
2017	Om Namo Venkatesaya	Telugu

Actor

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2021	Pelli SandaD	Vasishta	Sequel of Pelli Sandadi^[16]

Supervisor of direction

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

Year	Title	Notes
1961	Vagdanam	Director Acharya Aatreya

Producer

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

Year	Title	Notes
2001	Student No. 1
2002	Bobby
2011	Anaganaga O Dheerudu
2015	Baahubali: The Beginning
2017	Baahubali: The Conclusion

Choreographer

Year	Title	Notes
1996	Pelli Sandadi

Television

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

^ 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.

External links

K. Raghavendra Rao at IMDb

[1] Candid and confident – The Hindu

[autogenerated1-2] 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] ttp:// 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.

[:0-16] "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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Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF WorldCat
National	United States
People	Trove

v t e Films directed by K. Raghavendra Rao
1970s	Babu (1975) Jyothi (1976) Aame Katha (1977) Amara Deepam (1977) Adavi Ramudu (1977) Padaharella Vayasu (1978) Simha Baludu (1978) KD No:1 (1978) Driver Ramudu (1979) Vetagadu (1979)
1980s	Nishana (1980) Bhale Krishnudu (1980) Gharana Donga (1980) Mosagadu (1980) Rowdy Ramudu Konte Krishnudu (1980) Ragile Jwala (1981) Gaja Donga (1981) Ooruki Monagadu (1981) Tirugu Leni Manishi (1981) Satyam Shivam (1981) Prema Kanuka (1981) Kondaveeti Simham (1981) Madhura Swapnam (1982) Trisulam (1982) Justice Chowdary (1982) Farz Aur Kanoon (1982) Devatha (1982) Himmatwala (1983) Adavi Simhalu (1983) Jaani Dost (1983) Justice Chaudhury (1983) Sakthi (1983) Tohfa (1984) (Hindi) Bobbili Brahmanna (1984) Kaamyab (1984) (Hindi) Naya Kadam (1984) (Hindi) Hoshiyar (1985) Pattabhishekam (1985) Adavi Donga (1985) Masterji (1985) Mera Saathi (1985) Agni Parvatam (1985) Vajrayudham (1985) Apoorva Sahodarulu (1985) Kaliyuga Pandavulu (1985) Dharm Adhikari (1986) Ravana Brahma (1986) Kondaveeti Raja (1986) Suhaagan (1986) (Hindi) Chanakya Sapatham (1986) Bharatamlo Arjunudu (1987) Sahasa Samrat (1987) Agni Putrudu (1987) Janaki Ramudu (1988) Donga Ramudu (1988) Manchi Donga (1988) Aakhari Poratam (1988) Yuddha Bhoomi (1988) Agni (1989) Rudranetra (1989) Ontari Poratam (1989)
1990s	Alludugaru (1990) Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990) Coolie No. 1 (1991) Rowdy Alludu (1991) Sundarakanda (1992) Allari Mogudu (1992) Gharana Mogudu (1992) Aswamedham (1992) Allari Priyudu (1993) Major Chandrakanth (1993) Allari Premikudu (1994) Muddula Priyudu (1994) Mugguru Monagallu (1995) Raja Simham (1995) Gharana Bullodu (1996) Sahasa Veerudu Sagara Kanya (1996) Pelli Sandadi (1996) Bombay Priyudu (1996) Annamayya (1997) Mere Sapno Ki Rani (1998) (Hindi) Srimathi Vellostha (1998) Love Story 1999 (1998) Paradesi (1998) Iddaru Mitrulu (1999) Rajakumarudu (1999)
2000s	Pelli Sambandham (2000) Moodu Mukkalaata (2000) Sri Manjunatha (2001) (Kannada/Telugu) Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya (2001) (Hindi) Gangotri (2003) Subash Chandra Bose (2005) Allari Bullodu (2005) Sri Ramadasu (2006) Pandurangadu (2008)
2010s	Jhummandi Naadam (2010) Shirdi Sai (2012) Om Namo Venkatesaya (2017)

