K. V. Reddy

K. V. Reddy
Born
Kadiri Venkata Reddy

1 July 1912
Tellamitta Palle, near Tadipatri, Anantapuram district, British India (now Andhra Pradesh, India)
Died15 September 1972(1972-09-15) (aged 60)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation(s)Director, Producer, Writer
Years active1940–1970
SpouseSeshamma (m.1932)

Kadiri Venkata Reddy (1 July 1912 – 15 September 1972), commonly known as K. V. Reddy, was an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer, primarily known for his work in Telugu cinema. Renowned as one of the most influential filmmakers in South Indian cinema, he directed 14 feature films during his career. His contributions earned him several prestigious accolades, including three National Film Awards and a Filmfare Award South.[1]

His filmography includes films based on itihasa-puranas like Mayabazar (1957), Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu (1962), Sri Krishna Satya (1972); fantasy films like Gunasundari Katha (1949), Pathala Bhairavi (1951), Jagadeka Veeruni Katha (1961); historical biopics like Bhakta Potana (1942), Yogi Vemana (1947), and drama films like Pedda Manushulu (1954), Donga Ramudu (1955), Pellinaati Pramanalu (1959).[2]

Pathala Bhairavi was the only South Indian film to be screened at the first International Film Festival of India in 1952. Donga Ramudu was archived in the curriculum of the Film and Television Institute of India.[3] Mayabazar is widely regarded as one of the greatest Indian films ever produced.[4][5] On the centenary of Indian cinema in April 2013, CNN-IBN included Pathala Bhairavi and Mayabazar in its list of "100 greatest Indian films of all time".[6] In an online poll featuring the films in the list, Mayabazar was voted by the public as the "greatest Indian film of all time."[7]

  1. ^ "Nostalgia - Pathala Bhairavi". CineGoer.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  2. ^ Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. p. 199. ISBN 978-1-135-94318-9.
  3. ^ Sashidhar AS (13 August 2012). "Donga Ramudu was included in FTII". The Times of India (Press release). Archived from the original on 4 May 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  4. ^ "How the Telugu classic, Mayabazar, set a trend". The Hindu. 18 November 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 September 2022. S.S. Rajamouli calls Mayabazar "the greatest classic and absolute influence of all times, not only on me and my generation of filmmakers, but the entire Telugu film industry."
  5. ^ "'Mayabazar' is India's greatest film ever: IBNLive poll". News18. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  6. ^ "100 Years of Indian Cinema: The 100 greatest Indian films of all time". CNN-IBN. 7 April 2013. Archived from the original on 12 March 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  7. ^ "'Mayabazar' is India's greatest film ever: IBNLive poll". CNN-IBN. 12 May 2013. Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2022.