Yaragudipati Varada Rao

Yaragudipati Varada Rao is an Indian producer, director, actor, screenplay writer, distributor, thespian and editor. He predominantly worked in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam films. He is a legendary figure for Indian Film industry. Rao made the first talkie movie in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam language, named Sati Sulochana (1934). Rao was born on 30 May 1903 in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. He was born into a rich and aristocratic Telugu Brahmin family. His parent’s name was Gopal Rao Gopal is a composer in the entertainment industry. >> Read More... and Bodevamma. He also had a brother named Hanumantha Rao.

After completing his education, Rao indulged himself into staging plays in the local theatre. Later he moved to Kolhapur and then to Bombay to act. Mesmerized by his good looks and personality, R.S. Prakash Rao cast him in many silent films in the late 1920’s. These films included Garuda Garva Bhangam, Gajendra Moksham, etc. However, Rao, dissatisfied by his artistic instincts, decided to don the hat of a director.

He made many silent films named Pandava Nirvana (1930), Hari Maya (1932) and Pandava Agnathavaas (1930). In Hari Maya, he paired opposite his first wife, Rajam. GubbiVeerana produced the film. In 1932, Chamanlal Doongaji, a Marwari businessperson from Mumbai decided to launch South India Movie tone.

Meanwhile, Rao made a script about the retelling of Ramayana in the eyes of Sulochana, wife of Ravan’s son Indrajit. He decided to collaborate with Chamanlal, and the consequence was Sati Sulochana (1934). It was the first Talkie film made in any South Indian Language. Made with a budget of 40,000, the film became an enormous success at the box-office. Rao created a new history in 1937 when he directed Chintamani. The movie became an all-time blockbuster and ran for almost one year in various cinema halls. The film propelled M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar to stardom. He was the first superstar in South Indian cinema.

Based on the story of Bilwamangal who fell in love with a courtesan Chintamani, the movie broke many records. In 1940, Rao made the magnum opus of Telugu industry Viswa Mohini. It was the first film that featured storyline except for any religious or mythological reference. Many critics consider the film to be India’s first step towards World Cinema World Cinema is a special kind of news and informa >> Read More... . The film shattered many box-office records. During the filming of Lavangi (1946), director Rao fell in love with newbie Rukmini, and later they tied the knot. He then directed and acted in many South Indian Blockbusters consequently. Nevertheless, after the failure of Savitri, his films started to falter at the box-office.

His personal life shattered too, as Rukmini split up with him. After 1969, he stopped working in the movies. He breathed his last on 13 February 1973. Rao had a child with Rukmini, called Lakshmi. Lakshmi was also a movie star. His contemporaries, for igniting the airwaves of Indian Film Industry, continuously praise Rao