# K. Raghavendra Rao
**K. Raghavendra Rao** (Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao, కె. రాఘవేంద్రరావు; born 1942) is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, and choreographer known for his work predominantly in [Telugu cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/telugu-cinema), with additional films in Hindi and Kannada[1](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/k-raghavendra-rao). In a career spanning more than five decades he has directed more than a hundred feature films, of which around ninety were box office hits, across genres including romantic comedy, fantasy, melodrama, action thriller, biographical, and romance[1](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/k-raghavendra-rao). IMDb counts 110 films directed and more than 25 produced in various Indian languages[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706484/?showAllCredits=true).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1942, Kolavennu, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706484/?showAllCredits=true) |
| Family | Son of director K.S. Prakash Rao; his son Prakash Kovelamudi is also a filmmaker[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706484/?showAllCredits=true) |
| Output | 110 films directed, over 25 produced; around ninety of his directed films were box office hits[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706484/?showAllCredits=true) • [1](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/k-raghavendra-rao) |
| Signature star pairings | 12 films with N.T. Rama Rao, 17 with Sridevi, 8 with Chiranjeevi[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706484/?showAllCredits=true) |
| Signature devotional films | Annamayya (1997), Sri Ramadasu, Shiridi Sai, Om Namo Venkatesaya (2017), all with Nagarjuna[3](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/news/om-namo-venkatesaya-k-raghavendra-rao-interview-056509.html) |
| Major honors | Two National Film Awards for Annamayya (1997); National Award for Bommalaata (2004); B.N. Reddy National Award (2009); NTR National Award (2015)[4](https://aanaadu.com/story/raghavendra-rao/) |
| Commercial milestone | Gharana Mogudu (1992) was the first Telugu film to cross ten crore rupees in collections[4](https://aanaadu.com/story/raghavendra-rao/) |
## Early life and entry into cinema
Rao was born in 1942 in the village of Kolavennu, in the Kankipadu mandal of [Krishna district](https://www.edgepedia.org/krishna-district), [Andhra Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/andhra-pradesh), in the household of director Kovelamudi Surya Prakasha Rao[4](https://aanaadu.com/story/raghavendra-rao/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706484/?showAllCredits=true). In an interview with Andhrajyothy, he said he entered the industry with *Pandava Vanavasam*, where he gave the first clap for N.T. Rama Rao, and worked as an assistant director on his father's film *Stree Janma*, which starred NTR and [Krishna](https://www.edgepedia.org/krishna-telugu-actor) together for the first time[5](https://www.andhrajyothy.com/2025/navya/man-behind-37-hero-collaborations-and-77-heroines-is-legendary-director-k-raghavendra-rao-1400468.html). Producer D. Rama Naidu, having noticed his work on that set, offered him his first picture, a plan his father initially deferred[5](https://www.andhrajyothy.com/2025/navya/man-behind-37-hero-collaborations-and-77-heroines-is-legendary-director-k-raghavendra-rao-1400468.html).
## Career
**Debut and rise.** Rao debuted as a director with *Babu*, starring Shobhan Babu, in 1975[4](https://aanaadu.com/story/raghavendra-rao/). He won the Filmfare Best Director award for *Prema Lekhalu* in 1977[4](https://aanaadu.com/story/raghavendra-rao/). His star alliance with N.T. Rama Rao yielded *Adavi Ramudu*; Rao has said that after that film's songs, particularly "Aareesukoboyi Paareesukunna" and "Ammatodu Abbathodu", became historic, he rose to become a top director[5](https://www.andhrajyothy.com/2025/navya/man-behind-37-hero-collaborations-and-77-heroines-is-legendary-director-k-raghavendra-rao-1400468.html). According to a Maagulf profile, *Adavi Ramudu* remains the only film to have celebrated a golden jubilee in all four main Telugu trade areas, Andhra, Ceded, Nizam, and Uttarandhra[6](https://www.maagulf.com/view/102295/stories/about-raghavender-rao).
**The 1980s and 1990s.** Rao won the Nandi Award for Best Director for *Bobbili Brahmana* in 1984, and the Filmfare Best Director award for *Jagadeka Veeruni Aatalokasundari* in 1990[4](https://aanaadu.com/story/raghavendra-rao/). In 1992 his *Gharana Mogudu* became the first Telugu film to cross ten crore rupees in collections[4](https://aanaadu.com/story/raghavendra-rao/). He won [Nandi Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/nandi-awards) as both Best Director and Best Choreographer for *Pelli Sandadi* in 1996[4](https://aanaadu.com/story/raghavendra-rao/). In [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema) his directorial work included *Justice Chaudhury*, *[Himmatwala](https://www.edgepedia.org/himmatwala-1983-film)*, *Jaani Dost*, and *Tohfa*, all released in 1983[7](https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/kovelamudi-raghavendra-rao-nm-29406/movies). As a producer his credits include *Mrigayaa* (1976), *Itni Si Baat* (1981), *Naya Kadam* (1984), and *Morning Raaga*[7](https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/kovelamudi-raghavendra-rao-nm-29406/movies).
