K. V. Reddy: Difference between revisions

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)
Died	15 September 1972 (aged 60); Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation	Director, Producer, Writer
Years active	1940–1970
Spouse(s)	Seshamma (m.1932)

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Latest revision as of 12:51, 22 January 2026

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]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Kadiri Venkata Reddy was born on 1 July 1912 in a Telugu family in Tellamitta Palle near Tadipatri in Anantapur district in present-day Andhra Pradesh.^[8]^[9]^[10] His parents were Konda Reddy and Venkata Rangamma. His mother was a devotee of Lord Venkateswara. His father died when K. V. Reddy was two years old.^[11] Later, he started living along with his mother at his maternal uncle's home.^[12]^[13]

He performed well in academics and actively took part in sports like football and hockey. He was good at mathematics and painting.^[11] Moola Narayana Swamy was a close friend of him right from his school days.^[14]^[13]^[15]^[16]

He completed his B.Sc degree in Physics^[17] in Madras Presidency College.^[8] While living in Madras, he was fascinated with the cinema industry which was still in its nascent stage. He started regularly watching films and would watch three films on Sundays.^[16] P. Pullayya was one year senior to him in college. P. Pullayya entered the film industry while K. V. Reddy was still in college. Both of them would frequently discuss about stories suitable to be made as films.^[16]

K. V. Reddy graduated in 1935. He wanted to enter the film industry after the completion of his graduation. He started reading various books on filmmaking. He studied and analysed films and books by Russian and Japanese filmmakers.^[15]

Career[edit | edit source]

After graduation, K. V. Reddy started a business named "The Standard Scientific Instruments Company" with his friend A. V. V. Krishna Rao.^[18] Started with an initial capital of ₹250, the company manufactured scientific instruments that are used in schools and colleges.^[16] He ran the business for one year during 1936–37 and it was successful.^[18]

1937–1941: Early career[edit | edit source]

K. V. Reddy was invited by his childhood friend Moola Narayana Swamy to work in the production department of a film he was co-producing.^[16] K. V. Reddy joined as a cashier for Rohini Pictures in 1937 for the film Gruhalakshmi.^[18]^[15]^[13] The film released in 1938 and was commercially successful.^[9]

Rohini Pictures was formed by the partnership of H. M. Reddy along with B. N. Reddy and Moola Narayana Swamy. The latter two had differences with H. M. Reddy and split themselves from Rohini Pictures and established Vauhini Pictures.^[19]^[16] Narayana Swamy was the Chairman and B. N. Reddy was the Managing Director of the company.^[20] K. V. Reddy joined Vauhini Pictures along with them.^[15] He was also made a partner in the company.^[11] He worked as a Production Manager for Vauhini films like Vande Mataram (1939), Sumangali (1940), Devatha (1941).^[13]^[10] While working as a cashier and a production manager, K. V. Reddy developed understanding of various aspects of filmmaking.^[18]^[13] While working at Vauhini Pictures, he became acquainted with Kamalakara Kameswara Rao, who was an assistant to B. N. Reddy. They made a pact that the first one to become a director among them would work as an assistant to the other.^[21]

1942–1950: Directorial debut and breakthrough[edit | edit source]

Bhakta Pothana (1943)[edit | edit source]

While working as a production manager at Vauhini, K. V. Reddy prepared the script for a film based on the life of 15th century Telugu poet Pothana.^[18] Though it was opposed by various people in the company for K. V. Reddy's lack of directorial experience, Narayana Swamy greenlit the project. The film was titled Bhakta Pothana and featured V. Nagayya in the title role.^[9] Kamalakara Kameswara Rao assisted him as was previously agreed upon.^[21] The production of the film was interrupted by the second world war. But Bhakta Pothana completed its production and was finally released on 7 January 1943. The film was successful all over South India including Mysore state and Kerala.^[22]^[15]

K. V. Reddy made a cameo in the song "Oho Tapodhana" as an audience member in *Swargaseema* (1945).

After the huge success of Bhakta Pothana, Narayana Swamy who had interests in other business ventures focused on film production. He made a proposal to the board to confine Vauhini Pictures to film distribution and start Vauhini Productions for film production. The proposal was approved, and Narayana Swamy invested ₹2 lakh out of the total capital of ₹2.5 lakh. Rest of the ₹50,000 was provided by the family of B. N. Reddy and K. V. Reddy.^[19] Thus, K. V. Reddy became a partner in Vauhini Productions. It was decided that B. N. Reddy and K. V. Reddy would alternately direct films for the production house.^[15] When Vauhini Productions made Swargaseema (1945) as its first production under the direction of B. N. Reddy, K. V. Reddy worked as a production manager for the film.^[15] Though the film faced troubles due to the shortage of film stock due to the world war, it became successful.^[20] K. V. Reddy also made a cameo appearance in the song "Oho Tapodhana".^[23]

Yogi Vemana (1947)[edit | edit source]

