Dasari Narayana Rao

Dasari Narayana Rao
Rao in 2005
Minister of State for Coal and Mines
In office
23 May 2004 – 27 November 2004
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded byPrahlad Singh Patel
Succeeded byHimself
Minister of State for Coal
In office
27 November 2004 – 6 April 2008
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded byHimself
Succeeded bySantosh Bagrodia
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
3 April 2000 – 2 April 2012
ConstituencyAndhra Pradesh
Personal details
Born(1942-05-04)4 May 1942[1]
Palakollu, Madras Presidency, British India
Died30 May 2017(2017-05-30) (aged 75)
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
PartyIndian National Congress
SpouseDasari Padma
Children3 including Arun Kumar
Occupation
  • Film director
  • producer
  • screenwriter
  • actor
  • lyricist
  • politician
Awards
National Film Awards

Dasari Narayana Rao (4 May 1942 – 30 May 2017) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, actor, producer, lyricist, and politician, primarily known for his work in Telugu cinema. Over his four decade career, he directed more than 150 feature films, earning a Limca World Record for directing the most films in the world.[2] He was known by the epithet "Darsaka Ratna" (transl. "Jewel among directors") and was recognized for addressing social issues such as gender discrimination, casteism, corruption and injustice through his films. Narayana Rao received numerous accolades, including two National Film Awards, 16 Nandi Awards including the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, and five Filmfare Awards South including the Lifetime Achievement.[1]

In addition to his work in Telugu cinema, Narayana Rao directed notable Hindi films like Swarag Narak (1978), Jyoti Bane Jwala (1980), Aaj Kaa M.L.A. Ram Avtar (1984), Asha Jyoti (1984) and others.[3][4] He directed works such as Tandra Paparayudu (1986), and Surigaadu (1992) which were screened at International Film Festival of India in the Panorama section,[5][6] and Kante Koothurne Kanu (1998) which received the National Film Award Special Mention Feature Film in addition to a Kannada films. In 1983, he directed Meghasandesam which screened at the Indian Panorama, the Tashkent Film Festival, and the Moscow film festival. The film also won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu.[7][8] During his career he also acted in several Telugu and Tamil films.[9]

He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in the year 2000 and served as the Minister of state for Coal in the Manmohan Singh government.[10]

Film career

Prior to films, Dasari worked in theatre staging plays. He entered film industry to become an actor but worked as ghost writer for 25 films and made his debut as dialogue writer with Jagath Jatteelu (1970) however it was Mohammed Bin Thuqlaq which gave him recognition.[11]

Political career

In the late 1990s, Dasari Narayana Rao announced plans to launch a regional political party in Andhra Pradesh called Telugu Talli Party.[12] Dasari campaigned for the Indian National Congress (INC) during the 1996, 1998 and 1999 general elections.[13] He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in the year 2000. He became the Minister of State for Coal.[10] Said to be a confidante of Indian National Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Dasari once again became active in politics after INC came back to power in 2004.[14]

On 11 June 2013 the Central Bureau of Investigation booked Dasari Narayana Rao for receiving ₹2.25 crores from Naveen Jindal in connection with the Coal scam, and filed FIR against both.[15][16]

Business

He launched a popular daily Telugu-language newspaper, Udayam, to counter the influence of Ramoji Rao's newspaper Eenadu.[17][18]

Death

Dasari Narayana Rao died on 30 May 2017 from prolonged illness, at the age of 75.[19] His last rites were performed with full state honours. His funeral was held at his farmhouse in Moinabad village, Ranga Reddy district, where his wife Padma was cremated.[20]

Awards

National Film Awards
Filmfare Awards
Nandi Awards
CineMAA Awards
  • Lifetime Contribution – 2003
Other honours
  • Vamsee Berkeley, Kalasagar, Siromani, Madras Film Fans Awards and Cine Herald Awards
  • Jyothi Chitra Super Director Award – six times
  • Ancient Andhra Patrika Best Director Award – six times
  • Allu Ramalingaiah Memorial Award
  • Sobhan Babu first memorial award in 2009
  • Bollimunta Sivaramakrishna Sahithi Kala Award-2016
  • Doctorate "Kalaprapoorna" from Andhra University for his contribution to Telugu culture and Telugu cinema in 1986

