Kamalakara Kameswara Rao (14 October 1911 – 29 June 1998) was an Indian film director known for his works predominantly in

Telugu cinema Telugu cinema, also known as Tollywood, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Telugu language, widely spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Telugu cinema is based in Film Nagar, Hy ...

, and a few

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...

and

Hindi film Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...

s. Widely known as ''Pauranika Chitra Brahma'' (), Kameswara Rao directed fifty

feature films A feature film or feature-length film is a narrative film (motion picture or "movie") with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation in a commercial entertainment program. The term ''feature film'' originall ...

in a variety of genres. In 1960 he directed the

biographical film A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of a non-fictional or historically-based person or people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from docudra ...

, ''

Mahakavi Kalidasu ''Mahakavi Kalidasu'' is a 1960 Indian Telugu-language biographical film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao and written by Pingali. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Sriranjani Jr., with music composed by Pendyala. It was produced by K. Na ...

'' which won the President's silver medal for Best Feature Film in Telugu. In 1962 he directed ''

Gundamma Katha ''Gundamma Katha'' () is a 1962 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao and co-produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani under their banner Vijaya Productions. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Ra ...

'' which was commercially successful and received the

Filmfare Award for Best Film – Telugu The Filmfare Award for Best Film – Telugu is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Telugu films. The award was first given in 1964 for films released around 1963. Here is a list of the award winners a ...

. In the same year, he directed another

, '' Mahamantri Timmarusu'' which won the President's silver medal for Best Feature Film in Telugu at the 10th National Film Awards. In 1963, Rao directed the

blockbuster Blockbuster or Block Buster may refer to: *Blockbuster (entertainment) a term coined for an extremely successful movie, from which most other uses are derived. Corporations * Blockbuster (retailer), a defunct video and game rental chain ** Bl ...

, epic mythological film ''

Nartanasala Nartanasala may refer to: * Nartanasala (1963 film) ''Nartanasala'' () is a 1963 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao and written by Samudrala Sr. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Savitri, S. V. Ranga ...

''. The film is cited among ''

CNN-IBN CNN-News18 (originally CNN-IBN) is an Indian English-language news television channel founded by Raghav Bahl based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is currently co-owned by Network18 Group and Warner Bros. Discovery. CNN provides internationa ...

s list of the hundred greatest Indian films of all time. The film has received wide critical acclaim and has garnered the

National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film The National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film was one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India. It was one of several a ...

at the 11th National Film Awards, and has secured the Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Film.

Life sketch

He was born in 1911 in

Machilipatnam Machilipatnam (), also known as Masulipatnam and Bandar, is a city in Krishna district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipal corporation and the administrative headquarters of Krishna district. It is also the Tehsil, mandal he ...

. He has completed Bachelor of Arts from the Noble College, Machilipatnam. He has worked as a Film journalist for Krishna Patrika between 1934 and 1937. His unbiased reviews about the released films are highly appreciated by the audiences. On invitation from H. M. Reddy, he has reached

Madras Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

. He has joined as assistant director and worked with K. V. Reddy and

Moola Narayana Swamy Moola Narayana Swamy ( 20 August 1950) was an Indian businessman and film producer known for his works in Telugu cinema. He owned several businesses such as Rayalaseema Bank, Rayalaseema Textiles, Cuddapah Ceramics, Cuddapah Electric Company, o ...

for the film '' Gruhalakshmi'' in 1938. He has worked as assistant director for the films ''Vande Mataram'', '' Sumangali'', ''Devatha'' and ''Swarga Seema'' under

Bomireddi Narasimha Reddy Bommireddy Narasimha Reddy (16 November 1908 – 8 November 1977), professionally known as B. N. Reddy, was an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was an early figure in the Telugu cinema. Many of his earlier films like ''Vand ...

and for ''Bhakta Potana'' and ''Yogi Vemana'' under K. V. Reddy. After observing him closely, Vijaya Productions has given the responsibility of independently direct ''

Chandraharam ''Chandraharam'' is a 1954 Telugu-Tamil bilingual swashbuckler film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao in his debut. It was produced by Nagi Reddy-Chakrapani under the Vijaya Productions banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Savitri and Sriran ...

'' in 1954 which was not commercially successful. He has left Vijaya Productions in 1955. He has directed about 30 films of National Art Theatres, Rajyam Pictures, Ponnaloori Brothers, Padmalaya Pictures, Mahija pictures and Suresh Productions over the period of three decades. He used to describe the film ''

'' (1963) as his best directoral work, which won many National and International awards.

Death

Rao died at the age of 88 years on 29 June 1998 due to cardiac arrest.

Filmography

Director

* ''

'' (Telugu & Tamil) (1954) * ''

Guna Sundari ''Guna Sundari'' or ''Gunasundari'' is a 1955 Indian Tamil-language film starring Gemini Ganesan and Savitri. The film was remake of the 1949 Telugu film ''Gunasundari Katha''. It was not successful at the box office. Plot Ugra Senan is the k ...

'' (Tamil) (1955) * ''

Penki Pellam ''Penki Pellam'' ( stubborn wife) is a 1956 Telugu-language drama film, produced by D. B. Narayana and S. Bhavanarayana under the Sahini Art Productions banner and directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Rajasulochana, Sr ...