While working on Swargaseema, K. V. Reddy started preparing the script for his next directorial venture. Along with Samudrala Sr., he gathered information on Vemana from historical and folklore sources and prepared the script for Yogi Vemana (1947). K. V. Reddy collaborated once again with Nagayya who played the lead role.^[8] The film was critically acclaimed but underperformed commercially.^[11] Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen in Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema note, "Bhakta Pothana and Yogi Vemana, contributed to Chittor V Nagaiah’s image as South Indian cinema’s most famous actor in the saint film genre".^[2]

Around the same time, Vauhini Productions' films were getting delayed due to lack of studio facilities. And so, they decided to build a studio of their own.^[19] Narayana Swamy invested the capital required for building the studio while B. N. Reddy took up the responsibility of managing the construction work. Even though B. N. Reddy was to direct the next film for Vauhini as per the agreement, it fell upon K. V. Reddy to direct the next film as B. N. Reddy was busy in the construction work of the studio.^[24]

Gunasundari Katha (1949)[edit | edit source]

K. V. Reddy wanted to make a film that was distinct from his previous films and any of the films produced till then by Vauhini. He chose William Shakespeare's play King Lear as the inspiration for the core plot.^[10] But K. V. Reddy and his writers Pingali and Kamalakara Kameswara Rao changed the tone from the tragedy of King Lear to a more entertaining one for the film. Titled Gunasundari Katha (1949), the film was successful at the box-office.^[25]^[19]^[26] The film had a scene where the protagonist turns into a bear due to a curse. K. V. Reddy remembered a kind-hearted bear in his childhood which spared him his life and made it a character in the film. The film was later remade in Tamil as Gunasundari (1955) by Vijaya Productions under the direction of Kamalakara Kameswara Rao.^[25]

1950–1963: Further critical and commercial success[edit | edit source]

Pathala Bhairavi (1951)[edit | edit source]

Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani signed K. V. Reddy in 1950 to direct Pathala Bhairavi. The film was based on a story from Kasi Majilee Kathalu, written by Madhira Subbanna Deekshitulu.^[27] Pingali adapted the content and wrote the film's story. Kamalakara Kameswara Rao and Reddy worked on the screenplay.^[28] Pingali was also inspired from the story of Aladdin.^[28] Pathala Bhairavi was made as a bilingual film, shot in Telugu and Tamil simultaneously with both the versions having the same title.

The film stars N. T. Rama Rao, S. V. Ranga Rao and K. Malathi. The film focuses on a gardener's son who has to amass wealth equal to that of the king of Ujjain to marry his daughter and a sorcerer who has to sacrifice an intelligent and brave young man to Goddess Pathala Bhairavi to gain access to a statuette which can grant any wish. As the film is shot as a bilingual, production lasted for a whole year starting from 5 February 1950 until 8 February 1951.

The Telugu version of Pathala Bhairavi was released on 15 March 1951, and the Tamil version on 17 May 1951. Both versions were commercially successful. Pathala Bhairavi became the first Telugu film to run continuously for 175 days,^[29] and the first Telugu film to have a direct run of 200 days.^[30] The 1952 Hindi version was also successful. Pathala Bhairavi is considered to be a breakthrough film for both Rama Rao and Ranga Rao.^[10] The success of the film established Vijaya Productions as a prominent production house in South Indian cinema.^[2] It was also the only South Indian film to be screened at the first International Film Festival of India held at Mumbai on 24 January 1952.

Pedda Manushulu (1954)[edit | edit source]

After the success of Pathala Bhairavi, Nagi Reddi asked K. V. Reddy to make another fantasy film for Vijaya Productions.^[31] But, after directing two historical films (Bhakta Pothana, Yogi Vemana) and two fantasy films (Gunasundari Katha, Pathala Bhairavi ), K. V. Reddy wanted to make a drama film this time. As B. N. Reddy and K. V. Reddy previously agreed to alternately direct films for Vauhini, K. V. Reddy planned to make his next film on Vauhini Productions banner.^[32]

K. V. Reddy was interested in western literature and films. The Pillars of Society, a 1877 play by famous Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen attracted him.^[10] He wanted to direct a film based on the play. He collaborated with D. V. Narasaraju and D. B. G. Tilak and prepared the script.^[33] Only two characters from the play were retained and rest of the story was newly developed by the writers.^[32]

The film titled Pedda Manushulu portrayed corruption among so called respectable persons of the society.^[10]^[8] It released on 11 March 1954 and was commercially successful.^[34]^[32] It became the first Telugu film to win the National Film Award.^[10]^[34] The film became a trendsetter for many later films with a similar theme. It showed that those who are considered Pedda Manushulu (transl. Gentlemen or transl. Respectable People) by the society are corrupt. After the film's release, the term Pedda Manushulu had negative connotations in Telugu culture for a long time.^[34] The film proved K. V. Reddy's capability in directing not only fantasy and mythological films, but also social dramas.^[32]

Donga Ramudu (1955)[edit | edit source]

