K. Raghavendra Rao

Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao (born 23 May 1942) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema besides having directed a few Hindi films. He has garnered four state Nandi Awards and five Filmfare Awards South. In a film career spanning more than four decades, Rao has directed more than a hundred feature films across multiple genres such as romantic comedy, fantasy, melodrama, action thriller, biographical and romance films.

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. 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 inr 100000000 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)

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)