'' (1956) * ''

Panduranga Mahatyam ''Panduranga Mahatyam'' () is a 1957 Indian Telugu-language biographical film, based on the life of Pundarika, produced by N. Trivikrama Rao under the National Art Theatres banner and directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Ra ...

'' (1957) * '' Sobha'' (1958) * '' Raja Sevai'' (1959) * ''

Rechukka Pagatichukka ''Rechukka Pagatichukka'' () is a 1959 Indian Telugu language, Telugu-language swashbuckler film, produced by N. Trivikrama Rao and directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Sowcar Janaki and S. V. Ranga Rao, with music comp ...

'' (1959) * ''

'' (Telugu & Tamil) (1960) * '' Mahamantri Timmarusu'' (1962) * ''

'' (1962) * '' Narthanasala'' (1963) * '' Pandava Vanavasamu'' (1965) * '' Shakuntala'' (1966) * '' Sri Krishna Tulabharam'' (Telugu & Tamil) (1966) * ''Kambojaraju Katha'' (1967) * '' Sri Krishnavataram'' (Telugu & Tamil) (1967) * ''Kalasina Manushulu'' (1968) * '' Veeranjaneya'' (1968) * ''

Mayani Mamata ''Mayani Mamata'' () is a 1970 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by Bhamidipati Bapaiah Panthulu under the Bhavani Pictures banner and directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, B. Saroja Devi and Sobhan Babu, with ...

'' (1970) * ''

Sri Krishna Vijayamu ''Sri Krishna Vijayamu'' () is a 1971 Indian Telugu language, Telugu-language Hindu mythological film produced by M. S. Reddy under the Kaumudi Art Pictures banner and directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao and Jayalalith ...

'' (1970) * '' Bala Bharatam'' (1972) * ''Jeevitaashayam'' (1974) * '' Kurukshetram'' (1977) * '' Seetha Rama Vanavasam'' (1977) * ''

Gnana Kuzhandhai ''Gnana Kuzhandhai'' () is a 1979 Indian Tamil-language Hindu mythological film, directed by K. Kameshwara Rao and written by Era. Pazhanisamy. Music was by K. V. Mahadevan. The film stars Baby Sudha and Master Sridhar, with Gemini Ganesan ...

'' (1979) * ''

Sri Vinayaka Vijayamu ''Sri Vinayaka Vijayamu'' is a 1979 Telugu-language Hindu mythological film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao and produced by Jagarlamudi Radhakrishna Murthy under Jaganmatha Arts. The film stars Krishnam Raju, Rama Krishna, Vanisri, M. G. V. ...

'' (1980) * ''Sri Vasavi Kanyaka Parameswari Mahatyam'' (1980) * '' Deiva Thirumanangal'' (1981) (Valli Thirumanam part only) * ''Ekalavya'' (1982) * ''Santoshi Mata Vrata Mahatmyamu'' (1983) * ''Badarinatha Darshanam'' (1985) * '' Sri Datta Darsanam'' (1985) * ''Ashtalakshmi Vaibhavamu'' (1986) * ''Devi Navagraha Nayaki'' (1986) * ''Edu Kondalaswami'' (1991)

Assistant director

* '' Gruhalakshmi'' (1938) * ''Vande Mataram'' (1939) * '' Sumangali'' (1940) * ''

Devatha ''Devata'' (pl: ''devatas'', meaning 'the gods') (Devanagari: देवता; Khmer: ទេវតា (''tevoda''); Thai: เทวดา (''tevada''); Javanese, Balinese, Sundanese, Malay: ''dewata''; Batak languages: ''debata'' (Toba) ...

'' (1941) * ''

Bhakta Potana ''Bhakta Potana'' is a 1943 Telugu-language biographical film directed by K. V. Reddy in his directorial debut. Based on the life of poet-saint Potana who translated Bhagavatham into Telugu language, the film was scripted by Samudrala Sr. The f ...

'' (1942) * '' Swargaseema'' (1945) * ''

Yogi Vemana Vemana, popularly known as Yogi Vemana, was an Indian philosopher and poet in the Telugu language. His poems are known for their use of simple language and native idioms. They discuss the subjects of yoga, wisdom and morality. Early life and ...

'' (1947) * ''

Gunasundari Katha ''Gunasundari Katha'' is a 1949 Indian Telugu language fantasy film produced and directed by K. V. Reddy, starring Sriranjani, Kasturi Siva Rao, Santha Kumari. The script was written by Pingali Nagendra Rao, K. V. Reddy, and Kamalakara Kameswa ...

'' (1949) * ''

Patala Bhairavi ''Pathala Bhairavi'' () is a 1951 Indian fantasy film directed by K. V. Reddy who co-wrote the film with Pingali (writer), Pingali and Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. Shot simultaneously in Telugu language, Telugu and Tamil language, Tamil languages ...

'' (1951) * ''

'' (1955)

Awards

;

National Film Awards The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorat ...

in 1964 -

. * 1962: President's silver medal for Best Feature Film in Telugu - '' Mahamantri Timmarusu'' * 1960: President's silver medal for Best Feature Film in Telugu - ''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, Kamalakara Kameswara Telugu film directors 1911 births 1998 deaths 20th-century Indian film directors People from Krishna district Film directors from Andhra Pradesh People from Machilipatnam