# E. V. V. Satyanarayana
**E. V. V. Satyanarayana** (ఇ.వి.వి. సత్యనారాయణ; full name Eedara Veera Venkata Satyanarayana; 1956 – 21 January 2011) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked mainly in [Telugu cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/telugu-cinema) and was known for comedy and melodrama films[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIhiLmIzR2Y). He directed 51 films in Telugu and Hindi, including the Hindi film *[Sooryavansham](https://www.edgepedia.org/sooryavansham)* with [Amitabh Bachchan](https://www.edgepedia.org/amitabh-bachchan) in the lead[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Tollywood-bids-adieu-to-EVV/articleshow/7344161.cms), and introduced many actors and writers to Telugu cinema[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIhiLmIzR2Y).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Eedara Veera Venkata Satyanarayana[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Tollywood-bids-adieu-to-EVV/articleshow/7344161.cms) |
| Born / died | 1956, Dommeru, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh; 21 January 2011, Hyderabad[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004466/) |
| Career span | Debut as director with *Chevilo Puvvu* (1990); last film *Katti Kanta Rao* (2010)[4](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/evv-satyanarayana-unveiling-telugu-cinemas-humour-king-1865358.html/amp) |
| Films directed | 51 films per obituary and studio accounts; one retrospective account gives 52[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Tollywood-bids-adieu-to-EVV/articleshow/7344161.cms) • [4](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/evv-satyanarayana-unveiling-telugu-cinemas-humour-king-1865358.html/amp) |
| Training | About 8 years as assistant, associate, and co-director under Jandhyala, working on 22 films[5](https://thebetterandhra.com/telugu/telugu-cinema/the-director-who-brought-smiles-to-the-telugu-screen-e-v-v-satyanarayana/) |
| Signature comedies | *Appula Appa Rao*, *Aa Okkati Adakku*, *Jambalakidi Pamba*, *Hello Brother*, *Alluda Majaaka*[6](https://www.teluguone.com/tmdb/celebritybiography/e-v-v-satyanarayana-en-351.html) |
| Production company | E. V. V. Cinema, established in 2000[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIhiLmIzR2Y) |
| Family | Sons Aryan Rajesh and Allari Naresh, both actors[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004466/) |
## Early life and apprenticeship
Satyanarayana was born in 1956 in Dommeru, in the West Godavari district of [Andhra Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/andhra-pradesh), into an agricultural family[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004466/) • [7](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/celebs/e-v-v-satyanarayana.html). He was more interested in films than in school from childhood, watching two films a day, and his formal education ended with the tenth grade[4](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/evv-satyanarayana-unveiling-telugu-cinemas-humour-king-1865358.html/amp). At 19, in 1976, he married Saraswati Kumari; the couple later had two sons, Rajesh and Naresh[7](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/celebs/e-v-v-satyanarayana.html).
His entry into the film industry came as an apprentice on *O Inti Bhagotham*, produced by Navata Krishnamraju and directed by Devadas Kanakala[4](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/evv-satyanarayana-unveiling-telugu-cinemas-humour-king-1865358.html/amp). He then joined the comedy director Jandhyala Subramanya Shastry, whose films include *Nalugu Sthambalata* and *Aha Naa Pellanta*, and worked as assistant director, associate director, and co-director on about 22 films over roughly eight years[5](https://thebetterandhra.com/telugu/telugu-cinema/the-director-who-brought-smiles-to-the-telugu-screen-e-v-v-satyanarayana/). His assistant and associate credits from this period include *Aha Naa Pellanta* (1987), *Hai Hai Nayaka* (1989), and *Indrudu Chandrudu* (1989)[8](https://earlytollywood.blogspot.com/2008/01/e-v-v-satyanarayana.html).
## Directing career
**Debut and first success.** Producer D. Ramanaidu of Suresh Productions gave Satyanarayana his directing chance with *Chevilo Puvvu* (1990), which was a major flop and left him so discouraged that he considered leaving the industry[6](https://www.teluguone.com/tmdb/celebritybiography/e-v-v-satyanarayana-en-351.html). Ramanaidu then produced *Prema Khaidi* (1990), which succeeded in all centers and became his first hit[6](https://www.teluguone.com/tmdb/celebritybiography/e-v-v-satyanarayana-en-351.html). From that second film through *Hello Brother* (1994), one account credits him with eleven consecutive hits[4](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/evv-satyanarayana-unveiling-telugu-cinemas-humour-king-1865358.html/amp).