After Akkineni Nageswara Rao became a major movie star in the early 1950s, his friend and mentor Dukkipati Madhusudhana Rao wanted to launch their own production company.^[35] They established Annapurna Pictures, named after Madhusudhana Rao’s stepmother.^[36] Madhusudana Rao, Nageswara Rao, and few others were its partners.^[37]^[35] They wanted K. V. Reddy to direct the first film for their banner and waited for more than two years for him.^[15]

D. V. Narasaraju, the writer of Pedda Manushulu was chosen to pen the story and dialogues.^[36]^[35] Since he was directing Nageswara Rao for the first time, K. V. Reddy thought it should be different from the actor's earlier films.^[38] He suggested a storyline on brother-sister sentiment with the brother going to any extent, even giving up his life for the sake of his sister.^[38] Madhusudana Rao recollected a short story, Loving Brothers that he had previously read. In the story, the elder brother commits robberies to educate his younger brother.^[38] Taking only that point, replacing the younger brother with a sister, Narasaraju, Madhusudana Rao and K. V. Reddy wrote the script of Donga Ramudu.^[38]

Released on 2 October 1955, Donga Ramudu became a super hit.^[35]^[36]^[37]^[38] The success of the film established Annapurna Pictures as a leading production house in Telugu cinema. The film was later archived by the curriculum of the Film and Television Institute of India.^[3] Donga Ramudu was dubbed in Tamil as Thiruttu Raman (1956) and was commercially successful.^[36]^[39] It was later remade in Hindi as Man-Mauji (1962) and again in Tamil as Vasanthi (1988).

Mayabazar (1957)[edit | edit source]

K. V. Reddy always had a vision of making a film based on itihas with huge sets similar to Hollywood films. He found support from Vijaya Productions founded by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani.^[10] After the success of Pathala Bhairavi, Vijaya Productions selected the film's technical crew for an adaptation of Sasirekha Parinayam, also known as Mayabazar. The eighth adaptation of the folk tale Sasirekha Parinayam,^[40] it was the studio's first film on itihas.^[41] K. V. Reddy wrote and directed Mayabazar, assisted by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao.^[42] It was produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani. Nearly a year was spent on pre-production and casting.^[41] Pingali wrote the story, dialogues, and lyrics. The film was produced in Telugu and Tamil versions, with a slightly different cast for each. N. T. Rama Rao, hesitant to play Krishna after a negative response to his cameo appearance in Sonta Ooru (1956), agreed at K. V. Reddy's insistence and special care was taken with his costume and body language;^[41]^[43] Mayabazar was the first of Rama Rao's many appearances as Krishna. During rehearsals, K. V. Reddy timed his actors with a stopwatch, calculating the length of each scene (including songs) to determine the film's length.^[41] D. S. Ambu Rao, Bartley's assistant, said that Mayabazar was shot according to the screenplay and Bartley's lighting.^[44] In addition to the principal technicians and actors, a crew of 400, including light men, carpenters, and painters, worked on Mayabazar during production.^[41]

The Telugu version of Mayabazar was released on 27 March 1957,^[41] and the Tamil version two weeks later on 12 April.^[45]^[46] Both versions have a film-reel length of 5,888 metres (19,318 ft). A commercial success, Mayabazar had a theatrical run of 100 days in 24 theatres and went on to become a silver jubilee film with a theatrical run of 175 days (25 weeks)^[41] Mayabazar was the first colourised Telugu film,^[47] with its audio remastered from monaural to a DTS 5.1-channel system.^[48]

Mayabazar is considered as a classic in Telugu cinema, particularly in its use of technology.^[49]^[50]^[51]^[13] Various words and phrases, such as "antha alamalame kada" ("Is everything fine?"), "Asamadiyulu" ("Friends"), "Tasamadiyulu" ("Enemies"), "Gilpam" and "Gimbali" ("bed-" and "room-mat"), later became part of Telugu vernacular.^[52]

Pellinaati Pramanalu (1958)[edit | edit source]

K. V. Reddy founded a production company named Jayanthi Pictures, in partnership with P. S. Reddy and Tikkavarapu Pattabhirama Reddy.^[10] K. V. Reddy liked the film The Seven Year Itch (1955) and wanted to make a film on the same theme. He initially wanted to make this film for Annapurna Pictures' maiden production, but dropped the idea as the producer D. Madhusudhana Rao was not keen on it.^[11] He chose this idea for Jayanthi Pictures' first project.^[53]

Titled Pellilnati Pramanalu, the film starred Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Jamuna, with music composed by Ghantasala. The film was simultaneously made in Tamil as Vaazhkai Oppandham with a slightly different cast that released the following year.^[53] The Telugu version was released on 12 December 1958 and the Tamil film on 4 September 1959. The Telugu version was above average at the box-office while the Tamil film fared average but recovered its money through pre-selling.^[53] At the 6th National Film Awards, Pellinaati Pramanalu won the award for Best Feature Film in Telugu.^[54]

Declining Sita Rama Kalyanam (1961)[edit | edit source]