Filmography

As director, writer, and producer

Year Film Credited as Language Notes
DirectorWriterProducer
1970Oke KutumbamAssociateTelugu
1971Vintha SamsaramAssociateTelugu
1972 Mohammed-bin-TughluqDialoguesTelugu
Hantakulu DevantakuluYesTelugu
MatrimoortiYesTelugu
1973 Panjaramlo PasipapaYesTelugu
Thatha-ManavaduYesYesTelugu
1974 Samsaram SagaramYesYesTelugu
Bantrothu BharyaYesYesTelugu
Evariki Vaare Yamuna TeereYesYesTelugu
Radhamma PelliYesYesTelugu
TirupatiYesYesTelugu
1975 Swargam NarakamYesYesTelugu
BalipeetamYesYesTelugu
Bharatamlo Oka AmmayiYesYesTelugu
Devude DigivasteYesYesTelugu
1976 Manushulanta OkkateYesYesTelugu
Muddabanti PuvvuYesYesTelugu
Thoorpu PadamaraYesYesTelugu
Yavvanam KatesindiYesYesTelugu
Paadavoyi BharateeyudaYesYesTelugu
1977 O Manishi Tirigi ChooduYesYesTelugu
BangarakkaYesYesTelugu
Chillarakottu ChittemmaYesYesTelugu
Idekkadi NyayamYesYesTelugu
Jeevitame Oka NatakamYesYesTelugu
Kanya - KumariYesYesTelugu
1978 Devadasu Malli PuttaduYesYesTelugu
Katakatala RudrayyaYesYesTelugu
SivaranjaniYesYesYesTelugu
Swarag NarakYesYesHindi
1979 GorintakuYesYesTelugu
KalyaniYesYesTelugu
Korikale Gurralayite?YesYesTelugu
NeedaYesYesTelugu
Peddillu ChinnilluYesYesTelugu
Ravanude Ramudayithe?YesYesTelugu
Rangoon RowdyYesYesTelugu
Kudi Edama AyiteYesTelugu
1980 Yeh Kaisa InsafYesYesHindi
Jyoti Bane JwalaYesYesHindi
Bandodu GundammaYesYesTelugu
Buchi BabuYesYesTelugu
Circus RamuduYesYesTelugu
Yedanthasthula MedaYesYesTelugu
KetugaaduYesYesTelugu
NatchathiramYesYesTamil
Sardar Papa RayuduYesYesTelugu
Sita RamuluYesYesTelugu
SujataYesTelugu
1981 SwapnaYesYesTelugu
DeeparadhanaYesYesTelugu
Paalu NeelluYesYesTelugu
Srivari MuchatluYesYesTelugu
ViswaroopamYesYesTelugu
Pyaasa SawanYesYesHindi
SangeetaYesYesTelugu
Addala MedaYesYesTelugu
PremabhishekamYesYesTelugu
Prema MandiramYesYesTelugu
1982 Bobbili PuliYesYesTelugu
Golconda AbbuluYesYesTelugu
JayasudhaYesYesYesTelugu
KrishnarjunuluYesYesTelugu
Mehndi Rang LayegiYesYesHindi
O Aadadi O MagaduYesYesTelugu
Raaga DeepamYesYesTelugu
SwayamvaramYesYesTelugu
YuvarajuYesYesTelugu
MeghasandesamYesYesYesTelugu
Bangaaru KodukuYesTelugu
1983 Prem TapasyaYesYesHindi
Bahudoorapu BatasariYesYesYesTelugu
M.L.A. YedukondaluYesYesTelugu
Police VenkataswamiYesYesTelugu
Ramudu Kadu KrishnuduYesYesTelugu
RudrakaliYesYesTelugu
Oorantha SankranthiYesYesTelugu
1984 Bhola ShankaruduYesYesTelugu
Aaj Kaa M.L.A. Ram AvtarYesYesHindi
Asha JyotiYesYesHindi
HaisiyatYesYesHindi
YaadgaarYesYesHindi
Zakhmi SherYesYesHindi
AbhimanyuduYesYesTelugu
JaganYesYesTelugu
Justice ChakravarthyYesYesYesTelugu
Police PapannaYesYesKannada
YuddhamYesYesTelugu
1985 SarfaroshYesYesHindi
WafadaarYesYesHindi
Brahma MudiYesYesTelugu
Edadugula BandhamYesYesTelugu
LanchavataramYesYesTelugu
Pelli Meeku Akshintalu NaakuYesYesYesTelugu
TirugubatuYesYesTelugu
1986 Aadi DampatuluYesYesTelugu
Dharma Peetham DaddarillindiYesYesTelugu
Tandra PaparayuduYesYesTelugu
Ugra NarasimhamYesYesYesTelugu
Nampally NaguYesTelugu
1987 Aatma BandhuvuluYesYesTelugu
Brahma NayuduYesYesTelugu
MajnuYesYesYesTelugu
Nene Raju Nene MantriYesYesTelugu
Viswanatha NayakuduYesYesTelugu
Rotation ChakravartiYesYesTelugu
Ayyappa Swami Janma RahasyamYesTelugu
1988 Brahma PuthruduYesYesTelugu
Kanchana SitaYesYesTelugu
Praja PratinidhiYesYesTelugu
Intinti BhagavatamYesTelugu
1989 LankeswaruduYesYesTelugu
Black TigerYesYesTelugu
Naa Mogudu Naake SonthamYesYesTelugu
Two Town RowdyYesYesTelugu
1990 AbhisarikaYesYesTelugu
Mama AlluduYesTelugu
1991 Amma RajinamaYesYesTelugu
NiyantaYesYesTelugu
Ramudu Kadu RakshasuduYesYesTelugu
1992 AhankaariYesYesTelugu
SurigaaduYesYesTelugu
Subba Rayudi PelliYesYesTelugu
Venkanna BabuYesYesTelugu
1993 SantaanYesYesHindi
Akka Pettanam Chelleli KapuramYesYesTelugu
Kunti PutruduYesYesTelugu
Mama KodaluYesYesTelugu
1994 Bangaru KutumbamYesYesTelugu
NannagaaruYesYesTelugu
1995 Kondapalli RattayyaYesYesTelugu
Maya BazaarYesYesTelugu
Orey RikshawYesYesYesTelugu
1996Rayudugaru NayudugaruYesYesYesTelugu
1997 Osey RamulammaYesYesYesTelugu
Rowdy DurbarYesYesYesTelugu
1998Greeku VeeruduYesYesYesTelugu
1999Pichodi Chetilo RaayiYesYesTelugu
2000 Adavi ChukkaYesYesTelugu
Kante Koothurne KanuYesYesYesTelugu
Sammakka SarakkaYesYesYesTelugu
2001ChinnaYesYesYesTelugu
2002 Kondaveeti SimhasanamYesYesYesTelugu
RiflesYesYesYesTelugu
2003FoolsYesYesTelugu
2007 Aadivaram Aadavallaku SelavuYesTelugu
Maisamma IPSYesTelugu
2008 PremabhishekamYesTelugu
AdivishnuYesTelugu
2009 MestriYesTelugu
Bangaru BabuYesTelugu
2010Young IndiaYesYesTeluguAlso choreographer
2011Parama Veera ChakraYesYesTelugu
2014Erra BusYesScreenplayYesTelugu

