Role Film director Name Kovelamudi Rao | Spouse(s) Sarala Years active 1977–present Siblings Kovelamudi Bapayya | |
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Full Name Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao Relatives K. S. Prakash Rao (father)Prakash Kovelamudi (son)Kovelamudi Bapayya (brother)Madhavi (daughter)Shobu Yarlagadda Parents Kovelamudi Surya Prakash Rao, Varalakshmi G. Awards Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South Movies Similar People M M Keeravani, Mohan Babu, Prakash Kovelamudi, Akkineni Nagarjuna, Kovelamudi Surya Prakash |
K. Raghavendra Rao (born Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao), was born on 23 May 1941, popularly known as Darsakendra, is an Indian film director, Screenwriter and choreographer, known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema, few Bollywood and Kannada films. He has garnered seven state Nandi Awards, the IIFA Award, the SIIMA Award, five Filmfare Awards South, and two CineMAA Awards. In a film career spanning more than five decades, Rao has directed more than hundred feature films of which around ninety films were box office hits, across multiple genres such as romantic comedy, fantasy, melodrama, action thriller, biographical, and romance films.
Contents
- Film craft and style
- Personal life
- Awards and honors
- Supervisor of direction
- Associate director
- Producer
- Presenter
- Choreographer
- TV shows
- References

Film craft and style

The 1987 Social problem film, Agni Putrudu, and the 1988 action thriller, Aakhari Poratam, were screened at the 11th and 12th International Film Festival of India respectively in the mainstream section. In 1992, he directed the melodrama Gharana Mogudu, premiered at the 1993 International Film Festival of India in the mainstream section, which became the first Telugu film to gross over ₹ 10 crore at the box office. Next he directed the instant hit Allari Priyudu, which was also premiered at the 1994 International Film Festival of India in the mainstream section.

In 1997, he scripted and directed the historical biographical film, Annamayya which won two National Film Awards, was also premiered at the 1998 International Film Festival of India in the mainstream section. Subsequently he directed, critically acclaimed biographical devotional films such as Sri Manjunatha (2001), Sri Ramadasu (2006), Pandurangadu (2008), Shirdi Sai (2012), and Om Namo Venkatesaya (2017) which received several state Nandi Awards. On the other hand, Rao has directed several action films which were box office hits, and is known for portraying his lead actresses in a sensuous manner.
Personal life

Mr. Raghavendra Rao is the son of veteran director Kovelamudi Surya Prakash Rao, and Rao is the father of actor turned filmmaker Prakash Kovelamudi. Raghavendra Rao is an executive member in the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam Board.