N. T. Rama Rao's brother N. Trivikrama Rao decided to produce a film based on Ramayana for his company National Art Theatre. Rama Rao's portrayal of the Ravana in Bhookailas (1958) earned him critical acclaim.^[55] Also, Ravana's reputation as a renowned Lord Siva devotee, made Rama Rao consider reprising the role in this film with a more layered representation of the character.^[56]

Rama Rao approached his mentor K. V. Reddy to direct the film. But, K. V. Reddy wanted Rama Rao to don the role of Lord Rama and S. V. Ranga Rao to play the character of Ravana.^[57] Since Rama Rao was adamant about playing Ravana, K. V. Reddy declined the offer, saying that he could not envision Rama Rao playing a demon. Rama Rao then decided to direct the film himself, marking his directorial debut with the film titled Sita Rama Kalyanam (1961).^[56]^[57]

Jagadeka Veeruni Katha (1961)[edit | edit source]

K. V. Reddy's next project was the Vijaya Productions' fantasy film Jagadeka Veeruni Katha (1961). The film was adapted from a popular Tamil folktale on which a previous film, Pakshiraja Films’ Jagathalapratapan (1944) was also based.^[58] Screenwriter Pingali and K. V. Reddy took the core plot from Jagathala Prathapan, but added new characters, made other changes to the story and prepared the script of Jagadeka Veeruni Katha which made it quite distinct from the 1944 film.^[58]

The film starred N. T. Rama Rao, B. Saroja Devi, and Rajanala with music composed by Pendyala. Released on 9 August 1961, the film was a box office success.^[10] The film was also dubbed into Bengali, Hindi, Kannada, Odia, and Tamil.^[58]

Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu (1963)[edit | edit source]

K. V. Reddy’s next project was the mythological film Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu (1963). The film was based on the popular Telugu play Gayopakhyanam written by Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimham in 1890. K. V. Reddy also produced the film under the Jayanthi Pictures banner.^[59]^[60]

The film stars N. T. Rama Rao as Krishna and Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Arjuna. Initially, Nageswara Rao was not keen on acting in a mythological film alongside Rama Rao. However, he accepted the role due to his respect towards K. V. Reddy for having directed Donga Ramudu (1955), the maiden venture of his own production house Annapurna Pictures.^[60]^[61] Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu became a commercial success.^[10] The film was later dubbed into Kannada and Tamil.^[62]

1964–1970: Decline[edit | edit source]

Satya Harishchandra (1965)[edit | edit source]

After the success of Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu based on popular mythological play Gayopakhyanam, K. V. Reddy planned a film based on another mythological play Satya Harishchandra for Vijaya Productions.^[63] The songs and poems written by Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi for his magnum opus play Satya Harischandriyamu in 1924 were already popular with the audience. However, due to copyright issues, K. V. Reddy could not use those poems. Pingali wrote new poems and songs for the film.^[64] K. V. Reddy also produced the film for Vijaya Productions.^[65] The film titled Satya Harishchandra starred N. T. Rama Rao in the title role and S. Varalakshmi as Chandramathi.^[66] The film released on 22 April 1965 and was a failure at the box-office.^[67]^[10]^[13] Audience accustomed to the old poems of Lakshmikantha Kavi were disappointed with the new ones and this was attributed as one of the reasons for the failure of the film.^[64]^[67]

K. V. Reddy produced the film simultaneously in Kannada with the same title, starring Dr Rajkumar. The Kannada film was hugely successful at the time of its release and is seen as a milestone in Kannada cinema.^[68]^[69] It won the President's silver medal for Best Feature Film in Kannada at the 13th National Film Awards.^[70] It also became the third Indian and the first South Indian black-and-white film to be digitally coloured in 2008.^[71]^[69]

Uma Chandi Gowri Sankarula Katha (1968)[edit | edit source]

K. V. Reddy's next film was Uma Chandi Gowri Sankarula Katha (1968). It is a mythological film produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani under the Vijaya Productions banner. The film starred N. T. Rama Rao as Lord Siva and B. Saroja Devi in a triple role as Uma, Chandi and Gowri.^[72]^[73] Released on 11 January 1968, the film was a commercial failure.^[74]^[10]^[13]

Bhagya Chakramu (1968)[edit | edit source]

After directing two consecutive flop films for Vijaya Productions, technicians and crew who were a part of K. V. Reddy’s team and were being employed by Vijaya Productions on a monthly salary basis were laid off by the company. This caused a stir in the film industry.^[75]

K. V. Reddy started directing a folklore film titled Bhagya Chakramu for his own production company, Jayanthi Pictures with N. T. Rama Rao in the lead role. K. V. Reddy clashed with his partners in Jayanthi Pictures during the production. Though he was credited as the director and producer, K. V. Reddy’s involvement in the making of the film was less.^[15] The film released on 13 September 1968 and was also a failure at the box-office.^[10]^[13]

1971–1972: Ending on a high note[edit | edit source]

Sri Krishna Satya (1971)[edit | edit source]

After the failure of Bhagya Chakramu, K. V. Reddy had no offers for two years. He also felt humiliated by the layoff of his collaborators by Vijaya Productions. He was worried about not directing another successful film and ending his career as a director with three failures in his last stage.^[75]^[16] He started assisting in the script work of others’ films.

