Raavi Kondala Rao (11 February 1932 – 28 July 2020) was an Indian actor, screenwriter, playwright, and journalist who worked 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, ...
and Telugu theatre. He acted in over 400 films. He won Nandi Award for Best Story Writer for '' Pelli Pusthakam'' (1991) and won Nandi Award for Best Book on Telugu Cinema for ''Black and White''.
He made his film debut with '' Sobha'' in 1958 as an actor. '' Preminchi Choodu'' (1964) won him recognition as an actor. He is known for his collaborations with Bapu- Ramana. He worked as a writer for notable films like '' Brundavanam'' (1992), '' Bhairava Dweepam'' (1994), '' Sri Krishnarjuna Vijayam'' (1996).
Besides films, he worked as an editor, writer and columnist for English and Telugu newspapers and magazines. He worked as the associate editor for the then popular film magazine ''Vijaya Chitra'' from 1966 to 1990. Later, he joined Chandamama Vijaya
production house
A producing house is a theatre which ‘manufactures' its own shows in-house (such as plays, musicals, opera, or dance) and perhaps does everything from honing the script, building the set, casting the actors and designing and making the costum ...
as a writer and executive producer.
Early life
Raavi Kondala Rao was born on 11 February 1932 in Srikakulam of present-day
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...
. His father was a postmaster. His education had been done in Srikakulam. He participated in Satyagraha in 1948 in
Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry, officially known as Rajamahendravaram, is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and District headquarters of East Godavari district. It is the sixth most populated city in the state. During British rule, the District of Rajah ...
against the ban on RSS and Hindu Mahasammelan and was put in jail for three months. In his free time in Rajahmundry Jail, he read many books on literature. He wrote stories under the pen name of 'Mana Oohalu'. A few stories had been published in '' Chandamama''.
Career
Raavi Kondala Rao used to write articles for ''Mahodaya'' weekly newspaper. He worked as sub editor for ''Aanandavani'' weekly magazine. He was a writer of 'Paata Bangaram' in ''Sitara'' magazine, owned by the
Eenadu
''Eenadu'' () is the largest circulated Telugu-language daily newspaper of India sold mostly in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.Andhra Jyothi'', ''Vijaya Chitra''.
Kodavatiganti Kutumba Rao was his inspiration for writing. Later, he was encouraged by
Mullapudi Venkata Ramana
Mullapudi Venkata Ramana (28 June 1931 – 24 February 2011) was an Indian writer known for his work in Telugu language. Noted for his humorous and metaphorical style of writing, Mullapudi received Raghupathi Venkaiah Award from the Government ...
Kamalakara Kameswara Rao
Kamalakara Kameswara Rao (14 October 1911 – 29 June 1998) was an Indian film director known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema, and a few Tamil and Hindi films. Widely known as ''Pauranika Chitra Brahma'' (), Kameswara Rao directed fi ...
,
D. V. Narasa Raju
D.V. Narasaraju or Datla Venkata Narasaraju (Telugu language, Telugu: డి.వి.నరసరాజు) (15 July 1920 – 28 August 2006) was a writer and director of South India films and playwright. He wrote stories such as Gundamma Katha, ...
. He was the assistant director for ''
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 ...
'' (1963), directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. He also worked as an assistant director for '' Pooja Phalam'' (1964), directed by B. N. Reddy.
Personal life
Veteran actress
Radha Kumari
Radha Kumari was an Indian veteran film actress who appeared in Telugu-language films. She acted in over 600 films in over four decades. She is well known for her humor and played mother or grandmother roles in most of her films.
Film career
R ...
was his wife. She was his co-star in nearly 100 films. His brother R. Kameswara rao was a leading dubbing artist.
Raavi Kondala Rao died of heart attack at a private hospital in Hyderabad, aged 88, on 28 July 2020. He is survived by his son, R. V. Sasikumar.
Partial filmography
A
*''
Adrusta Jathakudu
''Adrusta Jathakudu'' () is a 1971 Telugu-language drama film, produced and directed by K. Hemambaradhara Rao under the Subhashini Art Pictures banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao and Vanisri, with music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao.
Plot
Ananth ...
Daiva Balam
''Daiva Balam'' () is a 1959 Telugu-language swashbuckler film, produced and directed by Ponnaluru Vasanthakumar Reddy. It stars N. T. Rama Rao and Jayasri, with music composed by Ashwatthama. The film is the debut of Shobhan Babu in the fil ...
Karna
Karna (Sanskrit: कर्ण, IAST: ''Karṇa''), also known as Vasusena, Anga-raja, and Radheya, is one of the main protagonists of the Hindu epic '' Mahābhārata''. He is the son of the sun god Surya and princess Kunti (mother of the ...
'' as assistant director for
D. V. Narasa Raju
D.V. Narasaraju or Datla Venkata Narasaraju (Telugu language, Telugu: డి.వి.నరసరాజు) (15 July 1920 – 28 August 2006) was a writer and director of South India films and playwright. He wrote stories such as Gundamma Katha, ...
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 ...
D. V. Narasa Raju
D.V. Narasaraju or Datla Venkata Narasaraju (Telugu language, Telugu: డి.వి.నరసరాజు) (15 July 1920 – 28 August 2006) was a writer and director of South India films and playwright. He wrote stories such as Gundamma Katha, ...
Movies as actor
A
*''Aadapille Nayam''
*''
Ammayi Pelli
''Ammayi Pelli'' () is a 1974 Indian Telugu-language comedy film, produced and directed by Bhanumathi Ramakrishna under the Bharani Pictures banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna with music also composed by Bhanumathi Ramakris ...
Adrusta Jathakudu
''Adrusta Jathakudu'' () is a 1971 Telugu-language drama film, produced and directed by K. Hemambaradhara Rao under the Subhashini Art Pictures banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao and Vanisri, with music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao.
Plot
Ananth ...
Dagudu Moothalu
''Dagudu Moothalu'' () is a 1964 Indian Telugu language, Telugu-language comedy film produced by D. B. Narayana and directed by Adurthi Subba Rao, who also wrote the screenplay. Based on a story by Mullapudi Venkata Ramana, it stars N. T. Rama ...
King
King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king.
*In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...
Oy!
''Oye!'' is a 2009 Indian Telugu-language romantic drama film written and directed by debutanat Anand Ranga. The film stars Siddharth (actor), Siddharth and Shamili (in her first leading role), while Sunil (actor), Sunil and Ali (actor), Ali play ...
Radha Gopalam
''Radha Gopalam'' () is a 2005 Telugu-language film which stars Srikanth and Sneha; it is based on the Hollywood movie ''Adam's Rib''. This film was directed by Bapu, with music by Mani Sharma and lyrics penned by Veturi, Jonnavittula, Mullapud ...
Varakatnam
''Varakatnam'' () is a 1969 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by N. Trivikrama Rao under the banner Ramakrishna & NAT Combines and directed by his older brother N. T. Rama Rao. It stars Rama Rao, Savitri and Krishna Kumari, with m ...