Following his guru Jandhyala, he built his career on comedy, starting with *Appula Appa Rao* (1991), then *Aa Okkati Adakku* (1993) and *Jambalakidi Pamba* (1993)[6](https://www.teluguone.com/tmdb/celebritybiography/e-v-v-satyanarayana-en-351.html). His other films include *Hello Brother*, *Alluda Majaka*, *Intlo Illalu Vantintlo Priyuralu*, *Goppinti Alludu*, and *Vaarasudu*, along with the Hindi *Sooryavansham* starring Amitabh Bachchan and [Soundarya](https://www.edgepedia.org/soundarya)[6](https://www.teluguone.com/tmdb/celebritybiography/e-v-v-satyanarayana-en-351.html). He also directed critically regarded films such as *Aame*, *Thali*, *Kanyaadhaanam*, and *Ammo Okato Tariku*[6](https://www.teluguone.com/tmdb/celebritybiography/e-v-v-satyanarayana-en-351.html).
He worked with the leading Telugu stars of his era, including [Krishna](https://www.edgepedia.org/krishna-telugu-actor), Sobhan Babu, Chiranjeevi, Mohan Babu, Balakrishna, Nagarjuna, and Venkatesh[4](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/evv-satyanarayana-unveiling-telugu-cinemas-humour-king-1865358.html/amp). He also directed [Pawan Kalyan](https://www.edgepedia.org/pawan-kalyan)'s first film, *Akkada Ammayi Ikkada Abbayi* (1996)[9](https://www.chitrajyothy.com/2025/tollywood/comedy-king-evv-satyanarayana-birthday-special-avm-63623.html).
A retrospective tally in *The Better Andhra* puts his record at 28 successes, 12 failures, and 5 average films among the 45 films it counts[5](https://thebetterandhra.com/telugu/telugu-cinema/the-director-who-brought-smiles-to-the-telugu-screen-e-v-v-satyanarayana/).
## Jambalakidi Pamba
*Jambalakidi Pamba* (1993) became one of his defining films, built on the then-novel concept of men and women swapping roles[10](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/producers-pulla-rao-bhagavan-reveals-facts-behind-evv-satyanarayana-jambalakidi-pamba-censor-rejection-to-blockbuster-success-1836537.html/amp). According to its producers J. Pulla Rao and J. Bhagavan, Satyanarayana had carried the idea for a long time; while working under Jandhyala he had used a gender-swap backdrop in the title sequence of *Mogudu Pellala* and that response inspired the full story[10](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/producers-pulla-rao-bhagavan-reveals-facts-behind-evv-satyanarayana-jambalakidi-pamba-censor-rejection-to-blockbuster-success-1836537.html/amp).
The project nearly stalled in story discussions until the writer Divakar Babu entered. He proposed a screenplay in which the story begins normally and the characters change under the influence of a medicine, converted the existing first half into the second half, and wrote a new first half; he also suggested the title itself, replacing Satyanarayana's working title "Reverse Gear"[10](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/producers-pulla-rao-bhagavan-reveals-facts-behind-evv-satyanarayana-jambalakidi-pamba-censor-rejection-to-blockbuster-success-1836537.html/amp). After the first print, preview audiences objected that the concept was hard to understand, and the censor board raised objections; the producers went to the revising committee, whose chairman Subrahmanyam Reddy watched the film, praised it, and issued a clean certificate[10](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/producers-pulla-rao-bhagavan-reveals-facts-behind-evv-satyanarayana-jambalakidi-pamba-censor-rejection-to-blockbuster-success-1836537.html/amp). The film became a major success, and the producers credit it as a turning point in the career of its hero, Naresh[10](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/producers-pulla-rao-bhagavan-reveals-facts-behind-evv-satyanarayana-jambalakidi-pamba-censor-rejection-to-blockbuster-success-1836537.html/amp).
## Comedy style and legacy
Satyanarayana's comedy tracks became an identity of their own in his films, often driving repeat value and audience engagement[11](https://m.dailyhunt.in/news/india/english/mirchi%2B9-epaper-mirchi/where%2Bdid%2Bcomedy%2Bgo%2Btelugu%2Bcinemas%2Bmissing%2Bentertainment%2Bfactor-newsid-n709572772). A Telugu360 retrospective on situational comedy places him as the director who carried the trend of well-crafted comedy flicks through the 1990s, before the new-generation filmmakers of the 2000s such as Srinu Vaitla and [Trivikram Srinivas](https://www.edgepedia.org/trivikram-srinivas) brought a different style[12](https://www.telugu360.com/comeback-of-situational-comedy-in-telugu-cinema/). A recurring device in his comedy films was cross-connections between male and female characters, alongside message-oriented elements in his masala films[13](https://www.cinejosh.com/news/1/7599/evv-loves-cross-connections.html).
He was also known for encouraging new talent. The writers L. B. Sriram and M. S. Narayana became comic actors with his encouragement, with breaks in *Chala Bagundi* and *Maa Nannaki Pelli* respectively[4](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/evv-satyanarayana-unveiling-telugu-cinemas-humour-king-1865358.html/amp). He took particular care over his films' titles, believing catchy titles drew audiences to theaters; *Jambalakidi Pamba*, *Aa Okkati Adakku*, *Evandi Aavida Vachindi*, *Bendu Apparao RMP*, and *Katti Kanta Rao* are examples[4](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/evv-satyanarayana-unveiling-telugu-cinemas-humour-king-1865358.html/amp).