**Devotional films.** From the late 1990s Rao turned repeatedly to devotional subjects with the actor [Nagarjuna](https://www.edgepedia.org/nagarjuna), directing *[Annamayya](https://www.edgepedia.org/annamayya-film)*, *Sri Ramadasu*, *Shiridi Sai*, and *Om Namo Venkatesaya*[3](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/news/om-namo-venkatesaya-k-raghavendra-rao-interview-056509.html). A Maagulf retrospective places these four films among the enduring works in Tollywood's history, for both the director's and the actor's careers[6](https://www.maagulf.com/view/102295/stories/about-raghavender-rao). In interviews about *Om Namo Venkatesaya* (2017), Rao described the production as a spiritual journey, noting that he researched 15th-century temple architecture and recreated the Tirumala temple as a set at [Ramoji Film City](https://www.edgepedia.org/ramoji-film-city) with graphics filling in the remainder[3](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/news/om-namo-venkatesaya-k-raghavendra-rao-interview-056509.html).
**Collaborations and star making.** IMDb credits Rao with longstanding relationships with major Telugu stars: 12 films with the late NTR, whose resurgence in his films with Rao preceded his becoming chief minister, 8 films with [Chiranjeevi](https://www.edgepedia.org/chiranjeevi), and 17 with Sridevi, the highest number for any director with either star[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706484/?showAllCredits=true). The Filmibeat celebrity profile credits him with giving careers to heroines including Sridevi, Vijayashanti, Radha, Ramya Krishna, and Raveli[8](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/celebs/k-raghavendra-rao.html). In his own account, he planned genre alternation deliberately: after the *Adavi Ramudu* superhit he made the smaller *Jyothi*, and after *Jagadeka Veeruni Aatalokasundari* with Chiranjeevi he cast [Mohan Babu](https://www.edgepedia.org/mohan-babu), then known as a villain, as hero in *Alludu Garu*[3](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/news/om-namo-venkatesaya-k-raghavendra-rao-interview-056509.html). He has described his approach as a business plan, saying he directed films thinking about what audiences wanted, though never for money alone[3](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/news/om-namo-venkatesaya-k-raghavendra-rao-interview-056509.html).
## Awards and honors
*Annamayya* (1997) won two [National Film Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-film-awards), and his produced film *Bommalaata* won the National Award for Best Telugu Film in 2004[4](https://aanaadu.com/story/raghavendra-rao/). In 2009 he received the B.N. Reddy National Award for lifetime service to Telugu cinema[4](https://aanaadu.com/story/raghavendra-rao/). In 2015 he received the NTR National Award and was appointed a member of the [Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams](https://www.edgepedia.org/tirumala-tirupati-devasthanams) board[4](https://aanaadu.com/story/raghavendra-rao/). In 2017 he received an IIFA honor for distinguished service to Indian cinema, the year *Om Namo Venkatesaya* was released[4](https://aanaadu.com/story/raghavendra-rao/).
## Later work
Rao has continued to direct into his eighth decade. He has said he directed at least one film every year for thirty-six consecutive years, and that he remains selective, directing only scripts that excite him[5](https://www.andhrajyothy.com/2025/navya/man-behind-37-hero-collaborations-and-77-heroines-is-legendary-director-k-raghavendra-rao-1400468.html). Projects he has discussed include a song sequence depicting the full Ramayana, for which he has done a test shoot, and a planned film on Valli's marriage[5](https://www.andhrajyothy.com/2025/navya/man-behind-37-hero-collaborations-and-77-heroines-is-legendary-director-k-raghavendra-rao-1400468.html). His 100th film, he recalled, was planned as *Thriveni Sangamam* with Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, and Venkatesh together, but was shelved over worries about fan disputes over songs[5](https://www.andhrajyothy.com/2025/navya/man-behind-37-hero-collaborations-and-77-heroines-is-legendary-director-k-raghavendra-rao-1400468.html).
## References
1. [K Raghavendra Rao Movies and TV Shows, Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/k-raghavendra-rao)
2. [K. Raghavendra Rao, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706484/?showAllCredits=true)
3. [K Raghavendra Rao Interview on Om Namo Venkatesaya, Telugu Filmibeat (February 7, 2017)](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/news/om-namo-venkatesaya-k-raghavendra-rao-interview-056509.html)
4. [కె. రాఘవేంద్రరావు జీవిత చరిత్ర, Aanaadu](https://aanaadu.com/story/raghavendra-rao/)
5. [Man Behind 37 Hero Collaborations and 77 Heroines is Legendary Director K. Raghavendra Rao, Andhrajyothy (2025)](https://www.andhrajyothy.com/2025/navya/man-behind-37-hero-collaborations-and-77-heroines-is-legendary-director-k-raghavendra-rao-1400468.html)
6. [దర్శకేంద్రుడు రాఘవేంద్రరావు, Maagulf](https://www.maagulf.com/view/102295/stories/about-raghavender-rao)
7. [Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao Filmography, BollywoodMDB](https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/kovelamudi-raghavendra-rao-nm-29406/movies)
8. [కె రాఘవేంద్ర రావు సినిమాలు, బయోగ్రఫీ, ఫిల్మోగ్రఫీ, Filmibeat Telugu](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/celebs/k-raghavendra-rao.html)
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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 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license