Telugu cinema has numerous directors who proved their directional skills by making many iconic films. Right from the beginning, Tollywood has been witnessing creative directors who made some really path-breaking and trendsetting films. Though we have been seeing many talented directors in the current generation, we are bringing you the list of Best Telugu Movie Directors of All Time.
Hanumappa Muniappa Reddy fondly known as HM Reddy made his directorial debut in 1930 with Prince Vijay Kumar. Later, HM Reddy made India’s film multilingual sound film, Kalidas in Telugu and Tamil languages. In 1932, HM Reddy produced and directed the iconic film, Bhakta Prahlada. In his film career, HM Reddy directed seventeen films and produced a couple of films. In 1960, HM Reddy passed away at the age of 67.
Bommireddy Narasimha Reddy who is known as BN Reddy had made a few classic films like Malliswari. Made his directorial debut with Vande Mataram in 1939, in his career, BN Reddy directed eleven films, produced a good number of films and even provided stories, the screenplay for a couple of films. In 1969, for the film, Bangaru Panjaram, BN Reddy won the first Filmfare award in Telugu as the director. He is the first filmmaker from South India to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke award and was the first person to receive the ‘Doctor of Letters’ honour.
Gudavalli Ramabrahmam is widely known for directing critically acclaimed films like Mala Pilla and Raithu Bidda. In 1945, Ramabrahmam was elected as the chairman of the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce. Made his directorial debut in 1936 with Draupadi Vastrapaharanam, Ramabrahmam directed nine films in which he was the co-director for the 1947 film, Palnati Yuddham. The film is his last film as the director passed away in 1946 and was later completed by LV Prasad.
Kadiri Venkata Reddy fondly known as KV Reddy is widely popular for his pioneer work in making folk, social and fantasy films. BN Reddy’s 1955 film, Donga Ramudu was archived in the curriculum of the Film and Television Institute of India. In 1952, his film, Patala Bhairavi got critical acclaim at India International Film Festival. BN Reddy won three National Film Awards. Apart from directing, BN Reddy had also produced and even provided scripts for a few films.
LV Prasad is an Indian film producer, actor, director, cinematographer and businessman. He got the highest civilian award Dadasaheb Phalke Award. In 1980, he was awarded Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for his contribution to Telugu cinema. In 1956, LV Prasad founded Prasad Art Pictures, Prasad Studios, Prasads IMAX and LV Prasad Eye Institute. He was the chairman of the 27th National Film Awards selection committee held in New Delhi in 1980. On the professional front, LV Prasad acted, directed, produced and did the cinematography for a good number of films.
Bugata Venkata Subba Rao widely known as BA Subba Rao is a reputed Telugu film producer and director. He won Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu Award for his contribution to Telugu cinema. He also won Filmfare Award. Started his career in 1950 as the story, screenplay writer, director and producer with Palletoori Pilla. He is the man who introduced the legendary NT Ramarao on the silver screen. Under his BAS Productions banner, Subba Rao made some iconic films such as Raju Peda. His last film as the director is the Kannada language movie, Mangalya in 1991 under Daggubati Rama Naidu’s Suresh Productions banner.
Made his directorial debut with 1954 released Amara Sandesham, Aadurthi Subba Rao started his film career in with the 1948 Hindi film, Kalpana as the assistant director. Later, he turned director with Amara Sandesham. Apart from directing films, Aadurthi is also known as a screenwriter, cinematographer, editor and producer who made and worked in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi languages. He got seven National Film Awards in various categories and many state and regional awards.
V Madhusudan Rao is an Indian Telugu language filmmaker who directed, produced and even provide screenplays for a good number of films. Madhusudan Rao won National Award as the Best Director for his film, Antastulu in 1967. He is honoured with Raghupathi Venkaiah Award as a lifetime achievement award in 1997.
Kovelamudi Surya Prakash Rao fondly known as KS Prakash Rao made films in most of the South languages. He won the Filmfare award for Best Director for the Kannada film, Ganda Hendthi in 1977. In 1995, the versatile director was awarded Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for his contributions to Telugu cinema.
B Vittalacharya is one of the reputed Telugu directors who made fantasy dramas. He made some iconic films as the direct and even produced movies under his Vittal Productions.
Started his film career as an audiographer, K Vishwanath eventually turned as the director with the 1965 released film, Aatma Gowravan. Later, he made numerous social drama films as the director. Awards-wise, K Viswanath won multiple Filmfare, Nandi and regional awards. He won the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, Dadasaheb Phalke award and Padma Shri awards for his contribution to the field of Arts.
Bapu is fondly known as the cartoonist, screenwriter, music artist, designer and director who prominently worked in Telugu and Hindi languages. Apart from getting multiple state and Filmfare awards, Bapu was honoured with the Padma Shri award, Raghupathi Venkaiah Award and Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award( South). Majorly, Bapu made films based or interlinked with the life story of Lord Rama.
Made his directorial debut with 1972 released, Tata Manavadu, Dasari Narayana Rao directed 140 films as the director and created a world record. Apart from winning multiple National, state and Filmfare awards, Dasari is honoured with Raghupathi Venkaiah Award. Apart from directing films in Hindi and other South languages, Dasari Narayana Rao even acted in Telugu, Kannada and Tamil movies.
Singeetham Srinivasa Rao is known as the director, producer, music composer, singer, lyricist, screenwriter and actor who is a popular name among the South Indians. Started his directorial debut with the Telugu film, Neeti-Nijayiti in 1972, Singeetham Srinivasa Rao directed movies in all South languages. He won multiple national awards, state, Filmfare awards.
Made his directorial debut with the 1981 film, Mudda Mandaram, Jandhyala directed in more than fifty films. Apart from directing films, Jandhyala acted in a good number of films. The comedy texture that has in his films used to have a separate following among the Telugu audience. He is also a screenwriter and won multiple National, Filmfare and state awards.
Kodi Ramakrishna is a popular director in Telugu who also directed movies in Hindi, Kannada and Malayalam languages. In 2012, Kodi Ramakrishna was honoured with Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for his contribution to the Telugu cinema.
Vamsy is a noted Telugu director, screenwriter, lyricist and music director. He made his directorial debut with the 1982 film, Manchupallaki. He won the National award for his 1985 film, Sitaara.
K Raghavendra Rao is known as the commercial director in Telugu cinema. He made his directorial debut with the 1975 film, Babu. Raghavendra Rao directed more than a hundred films. He won seven Nandi awards and multiple Filmfare and regional awards.
Made his directorial debut with the 1980 film, Sandhya, A Kodandarami Reddy is one of the commercial directors in the Telugu industry who made films with top stars like Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Venkatesh and Nagarjuna. In 2013, Kodandarami Reddy was honoured with the BN Reddy National Film Award for Life Time Achievement.
Made his directorial debut with 1990 released, Chevilo Puvvu, EVV had directed fifty-one films. Apart from Telugu, EVV had also directed films in Hindi. In the 2000s, EVV Satyanarayana established EVV Cinema. He died in 2011 due to throat cancer and cardiac arrest.
Made his directorial debut with the 1980 released film, Moodu Mulla Bandham, Muthyala Subbaiah made action-oriented family dramas. He made fifty-one films as the director in Telugu.
Made his directorial debut with the 1954 released Telugu-Tamil bilingual project, Chandraharam, Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao is one of the legendary directors in the Telugu film industry. He won eleven National Film Awards and a few Filmfare awards in his career.
