Dasari Narayana Rao

Dasari Narayana Rao (4 May 1947 – 30 May 2017) was an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, dialogue writer, actor, lyricist, and politician known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema, Television, and Bollywood. He has directed more than one hundred and fifty feature films in a variety of genres. His works emphasize social injustice, corruption and gender discrimination. Rao has received two National Film Awards, nine state Nandi Awards including the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, and four Filmfare Awards South including the lifetime Achievement. During his career he has also acted in Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada languages.

Rao gained national recognition for directing Hindi films such as, Swarg Narak, Jyoti Bane Jwala, Zakhmi Sher, Sarfarosh, Wafadaar, Prem Tapasya, Pyaasa Sawan, Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar, and Asha Jyoti. Rao holds Limca World Record for directing the most number of films. He directed works such as Tandra Paparayudu (1986), and Surigaadu (1992) which were screened at International Film Festival of India in the panorama section, and Kante Koothurne Kanu (1998) which received the National Film Award Special Mention Feature Film. In 1983, he directed Meghasandesam screened at the Indian panorama, Tashkent Film Festival, and Moscow film festival. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu.

He launched a popular daily newspaper named Udayam to counter the effect of Ramoji Rao's newspaper Eenadu.

Dasari was elected to the Rajya Sabha in the year 2006. He became the Minister of state in Ministry of Coal. Said to be a confidante of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Dasari once again became active in politics after Congress Party came back to power in 2004.

On 11 June 2013 Central Bureau of Investigation booked Dasari Narayana Rao for receiving Rs. 2.25 crores from Naveen Jindal in connection with Coalgate scam, and filed FIR against both.

Rao died on 30 May 2017 from prolonged illness, at the age of 70. His last rites were performed with full state honours. His funeral was held at his farmhouse in Moinabad village, Ranga Reddy district, where his wife Padma was cremated.

National Film Awards

• Special Jury Award / Special Mention (Feature Film) – Kante Kuthurne Kanu – 1998
• National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu – Meghasandesam – 1982

Filmfare Awards

• Best Director – Gorintaku (1979)
• Best Director – Premabhishekam (1981)
• Best Film – Meghasandesam (1982)
• Lifetime Achievement (2001)

Nandi Awards

• NTR National Award
• Raghupathi Venkaiah Award - 1990
• Best Actor – Mestri (2009)
• Best Actor – Mamagaru (1991)
• Best Feature Film – Kante Kuthurne Kanu (1998)
• Best Director - Kante Koothurne Kanu (1998)
• Best Feature Film – Bangaru Kutumbam (1994)
• Best Feature Film – Meghasandesam (1982)
• Best Feature Film – Swargam Narakam (1975)
• Best Feature Film – Samsaram Sagaram (1973)
• Best Feature Film – Tata Manavadu (1972)
• Best Story - Nanna Garu (1994)
• Best Story - Kante Kooturne Kanu (1998)

• Special Jury – Premabhishekam (1981)
• Nandi Award for Best Dialogue Writer – M.L.A. Yedukondalu (1983)

CineMAA Awards

• Lifetime Contribution – 2003

Other honours

• Vamsee Berkeley, Kalasagar, Siromani, Madras Film Fans Awards and Cine Herald Awards
• Jyothi Chitra Super Director Award – six times
• Ancient Andhra Patrika Best Director Award – six times
• Sobhan Babu first memorial award in 2009
• Bollimunta Sivaramakrishna Sahithi Kala Award-2016
• Doctorate "Kalaprapoorna" from Andhra University for his contribution to Telugu Culture and Telugu Cinema in 1986