Yaragudipati Varada Rao (30 May 1903 â€" 13 February 1979), widely
known as Y. V. Rao, was an Indian film actor, screenwriter, director,
editor, and producer, known for his works primarily in the Telugu
cinema, Kannada cinema, and Tamil Cinema. Rao plunged into theatre and
did a few stage plays before moving to Kolhapur and Bombay to act in
silent films. Regarded as one of the greatest filmmaking pioneers of
the Cinema of South India, he made motion-pictures across Telugu,
Kannada, Tamil, Konkani and Hindi languages, apart from silent films.
Rao started his career as a lead actor in many silent films such as
Garuda Garva Bhangam, Gajendra Moksham and Rose of Rajasthan.Rao made
significant contributions to South cinema during the Crown rule in
India, Rao's 1934 film Sati Sulochana was the first talkie film in the
Kannada language. In 1937, he directed the hagiographical classic
Chintamani, the Tamil sleeper hit ran for a year with highest
estimated footfall at a single screen in India, and British Ceylon.
Rao's 1938 film Swarnalatha was one of the finest political drama
scripted by Ayyalu Somayajulu; with Prohibition as the central theme,
in which Rao played the lead. The film was shot extensively at Newtone
Studios, Kilpauk, during Madras Presidency. Rao's 1940 film, Viswa
Mohini, is the first Indian film, depicting the Indian movie world,
scripted by Balijepalli Lakshmikanta Kavi, starring superstar V.
Nagaiah. Rao subsequently made the mythology sequel films Savithiri
(1941), and Sathyabhama (1942) casting thespian Sthanam Narasimha
Rao.Yaragudipati Varada Rao was born in Nellore in the then Madras
Presidency of British India in May 1903. In the late 1920s, he moved
to Madras and ventured into Kannada cinema. He married Kumari Rukmini
who was paired with him in Lavangi (1946). Indian film actress Lakshmi
is their daughter.
known as Y. V. Rao, was an Indian film actor, screenwriter, director,
editor, and producer, known for his works primarily in the Telugu
cinema, Kannada cinema, and Tamil Cinema. Rao plunged into theatre and
did a few stage plays before moving to Kolhapur and Bombay to act in
silent films. Regarded as one of the greatest filmmaking pioneers of
the Cinema of South India, he made motion-pictures across Telugu,
Kannada, Tamil, Konkani and Hindi languages, apart from silent films.
Rao started his career as a lead actor in many silent films such as
Garuda Garva Bhangam, Gajendra Moksham and Rose of Rajasthan.Rao made
significant contributions to South cinema during the Crown rule in
India, Rao's 1934 film Sati Sulochana was the first talkie film in the
Kannada language. In 1937, he directed the hagiographical classic
Chintamani, the Tamil sleeper hit ran for a year with highest
estimated footfall at a single screen in India, and British Ceylon.
Rao's 1938 film Swarnalatha was one of the finest political drama
scripted by Ayyalu Somayajulu; with Prohibition as the central theme,
in which Rao played the lead. The film was shot extensively at Newtone
Studios, Kilpauk, during Madras Presidency. Rao's 1940 film, Viswa
Mohini, is the first Indian film, depicting the Indian movie world,
scripted by Balijepalli Lakshmikanta Kavi, starring superstar V.
Nagaiah. Rao subsequently made the mythology sequel films Savithiri
(1941), and Sathyabhama (1942) casting thespian Sthanam Narasimha
Rao.Yaragudipati Varada Rao was born in Nellore in the then Madras
Presidency of British India in May 1903. In the late 1920s, he moved
to Madras and ventured into Kannada cinema. He married Kumari Rukmini
who was paired with him in Lavangi (1946). Indian film actress Lakshmi
is their daughter.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.