Actor

Lyricist

Television

Director
  • Vishwamitra (1989)
  • Thoorpu Padamara (2007-2010)
  • Abhishekam (2008-2017)
  • Shivaranjani (2010-2011)
  • Kumkuma Rekha (2010-2013)
Producer
  • Abhishekam (ETV)
  • Gokulamlo Sita (ETV)

References

  1. 1 2 Hooli, Shekhar H (31 May 2017). "Dasari Narayana Rao's death marks the end of an era in Telugu film industry". International Business Times.
  2. ↑ K Rajani Kanth (13 June 2013). "Newsmaker: Dasari Narayana Rao". Business Standard.
  3. ↑ "Dasari Narayana Rao passes away: Best films of the multifaceted filmmaker". The Indian Express. 30 May 2017.
  4. ↑ "Dasari Narayana Rao - the Bollywood side of his multi-faceted career". The Times of India. 30 May 2017. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  5. ↑ "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). iffi.nic.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). iffi.nic.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  7. ↑ 30 June 2011 – Ranjana Dave (30 June 2011). "The meaning in movement". The Asian Age. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ Dr. DasariNarayanarao Open Heart With RK Abn Andhrajyothy on YouTube
  9. ↑ "Dasari Narayana Rao lashes out". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 May 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Digital Sansad" (PDF). rajyasabha.nic.in. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  11. ↑ "Keen on providing realistic fare". The Hindu. 19 June 1998. Archived from the original on 8 October 1999. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  12. ↑ "Rediff On The NeT : The Rediff Interview/ Dasari Narayana Rao". m.rediff.com. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  13. ↑ "From films to Rajya Sabha: Dasari Rao a man with many hats". The Economic Times. 12 June 2013. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  14. ↑ "Dasari Narayana Rao portfolio changed". The Hindu Business Line.
  15. ↑ "Coalgate Scam: CBI files FIR accusing Naveen Jindal and Dasari Narayan Rao of fraud". timesofindia-economictimes.
  16. ↑ "Dasari Narayana Rao/article5934080.ece?homepage=true". The Hindu.
  17. ↑ "Union Minister Dasari Narayana Rao's son kidnapped – Hindustan Times". Archived from the original on 15 July 2015.
  18. ↑ "'Tata Manavadu': Telugu movie completes 40 years". IBNLive. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014.
  19. ↑ "Tollywood director and former Union minister Dasari Narayana Rao dies at 75". The Times of India. 30 May 2017.
  20. ↑ "Dasari Narayana Rao gets rare state honour on his last rites". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  21. ↑ Sobhan received best actor award for Jeevanajyoti
  22. ↑ "NTR National Award to Dasari Narayana Rao and Raghupathi Venkaiah Award to Tammareddy Krishnamurthy for 2007". Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  23. ↑ "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 21 August 2020.(in Telugu)
  24. ↑ "The Indian Express - Google News Archive Search".
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