In this situation, N. T. Rama Rao approached him with two scripts written by his collaborator Pingali — Chanakya Chandragupta and Sri Krishna Satya.^[13] He offered K. V. Reddy the choice of directing either of the scripts for Rama Rao's own production house. K. V. Reddy chose the latter.^[75]^[13] The plot of Sri Krishna Satya is linked to both Treta Yuga and Dvapara Yuga. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao as Lord Krishna and Jayalalithaa as his consort Satyabhama. After shooting a large part of the film, K. V. Reddy fell ill. Then, Rama Rao finished the remaining portions under the supervision of K. V. Reddy. Sri Krishna Satya released on 24 December 1971 and was commercially successful.^[76]^[10]^[8]^[13] The film won the Nandi Award for Second Best Feature Film for the year 1971.^[77]

Directing the film and its success gave a lot of satisfaction to K. V. Reddy.^[16] He wanted to make one more successful film and then retire to his hometown Tadipatri. As his health deteriorated, he could not fulfil his wish and died on 15 September 1972.^[75]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

K. V. Reddy married Seshamma. They had nine children — five daughters and four sons. When Seshamma was diagnosed with cancer, he was depressed and stopped taking his medicines for Diabetes and Hypertension.^[11]

His children were featured in the song "Bhale Thatha Mana Bapuji" in Donga Ramudu (1955). His son Srinivasa Reddy worked as an assistant director to his father on Uma Chandi Gowri Sankarula Katha (1968) and Bhagya Chakramu (1968).^[11] Another son K. Ramachandra Reddy was educated at IIT. He is a serial entrepreneur and worked in US for 30 years.^[11] He founded Moschip Technologies Ltd. in 1999 in Hyderabad. As of 2015, it is the only publicly traded fab-less semiconductor company based in India.^[78]

K. V. Reddy died on 15 September 1972.^[75] His wife also died three months after his death.^[11]

Filmmaking style[edit | edit source]

K. V. Reddy was a perfectionist who was passionate about filmmaking. Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, who assisted K. V. Reddy for over a decade, mentions that he had a ‘scientific approach’ to filmmaking.^[17] He would always work with a bound script. Everything regarding the film would already be written in the script prior to the commencement of filming — dialogues, shot division, camera angles, props on the set etc.^[21]^[79] Once the script is finalized, he would not make any changes to it during the shooting.^[17] He used stopwatch to time his actors calculating the length of each scene to determine the film's length.^[16]^[17]

He was careful in finishing the film within the range of film stock that was planned to be used during preproduction.^[16]^[79] He was also mindful of finishing the film within the range of pre-planned budget. Editing would only start after the completion of shooting.^[21]

He was also particular about casting.^[21] He was insistent on casting N. T. Rama Rao for the role of Lord Krishna in Mayabazar, though many members of the production opposed it.^[11] N. T. Rama Rao followed the filmmaking style of K. V. Reddy after he became a director and was successful.^[16]

Collaborators[edit | edit source]

K. V. Reddy is noted for his collaboration with writer Pingali which produced many successful films.^[9] K. V. Reddy also introduced D. V. Narasaraju, who became a noted screenwriter, into the film industry.^[15] He also collaborated with Marcus Bartley on most of his films.^[10] Pendyala worked as a music composer for seven of his films, while Ghantasala composed the music for three films. Ogirala Ramachandra Rao and Nagayya composed music for three and two films respectively. Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, who would later become a doyen of South Indian cinema, worked with K. V. Reddy from Donga Ramudu (1955) till Uma Chandi Gowri Sankarula Katha (1968). He initially joined Reddy as an apprentice and later became an assistant director in his team.^[17]^[80]

N. T. Rama Rao collaborated with him on eight of his films. Akkineni Nageswara Rao acted in four films of his. Nagayya played the lead role in K. V. Reddy’s first two films — Bhakta Potana, Yogi Vemana and later played supporting roles in three films. S. V. Ranga Rao acted in three of his films — Pathala Bhairavi, Pellinaati Pramanalu, Sri Krishna Satya. B. Saroja Devi played the female lead in four of his films. Savitri and Jamuna each played the female lead in two of K. V. Reddy’s films.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy[edit | edit source]

I was 7-8 years old when I first saw it [Mayabazaar] as a kid, I loved it immensely. Later, when I came to the film industry, I kept thinking about how KV Reddy and his team made the film back in those days. I was mesmerised by the visual effects in that film. Later, while making Yamadonga, my VFX supervisor and I spent two days just to figure out how KV Reddy had pulled off such amazing special effects back then. The more I explored the world of Mayabazaar, my respect for KV Reddy kept growing.

