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Dasari Narayana Rao

Dasari Narayana Rao (4 May 1942 – 30 May 2017) was an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, lyricist, and politician known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema, in addition to Hindi cinema. He has directed more than 150 feature films in a variety of genres. He holds the Limca World Record for directing the most number of films in the world. He is known by the moniker Darsaka Ratna (transl. Jewel among directors). His works emphasize social injustice, corruption and gender discrimination. Narayana 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 had also acted in Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada films.

Dasari Narayana Rao also gained recognition for directing Hindi films such as Swarag Narak (1978), Jyoti Bane Jwala (1980), Pyaasa Sawan (1981), Prem Tapasya (1983), Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar (1984), Asha Jyoti (1984), Yaadgaar (1984), Zakhmi Sher (1984), Sarfarosh (1985), Wafadaar (1985) etc. 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 which screened at the Indian Panorama, the Tashkent Film Festival, and the Moscow film festival. The film also won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu.

He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in the year 2006. He became the Minister of state in the Ministry of Coal in the Manmohan Singh government.

Political career

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 Indian National Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Dasari once again became active in politics after Indian National Congress Party came back to power in 2004.

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

Business

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

Death

Dasari Narayana Rao died on 30 May 2017 from prolonged illness, at the age of 75. 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.

Awards

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 (As director and producer)

Filmfare Awards

Special Jury Award - Swargam Narakam & Balipeetam (1975)
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)
Second Best Feature Film - Silver – 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 -Samsaram Sagaram (1973)
Best Story - Nanna Garu (1994)
Best Story - Kante Kooturne Kanu (1998)
Special Jury – Premabhishekam (1981)
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
Allu Ramalingaiah Memorial Award
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