D. V. S. Raju | |
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Born | Datla Venkata Suryanarayana Raju 13 December 1928 Allavaram, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India |
Died | 13 November 2010 Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India | (aged 81)
Occupation | Film producer |
Awards | Padma Shri (2001) Raghupathi Venkaiah Award (1988) |
Datla Venkata Suryanarayana Raju (13 December 1928 – 13 November 2010), commonly known as D. V. S. Raju, was a prominent Indian film producer in Telugu cinema. He played a pivotal role in the shifting of the Telugu film industry from Madras to Hyderabad.[1] He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2001 and the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award in 1988 for his lifetime contributions to Telugu cinema.[1]
Raju produced around 25 films, including several successful Telugu films such as Picchi Pullayya (1953), Mangamma Sapadham (1965), Pidugu Ramudu (1966), Chinnanati Snehithulu (1971), Jeevana Jyothi (1975), and Jeevitha Nouka (1977). He also produced the Hindi film Mujhe Insaaf Chaahiye (1983).[1]
He served as Chairman of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and was instrumental in co-funding Richard Attenborough's Oscar-winning film Gandhi (1982).[2][1] He also served as a jury member for the 15th National Film Awards and was the President of the Film Federation of India (1979–80).[3] Additionally, he chaired the State Film Development Corporation. Raju died on 13 November 2010 at the age of 81 after a brief illness.[1]