In 2000 he established his own production company, E. V. V. Cinema[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIhiLmIzR2Y), and turned to successful production under that banner starting with *Chala Bagundi*[6](https://www.teluguone.com/tmdb/celebritybiography/e-v-v-satyanarayana-en-351.html). In the last stage of his life he directed most of his films with his sons in lead roles: he introduced his elder son Aryan Rajesh as hero with *Hai* (2002), and made films with his younger son [Allari Naresh](https://www.edgepedia.org/allari-naresh) including *Kitakitalu*, *Attili Sattibabu LKG*, *Bendu Apparao RMP*, *Fitting Master*, and *Katti Kanta Rao*[9](https://www.chitrajyothy.com/2025/tollywood/comedy-king-evv-satyanarayana-birthday-special-avm-63623.html). Allari Naresh became a well-known comedy hero in the Telugu industry[6](https://www.teluguone.com/tmdb/celebritybiography/e-v-v-satyanarayana-en-351.html).
## Death
Satyanarayana died in [Hyderabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/hyderabad) late on the night of 21 January 2011, at the age of 54[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004466/) • [2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Tollywood-bids-adieu-to-EVV/articleshow/7344161.cms). Family members told NDTV he died of cardiac arrest[14](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/popular-telugu-film-director-e-v-v-satyanarayana-passes-away-618204), while [IndiaGlitz](https://www.edgepedia.org/indiaglitz) reported that he died of throat cancer at [Apollo Hospitals](https://www.edgepedia.org/apollo-hospitals)[15](https://indiaglitz.com/content-telugu-news-63294). His death left the Telugu film industry in mourning, with several artistes weeping at his funeral[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Tollywood-bids-adieu-to-EVV/articleshow/7344161.cms).
## References
1. [SP Alumni Series: Director E. V. V. Satyanarayana Garu, Suresh Productions (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIhiLmIzR2Y)
2. [Tollywood bids adieu to EVV, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Tollywood-bids-adieu-to-EVV/articleshow/7344161.cms)
3. [E.V.V. Satyanarayana, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004466/)
4. [EVV Satyanarayana: Unveiling Telugu Cinema's Humour King, TV9 Telugu](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/evv-satyanarayana-unveiling-telugu-cinemas-humour-king-1865358.html/amp)
5. [The director who brought smiles to the Telugu screen: E.V.V. Satyanarayana, The Better Andhra](https://thebetterandhra.com/telugu/telugu-cinema/the-director-who-brought-smiles-to-the-telugu-screen-e-v-v-satyanarayana/)
6. [Satyanarayana EVV biography, TeluguOne](https://www.teluguone.com/tmdb/celebritybiography/e-v-v-satyanarayana-en-351.html)
7. [ఇవివి సత్యనారాయణ biography, Filmibeat Telugu](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/celebs/e-v-v-satyanarayana.html)
8. [E V V SATYANARAYANA, Early Tollywood](https://earlytollywood.blogspot.com/2008/01/e-v-v-satyanarayana.html)
9. [EVV Satyanarayana: నవ్వుల నారాయణ!, Chitrajyothy](https://www.chitrajyothy.com/2025/tollywood/comedy-king-evv-satyanarayana-birthday-special-avm-63623.html)
10. [Producers Pulla Rao, Bhagavan reveal facts behind Jambalakidi Pamba, TV9 Telugu](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/producers-pulla-rao-bhagavan-reveals-facts-behind-evv-satyanarayana-jambalakidi-pamba-censor-rejection-to-blockbuster-success-1836537.html/amp)
11. [Where Did Comedy Go? Telugu Cinema's Missing Entertainment Factor, Dailyhunt](https://m.dailyhunt.in/news/india/english/mirchi%2B9-epaper-mirchi/where%2Bdid%2Bcomedy%2Bgo%2Btelugu%2Bcinemas%2Bmissing%2Bentertainment%2Bfactor-newsid-n709572772)
12. [Comeback of Situational Comedy in Telugu Cinema, Telugu360](https://www.telugu360.com/comeback-of-situational-comedy-in-telugu-cinema/)
13. [EVV loves cross connections!, CineJosh](https://www.cinejosh.com/news/1/7599/evv-loves-cross-connections.html)
14. [Popular Telugu film director E V V Satyanarayana passes away, NDTV](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/popular-telugu-film-director-e-v-v-satyanarayana-passes-away-618204)
15. [Director EVV is no more, IndiaGlitz](https://indiaglitz.com/content-telugu-news-63294)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Directors, producers, and screenwriters › Indian and South Asian film directors › Telugu cinema directors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license