v t e NTR National Award
Nandi Awards
1996–2000	Akkineni Nageswara Rao (1996) Dilip Kumar (1997) Sivaji Ganesan (1998) Lata Mangeshkar (1999) P. Bhanumathi (2000)
2001–2010	Hrishikesh Mukherjee (2001) Dr. Rajkumar (2002) Krishna (2003) Ilaiyaraaja (2004) Ambareesh and Nutan Prasad (2005) Waheeda Rehman (2006) Dasari Narayana Rao (2007) Jamuna (2008) B. Saroja Devi (2009) Sharada (2010)
2011–present	Amitabh Bachchan (2011) S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (2012) Hema Malini (2013) Kamal Haasan (2014) K. Raghavendra Rao (2015) Rajinikanth (2016)

v t e Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Director
1972–1980	K. V. Reddy (1972) T. Rama Rao (1973) K. Viswanath (1974) K. Viswanath (1975) Bapu (1976) K. Raghavendra Rao (1977) K. Balachander (1978) Dasari Narayana Rao (1979) Bapu (1980)
1981–1990	Dasari Narayana Rao (1981) K. Viswanath (1982) K. Viswanath (1983) Jandhyala (1984) Singeetam Srinivasa Rao (1985) K. Viswanath (1986) K. Viswanath (1987) M. V. Raghu (1988) Mani Ratnam (1989) K. Raghavendra Rao (1990)
1991–2000	Kranthi Kumar (1991) K. Viswanath (1992) K. Raghavendra Rao (1993) S. V. Krishna Reddy (1994) K. Viswanath (1995) Krishna Vamsi (1996) Dasari Narayana Rao (1997) Krishna Vamsi (1998) B. Gopal (1999) K. Vijaya Bhaskar (2000)
2001–2018	Teja (2001) Krishna Vamsi (2002) Gunasekhar (2003) Sukumar (2004) Trivikram Srinivas (2005) Puri Jagannadh (2006) Sekhar Kammula (2007) Krish (2008) S. S. Rajamouli (2009) Krish (2010)
2020–present	Sukumar (2020–2021) S. S. Rajamouli (2022) Venu Yeldandi (2023)

v t e Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South
1983–1989	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (1983) Sowcar Janaki (1984) Sivaji Ganesan (1985) Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair (1986) P. Bhanumathi (1987) Akkineni Nageswara Rao (1988) Ilaiyaraaja (1989)
1990–1999	Padmini (1990) M. T. Vasudevan Nair (1991) L. V. Prasad (1992) Gemini Ganesan (1993) K. Balachander, K. Viswanath, B. Saroja Devi, Madhu, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Soumitra Chatterjee (1994) Nagesh & Manorama (1995) Krishna & Sharada (1996) Nedumudi Venu & S. Janaki (1997) Allu Ramalingaiah & Lakshmi (1998) Pandari Bai & Mugur Sundar (1999) D. Ramanaidu & Sheela (2000)
2001–2010	M. S. Viswanathan & Dasari Narayana Rao (2001) K. Raghavendra Rao & Vishnuvardhan (2002) K. J. Yesudas & Vijayashanti (2003) K. R. Vijaya & Ramoji Rao (2004) Thilakan & Sukumari (2005) Krishnam Raju & P. Susheela (2006) Sivakumar & Jaya Prada (2007) Veturi (2008) Ambareesh & K. P. A. C. Lalitha (2009) Chiranjeevi & Jayasudha (2010)
2011–2018	S. P. Muthuraman & Seema (2011) Bapu & Vani Jairam (2012) Balu Mahendra & Jayabharathi (2013) I. V. Sasi & Radhika Sarathkumar (2014) Mohan Babu (2015) Vijaya Nirmala (2016) Kaikala Satyanarayana (2017) Hariharan (2018)
2020–present	Puneeth Rajkumar and Allu Aravind (2020–2021) Srinath (2023)