— S. S. Rajamouli about K. V. Reddy.^[81]

Noted director S. S. Rajamouli cited K. V. Reddy as the Indian director who had the biggest influence on him.^[82]^[81]^[83]

A street was named after him in his hometown Tadipatri.^[11] In 2012, on the occasion of K. V. Reddy’s birth centenary, a book on his film career was written by H. Ramesh Babu and Tanneeru Srinivas.^[84]

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 conducted by CNN-IBN among those 100 films, Mayabazar was voted by the public as the "greatest Indian film of all time."^[7]

Archana Nathan of Scroll.in called K. V. Reddy, "the original fantasy movie king". She added that Pathala Bhairavi successfully revived the adventure fantasy genre when it was declared that the genre had run out of steam.^[85]

Vedantam Sripatisarma, a film critic, wrote of him, "Kadiri Venkata Reddy stands out as one of the most seasoned minds of yesteryears who missed no moment in entertaining the viewer even inside a subject involving melancholy and drama. His style of comedy was absolutely unimaginable. His ways never appeared to be contrived. There was this great ease with which he moved his subjects."^[86]

Filmography[edit | edit source]

K. V. Reddy directed 14 feature films.

Directed features
Year	Title	Language	Direction	Screenplay	Story	Producer
1942	Bhakta Potana	Telugu	Yes	No	No	No
1947	Yogi Vemana		Yes	Yes	No	Yes
1949	Gunasundari Katha		Yes	Yes	No	Yes
1951	Pathala Bhairavi	Telugu Tamil	Yes	Yes	No	No
1954	Pedda Manushulu	Telugu	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
1955	Donga Ramudu	Telugu	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
1957	Mayabazar	Telugu Tamil	Yes	Yes	No	No
1958	Pellinaati Pramanalu	Telugu	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
1961	Jagadeka Veeruni Katha		Yes	Yes	No	Yes
1963	Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu		Yes	Yes	No	Yes
1965	Satya Harishchandra		Yes	Yes	No	Yes
1968	Uma Chandi Gowri Sankarula Katha		Yes	Yes	Yes	No
1968	Bhagya Chakramu		Yes	Yes	No	No
1971	Sri Krishna Satya		Yes	Yes	No	No

Other roles

Satya Harishchandra (1965) (Kannada) - Producer
Swarga Seema (1945) - Production manager
Devata (1941) - Production manager
Sumangali (1940) - Production manager
Vande Mataram (1939) - Production manager

Awards[edit | edit source]

National Film Awards

National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu - Pedda Manushulu (1955)^[87]
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu - Pellinaati Pramanalu (1958)^[88]
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada - Satya Harishchandra (1966)^[70]

Filmfare Awards South

Filmfare Best Director Award (Telugu) - Sri Krishna Satya (1972)^[89]

In popular culture[edit | edit source]

