# K. Raghavendra Rao

Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao (born 23 May 1942) is an Indian filmmaker 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 comedies, fantasies, melodramas, action thrillers, biographical dramas, and romances. He has received numerous accolades, including four Nandi Awards and five Filmfare Awards South.
Raghavendra Rao received the state Nandi Award for Best Director for his works such as Bobbili Brahmanna (1984), and Pelli Sandadi (1996). He received 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). Raghavendra 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. 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 (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. 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 ₹10 crore (US$1.1 million) at the box office. Next, he directed the instant hit Allari Priyudu (1993), featured at the 25th IFFI in the mainstream section.

## 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
### Nandi Awards

* 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)
* Best Director – Allari Priyudu (1993)
* Best Director – Annamayya (1997)
* Lifetime Achievement Award (2002)

### IIFA Awards

* Outstanding contribution to Indian cinema (2017)

### 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 film or TV productions that have not yet been released |

### Director

| Year | Title | Language | Notes |
| 1975 | Babu | Telugu | |
| 1976 | Jyothi | Telugu | |
| 1976 | Raja | Telugu | |
| 1977 | Aame Katha | Telugu | |
| 1977 | Amara Deepam | Telugu | Remake of Tamil film Dheepam (1977) |
| 1977 | Prema Lekhalu | Telugu | |
| 1977 | Kalpana | Telugu | Remake of Hindi film Anamika |
| 1977 | Adavi Ramudu | Telugu | |
| 1978 | Padaharella Vayasu | Telugu | Remake of Bharathi Raja's 16 Vayathinile (Tamil) |
| 1978 | Simha Baludu | Telugu | |
| 1978 | Radha Krishna | Telugu | |
| 1978 | KD No:1 | Telugu | |
| 1979 | Driver Ramudu | Telugu | |
| 1979 | Nindu Noorellu | Telugu | |
| 1979 | Vetagaadu | Telugu | |
| 1980 | Nippulaanti Nijam | Telugu | |
| 1980 | Nishana | Hindi | |
| 1980 | Bhale Krishnudu | Telugu | |
| 1980 | Gharana Donga | Telugu | |
| 1980 | Mosagadu | Telugu | |
| 1980 | Rowdy Ramudu Konte Krishnudu | Telugu | |
| 1981 | Satyabhama | Telugu | Remake of Tamil film Mouna Geethangal |
| 1981 | Ragile Jwala | Telugu | |
| 1981 | Gaja Donga | Telugu | |
| 1981 | Ooriki Monagadu | Telugu | |
| 1981 | Tirugu Leni Manishi | Telugu | |
| 1981 | Satyam Shivam | Telugu | |
| 1981 | Prema Kanuka | Telugu | |
| 1981 | Kondaveeti Simham | Telugu | |
| 1982 | Madhura Swapnam | Telugu | |
| 1982 | Trishulam | Telugu | |
| 1982 | Justice Chowdary | Telugu | |
| 1982 | Iddaru Kodukulu | Telugu | |
| 1982 | Farz Aur Kaanoon | Hindi | |
| 1982 | Devata | Telugu | |
| 1983 | Himmatwala | Hindi | |
| 1983 | Adavi Simhalu | Telugu | |
| 1983 | Jaani Dost | Hindi | |
| 1983 | Justice Chaudhury | Hindi | |
| 1983 | Shakthi | Telugu | |
| 1984 | Tohfa | Hindi | |
| 1984 | Bobbili Brahmanna | Telugu | |
| 1984 | Kaamyab | Hindi | |
| 1984 | Naya Kadam | Hindi | |
| 1984 | Iddaru Dongalu | Telugu | |
| 1985 | Hoshiyar | Hindi | |
| 1985 | Pattabhishekam | Telugu | |
| 1985 | Adavi Donga | Telugu | |
| 1985 | Masterji | Hindi | Remake of Tamil film Mundhanai Mudichu |
| 1985 | Mera Saathi | Hindi | |
| 1985 | Agni Parvatam | Telugu | |
| 1985 | Vajrayudham | Telugu | |
| 1986 | Apoorva Sahodarulu | Telugu | |
| 1986 | Kaliyuga Pandavulu | Telugu | |
| 1986 | Dharm Adhikari | Hindi | |
| 1986 | Ravana Brahma | Telugu | |
| 1986 | Kondaveeti Raja | Telugu | |
| 1986 | Suhaagan | Hindi | |
| 1986 | Chanakya Shapadham | Telugu | |
| 1987 | Bharatamlo Arjunudu | Telugu | |
| 1987 | Sahasa Samrat | Telugu | |
| 1987 | Agni Putrudu | Telugu | |
| 1988 | Janaki Ramudu | Telugu | |
| 1988 | Donga Ramudu | Telugu | |
| 1988 | Manchi Donga | Telugu | |
| 1988 | Aakhari Poratam | Telugu | |
| 1988 | Yuddha Bhoomi | Telugu | |
| 1989 | Agni | Telugu | |
| 1989 | Rudranetra | Telugu | |
| 1989 | Ontari Poratam | Telugu | |
| 1990 | Alludugaru | Telugu | |
| 1990 | Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari | Telugu | |
| 1991 | Coolie No.1 | Telugu | |
| 1991 | Rowdy Alludu | Telugu | |
| 1992 | Sundarakanda | Telugu | |
| 1992 | Allari Mogudu | Telugu | |
| 1992 | Gharana Mogudu | Telugu | remake of the Rajkumar's superhit Kannada film, Anuraga Aralithu |
| 1992 | Aswamedham | Telugu | |
| 1993 | Allari Priyudu | Telugu | |
| 1993 | Major Chandrakanth | Telugu | |
| 1994 | Allari Premikudu | Telugu | |
| 1994 | Muddula Priyudu | Telugu | |
| 1994 | Mugguru Monagallu | Telugu | |
| 1995 | Raja Simham | Telugu | |
| 1995 | Gharana Bullodu | Telugu | |
| 1996 | Sahasa Veerudu Sagara Kanya | Telugu | |
| 1996 | Bombay Priyudu | Telugu | |
| 1996 | Pelli Sandadi | Telugu | |
| 1997 | Annamayya | Telugu | |
| 1997 | Mere Sapno Ki Rani | Hindi | |
| 1998 | Shrimati Vellosta | Telugu | |
| 1998 | Love Story 1999 | Telugu | |
| 1998 | 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 |

### 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 |

### 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 |
| 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)
* 2010: Arundathi (ETV Kannada)
* 2013: Mangammagari Manavaralu (Zee telugu)
* 2014: Soundrya Lahari (ETV)
* 2016: Koyilamma (MAA TV)
* 2017: Sye Sye Sayyare (ETV)
* 2017: Agnisakshi (Star MAA)
* 2018: Siri Siri Muvvalu (Star MAA)
* 2020: C/o Anasuya (Star MAA)
* 2021: Krishna Tulasi (Zee telugu)