V Dora Swami Raju

Biography:

V. Doraswamy Raju, an Indian politician, distributor, and film producer, lived from about 1946 to January 18, 2021. Several Telugu movies were produced and released by him under the label VMC Productions.

From 1994 until 1999, he was a member of the Legislative Assembly for the Telugu Desam Party, representing the Andhra Pradesh constituency of Nagari. He was the recipient of two Filmfare and two Nandi Awards.

In the Andhra Pradeshi district of Chittoor, Doraswamy Raju was born into a family of farmers. He had a son after being married. In 1978, Raju founded VMC Productions, a company that actor-politician N. T. Rama Rao had begun.

Nagarjuna starred in his debut production as a producer, Kirai Dada (1987). Later on, he produced hit movies like President Gari Pellam (1992), Madhavayya Gari Manavadu (1992), Annamayya (1997), and Simhadri (2003) Seetharamayya Gari Manavaralu (1991).

Apart from producing, he was also associated with the distribution of films in Rayalaseema. With more than 750 films distributed, he earned the moniker “Rayalaseema Raju.”

Raju started his career in politics in the early nineties. In 1994, he won a seat in the Legislative Assembly for the Nagari constituency. He defeated R. Chenga Reddy, the Indian National Congress candidate, running on the Telugu Desam Party ticket.

In addition, he served as president of the Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber and a member of the TTD Board. Raju experienced a heart arrest and passed away.

On January 18, 2021, at a private hospital in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. He was seventy-four. Filmmakers including Murali Mohan, Aswani Dutt, and S. S. Rajamouli paid their final tributes to Raju.