Relangi Narasimha Rao

Relangi Narasimha Rao (30 September 1951) is an Indian Film director and screenwriter predominantly known in Telugu Cinema. He is well known for his comedy films especially in combination with actors Chandra Mohan and Rajendra Prasad. His notable movies include Iddaru Pellala Muddula Police, Edurinti Mogudu Pakkinti Pellam, Police Bharya, Chinnodu Peddodu, Dabbevariki Chedu, Samsaaram, Mama Alludu, and Gundammagari Krishnulu.

He has directed over 70 films^[1] mostly in Telugu and others in Kannada, as well as one film in Tamil. He also director two TV series in Telugu. He won a Nandi Award for screenwriting^[2] for the film Sundari Subbarao which he directed too. He introduced writers like Diwakar Babu^[3] and Sankaramanchi Parthasarathy. He also introduced Telugu cinema actors like Suman,^[3] Revathy, and Kinnera.

Early life

Narasimha Rao was born on 30 September 1951 to Late Relangi Sri Ranganayakulu and Late Siva Ramayamma in Palakol, a town in West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh.

Career

Entry into Film Industry

Narasimha Rao entered the Telugu film industry in 1971 as an apprentice to the director Late. B V Prasad for the film Mohammad Bin Tughluq. He worked as an Assistant Director under the director Late K S R Das for the movie Ooriki Upakari in 1972. He then joined under Dasari Narayana Rao for the film Samsaram Sagaram in 1973. He continued to work under the tutelage of Dasari Narayana Rao as an Assistant Director, Associate Director and Co-Director till the year 1980 when he turned director.

Director of Comedy Films

Narasimha Rao made his directorial debut in 1980 with the film Chandamama in Telugu. It was a family drama. But the release of the film was delayed^[4] and was not released until the year 1982. His second, third and fourth films Nenu Maa Avida, Evandoi Sreemathigaru, Illantha Sandadi were all successful comedies and he earned a reputation for directing clean comedies.^[4] The films also incidentally started a successful combination with the actor Chandra Mohan with whom he went on to direct a total of 18 films.

Narasimha Rao directed over 70 films^[1] most of them in Telugu. He became known for his low budget clean comedies. He had also worked with icons like like Akkineni Nageswara Rao (film Daagudu Moothala Dampathyam, 1990), Sobhan Babu (film Samsaaram,1988), Krishnam Raju (film Yama Dharma Raju, 1990).

Entry into Kannada and Tamil Cinema

Two of the biggest hit comedies of Narasimha Rao were the Telugu films Iddaru Pellala Muddula Police and Edurinti Mogudu Pakkinti Pellam both in the year 1991. These hits paved way for him to foray into the Kannada and Tamil Cinema. He was invited to remake the two Telugu hits into Kannada in the year 1992. Both the films starred Kannada actor Shashi Kumar and both were runaway hits in Kannada.

Over the next five years, Narasimha Rao directed 7 films in Kannada^[4] including two films with the popular Kannada actor Shivrajkumar namely Raja and Ibbara Naduve Muddina Aata. Incidentally, another of his Kannada film Geluvina Saradara was produced by Shivrajumar’s father and actor of Kannada Cinema Rajkumar and starred Rajkumar’s second son Raghavendra Rajkumar.
He directed one Tamil film^[4] Rendu Pondatti Kaavalkaran in the year 1992 with the actor Nagesh’s son Anand Babu in the lead role.

Successful Collaboration

Narasimha Rao teamed up with the comedy actor Rajendra Prasad for 32 films^[4] including hits like Gundammagari Krishnulu, Dabbevariki Chedu, Chinnodu Peddodu, Mama Alludu, Iddaru Pellala Muddula Police, and Edurinti Mogudu Pakkinti Pellam.

Other Works and Achievements

He was awarded Nandi Award for Best Screenwriter^[2] along with writer Adi Vishnu for the film Sundari Subbarao. The film starred Chandra Mohan and Vijayashanti. It was produced by Ramoji Rao under the banner Ushakiran Movies. Incidentally it was the second movie for the banner.

He was also adjudged Best Low Budget Director in the year 1991 by the Delhi Telugu Academy.^[5]

He acted as the Asian Panorama Jury Member for the 15th International Children’s Film Festival by CFSI in 2007.^[6] He was also a Jury Chairman^[7] for the Nandi Television Awards for the years 2005-2006.

He directed a few TV series in Telugu including Bujji Bujjibabu^[1] for ETV in 2008.

Personal life

Narasimha Rao is married to Sailakshmi and has two sons Kiran Relangi and Satish Relangi.

Filmography

1. Nenu Maa Avida
2. Evandoi Sreemathi Garu
3. Chandamama
4. Illantha Sandadi
5. Mugguru Ammayila Mogudu
6. Iddaru Kilaadilu
7. Ramarajyam Vachchindi
8. Thella Gulabilu
9. Manasaveena
10. Sundari Subbarao
11. Muchataga Mugguru
12. Siksha
13. Samsaram O Sangeetham
14. Konte Kapuram
15. O Inti Kapuram
16. Kaboye Alludu
17. Dabbevariki Chedu
18. Rotation Chakravarthi
19. Manmadha Leela Kamaraju Gola
20. Gundammagari Krishnulu
21. Bhale Mogudu
22. Premaku Padi Suthralu
23. Chilipi Dampathulu
24. Bhamakalaapam
25. Chinnodu Peddodu
26. Samsaram
27. Chikkadu Dorakadu
28. Thodallullu
29. Jeevana Jyothi
30. Sahasam Seyara Dimbhaka
31. Poolarangadu
32. Pelli Chesi Choodu
33. Pellikodukulosthunnaru
34. Chalaaki Mogudu Chaadasthapu Pellam
35. Yama Dharma Raju
36. Rambha Rambabu
37. Police Bharya
38. Mama Alludu
39. Irugillu Porugillu
40. Padmavathi Kalyanam
41. Dagudu Moothala Dampathyam
42. Sreevari Chindulu
43. Iddaru Pellala Muddula Police
44. Edurinti Mogudu Pakkinti Pellam
45. Aththintlo Adde Mogudu
46. Mogudu Pellala Dongata
47. Samsarala Mechanic
48. Pellaniki Premalekha Priyuraliki Subhalekha
49. Pellam Chaatu Mogudu
50. Chillara Mogudu Allari Koduku
51. Enti Bava Marinu
52. Ibbaru Hendthira Muddina Police
53. Eduru Maneyalli Ganda Pakkada Maneyalli Hendthi
54. Rendu Pondatti Kaavalkaaran (Tamil film)
55. Pellama Majaka
56. Kannayya Kittayya
57. Brahmachari Mogudu
58. Hendthi Helidare Kelabeku
59. Parugo Parugu
60. Kurradi Kurradu
61. Sundara Vadana Subbalakshmi Mogudaa
62. Idandi Mavari Varasa
63. Ketu Duplicatu
64. Enondre
65. Ibbara Naduve Muddina Aata (Kannada film)
66. Geluvina Sardara
67. High-Class Aththa Low-Class Allullu
68. Raja
69. Ulta Palta
70. Chinni Chinni Aasa
71. Ammo Bomma
72. Apparao Nela Thappadu
73. Preminchukunnam Pellikirandi

References