K. V. Reddy is portrayed by director Krish Jagarlamudi in the films Mahanati (2018) and NTR: Kathanayakudu (2019).^[90]

Notes[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

↑ "Nostalgia - Pathala Bhairavi". CineGoer.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. p. 199. ISBN 978-1-135-94318-9.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 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.
↑ "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."
↑ "'Mayabazar' is India's greatest film ever: IBNLive poll". News18. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 "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.
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 "'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.
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 ^8.3 ^8.4 Nagabhiru, Subbarao (1 July 2022). "KV Reddy: తెలుగు సినిమా ఠీవి.. కేవీ రెడ్డి!". NTV (in తెలుగు). Retrieved 29 September 2022.
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 ^9.3 S. V., Rama Rao; C. V. R., Manikyeswari (8 September 2018). "భాగ్యచక్రము | ఫ్లాష్ బ్యాక్ @ 50". Andhra Bhoomi (in తెలుగు). Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
↑ ^10.00 ^10.01 ^10.02 ^10.03 ^10.04 ^10.05 ^10.06 ^10.07 ^10.08 ^10.09 ^10.10 ^10.11 ^10.12 ^10.13 ^10.14 ^10.15 "Star Profiles : Colossal Visionary of films - K V Reddy". Telugucinema.com. 30 June 2012. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
↑ ^11.00 ^11.01 ^11.02 ^11.03 ^11.04 ^11.05 ^11.06 ^11.07 ^11.08 ^11.09 ^11.10 Pulagam, Chinnarayana. "జగదేక దర్శకుడు". Sakshi (in తెలుగు). Retrieved 29 September 2022.
↑ Pulagam Chinnarayana 2019, p. 36.
↑ ^13.00 ^13.01 ^13.02 ^13.03 ^13.04 ^13.05 ^13.06 ^13.07 ^13.08 ^13.09 ^13.10 ^13.11 "కేవీ రెడ్డి నేటి దర్శకులందరికీ స్ఫూర్తిదాయకం". V6 News (in తెలుగు). 1 July 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
↑ Pulagam Chinnarayana 2019, p. 37.
↑ ^15.00 ^15.01 ^15.02 ^15.03 ^15.04 ^15.05 ^15.06 ^15.07 ^15.08 ^15.09 Raavi, Kondala Rao. "ప్రతిభకు గీటురాయి... సృజనకు సూదంటురాయి! - సినీ మార్గదర్శకులు". Sitara (in తెలుగు). Eenadu. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
↑ ^16.00 ^16.01 ^16.02 ^16.03 ^16.04 ^16.05 ^16.06 ^16.07 ^16.08 ^16.09 ^16.10 Vinayaka Rao, U. (11 November 2009). "దర్శకులకు మార్గదర్శకుడు కె.వి.రెడ్డి". Navya (in తెలుగు). Andhra Jyothi. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
↑ ^17.0 ^17.1 ^17.2 ^17.3 ^17.4 Singeetam, Srinivasa Rao (1 July 2012). "స్వర్ణయుగాన్ని చూపించిన గురువు". Eenadu (in తెలుగు). Retrieved 7 October 2022.
↑ ^18.0 ^18.1 ^18.2 ^18.3 ^18.4 Pulagam Chinnarayana 2019, p. 38.
↑ ^19.0 ^19.1 ^19.2 ^19.3 వేణుగోపాల్‌, డా. నాగసూరి (21 August 2021). "తెలుగు సినిమా స్వర్ణయుగంలో మూలస్తంభం". Sakshi (in తెలుగు). Retrieved 1 October 2022.
↑ ^20.0 ^20.1 D. V. Narasaraju 2004, p. 9.
↑ ^21.0 ^21.1 ^21.2 ^21.3 ^21.4 Singeetam, Srinivasa Rao. "మహాదర్శకుడి గురించి ఆయన శిష్యదర్శకుడు". Sakshi (in తెలుగు). Retrieved 7 October 2022.
↑ Bhaktha Potana (1943), M. L. Narasimham, Blast from the past, The Hindu, 11 December 2011.
↑ Pulagam Chinnarayana 2019, p. 63.
↑ D. V. Narasaraju 2004, p. 13.
↑ ^25.0 ^25.1 Narasimham, M. L. (29 September 2012). "Gunasundari Katha (1949)". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
↑ Gudipoodi, Srihari. "Telugu Cinema - Past and Present". Idlebrain. Retrieved 1 October 2022. Gunasundari Katha was an experiment by itself with Kasturi Siva Rao, a comedian, as hero. It clicked and made good profits.
↑ "Tollywood on remake spree". The New Indian Express. 28 January 2011. Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
↑ ^28.0 ^28.1 Narasimham, M. L. (13 April 2013). "Pathalabhairavi (1951)". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
↑ Kavirayani, Suresh (14 September 2013). "A few milestones in Tollywood". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
↑ "Balakrishna's film, Legend sets a new TFI record". The Times of India. 30 April 2015. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
↑ D. V. Narasaraju 2004, p. 19.
↑ ^32.0 ^32.1 ^32.2 ^32.3 Pulagam, Chinnarayana (10 March 2014). "చిన్న బుద్ధుల 'పెద్ద మనుషుల' పై సినిమా చురకత్త". Sakshi (in తెలుగు). Retrieved 4 October 2022.
↑ D. V. Narasaraju 2004, p. 23.
↑ ^34.0 ^34.1 ^34.2 "Nostalgia: Peddamanushulu (1954)". CineGoer.com. 14 December 2007. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
↑ ^35.0 ^35.1 ^35.2 ^35.3 రావి, కొండలరావు (2 September 2018). "ఆణిముత్యాలు - 'ప్రమాణాలు' వద్దనుకుంటే... 'దొంగరాముడు' వచ్చాడు". సితార (in తెలుగు). Eenadu. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
↑ ^36.0 ^36.1 ^36.2 ^36.3 "నేటితో అరవై ఏళ్ళు పూర్తి చేసుకున్న 'దొంగరాముడు'". Andhra Jyothi (in తెలుగు). 1 October 2015. Archived from the original on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
↑ ^37.0 ^37.1 Narasimham, M. L. (3 July 2014). "Donga Ramudu (1955)". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
↑ ^38.0 ^38.1 ^38.2 ^38.3 ^38.4 "దొంగరాముడుకు 60 ఏళ్లు". Praja Sakti (in తెలుగు). October 2015. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
↑ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
↑ Sastry, A. Ramalinga (11 August 2006). "Fifty and still refreshing". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
↑ ^41.0 ^41.1 ^41.2 ^41.3 ^41.4 ^41.5 ^41.6 Narasimham, M. L. (30 April 2015). "Mayabazar (1957)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 May 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
↑ Rangan, Baradwaj (4 November 2011). "Lights, Camera, Conversation – Crouched around a campfire storyteller". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 October 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
