Veteran Telugu film director Dasari Narayana Rao died at a private hospital after a prolonged illness in Hyderabad on Tuesday. He was 75. He was under the medical care in KIMS Hospital. The director had also undergone a surgery earlier this year for the infection in lungs and kidneys.
Dasari Narayana Rao was one of the seasoned Indian filmmakers with two National Awards under his belt. He had helmed about 151 films, produced 53 films and worked in more than 250 films as a dialogue writer and lyricist. He holds Limca World Record for directing the most number of films in Telugu. He was also the former Union Minister of State for Coal in the Manmohan Singh government. He was said to be a close confidante of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
Dasari also aspired to make a film based on the life of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa following her demise. He has also directed legendary actorRajesh Khanna in two different roles in Asha Jyoti and Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar in 1984. He also launched popular actors in the Telugu film industry like Mohan Babu, R. Narayana Murthy, Raviraja Pinisetty, Muthyala Subbaiah
Some of Dasari Narayana Rao’s famous works inlcude, Tata Manavadu (1972), Samsaram Sagaram (1973), Bantrotu Bharya (1974), Evariki Vaare Yamuna Teere (1974), Radhamma Pelli (1974), Tirupati (1974), Swargam Narakam (1975), Balipeetam (1975), Bharatamlo Oka Ammayi (1975), Devude Digivaste (1975),Manushulanta Okkate (1976), Muddabanti Puvvu (1976) among others.
The who’s who of the film industry is expressing their condolences on social media for the veteran filmmaker.