↑ "నందమూరి తారక రాముని విశ్వరూపం" [Multiple shades of N. T. Rama Rao's talent]. Andhra Prabha (in తెలుగు). 27 May 2010. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
↑ Sarma, G. V. Prasad (14 April 2006). "Ace lensman recalls magic moments". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
↑ "1957 – ல் வெளியான படப்பட்டியல் – தயாரிப்பாளர்கள் விபரம்" [Films released in 1957 – Producers Association Information]. Lakshman Sruthi. Archived from the original on 17 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
↑ "Maya Bazaar". The Indian Express. 12 April 1957. p. 1. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
↑ "Yesteryears Mayabazar in colour". The New Indian Express. 25 January 2010. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
↑ Bhaskar, B. V. S. (1 February 2010). "'Mayabazar' in new avatar 'exciting'". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
↑ Narasimham, M. L. (19 January 2007). "Reliving the reel and the real". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
↑ Bhattacharjee, Sumit (20 February 2010). "Colouring the colourful". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
↑ "Telugu classics to watch along with family this Deepavali". The Times of India. 5 November 2012. Archived from the original on 5 February 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
↑ Chandrakanth, W. (21 April 2006). "'Maya Bazaar' forever!". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
↑ ^53.0 ^53.1 ^53.2 Narasimham, M. L. (30 July 2015). "Pellinati Premanalu (1958)". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 October 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
↑ "State Awards for Films". International Film Festival of India. 28 April 1959. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
↑ Narasimham, M. L. (14 April 2016). "Sita Rama Kalyanam (1961)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
↑ ^56.0 ^56.1 "అరవై ఏళ్ళ 'సీతారామ కళ్యాణం'" ['Seeta Rama Kalyanam' turns 60] (in Telugu). NTV Telugu. 6 January 2021. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
↑ ^57.0 ^57.1 Pulagam Chinnarayana 2019, pp. 243, 244.
↑ ^58.0 ^58.1 ^58.2 Narasimham, M. L. (7 July 2016). "Jagadeka Veeruni Katha (1961)". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
↑ Naati 101 Chitralu, S. V. Rama Rao, Kinnera Publications, Hyderabad, 2006, pp: 193-4.
↑ ^60.0 ^60.1 యు., వినాయకరావు (28 May 2015). "'కృష్ణార్జున' చిత్రానికి బ్రేక్ ఎందుకు?". Andhra Jyothi (in తెలుగు). Retrieved 5 October 2022.^{[permanent dead link]}
↑ U. Vinayaka Rao 2012, p. 86.
↑ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
↑ "సత్య హరిశ్చంద్ర" [Satya Harischandra]. Visalaandhra (in తెలుగు). 25 April 1965. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
↑ ^64.0 ^64.1 U. Vinayaka Rao 2012, pp. 89,90.
↑ Satya Harishchandra (1965) Telugu Full Length Movie || N. T. Rama Rao, S. Varalakshmi, Shalimar Video Company, retrieved 6 October 2022
↑ Prakasham, Vasiraju (30 April 1965). "సత్య హరిశ్చంద్ర 'సమీక్ష'" [Satya Harischandra 'Review']. Andhra Patrika (in తెలుగు). Retrieved 6 September 2020.
↑ ^67.0 ^67.1 Kesava Rao, V. S. (6 December 2015). "నాటికీ, నేటికీ మేటిసినిమా హరిశ్చంద్ర". Mana Telangana (in తెలుగు). Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
↑ Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-135-94325-7.
↑ ^69.0 ^69.1 Kumar, G S (24 April 2008). "Sathya Harishchandra comes to life in colour". The Times of India.
↑ ^70.0 ^70.1 "13th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
↑ "'Satya Harishchandra' CDs to be screened in schools soon". The Hindu. 22 April 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
↑ Masura. "సినిమా: ఉమా చండి గౌరీ శాంకురాల కథ" [Cinema: Uma Chandi Gowri Shankarula Katha]. Visalaandhra (in తెలుగు). Retrieved 24 September 2020.
↑ Krishna, Radha (21 January 1968). "రూప వాని: ఉమా చండి గౌరీ శాంకురాల కథ" [Roopa Vaani: Uma Chandi Gowri Shankarula Katha]. Andhra Prabha (in తెలుగు). Retrieved 24 September 2020.
↑ U. Vinayaka Rao 2012, p. 99.
↑ ^75.0 ^75.1 ^75.2 ^75.3 ^75.4 D. V. Narasaraju 2004, p. 32.
↑ U. Vinayaka Rao 2012, p. 100.
↑ "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF) (in Telugu). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 21 August 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
↑ "Pioneer in chips bets on Made-in-India business". Deccan Chronicle. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
↑ ^79.0 ^79.1 "Interview with Gudipoodi Srihari by Jeevi". Idlebrain.com. 25 December 2000. Retrieved 9 October 2022. KV Reddy used to estimate the length of shot in the planning stage and write it in the script itself. Then he used to order raw film in accordance with the estimation done during the script stage. KV Reddy was one of the most economical directors.
↑ M. L., Narasimham (20 May 2005). "Spinning magic". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 April 2006. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
↑ ^81.0 ^81.1 Kumar, Hemanth (27 April 2017). "SS Rajamouli on Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, being an atheist and his love for cinema". Firstpost. Retrieved 29 September 2022. I was 7-8 years old when I first saw it as a kid, I loved it immensely. Later, when I came to the film industry, I kept thinking about how KV Reddy and his team made the film back in those days. I was mesmerised by the visual effects in that film. Later, while making Yamadonga, my VFX supervisor and I spent two days just to figure out how KV Reddy had pulled off such amazing special effects back then. The more I explored the world of Mayabazaar, my respect for KV Reddy kept growing.
↑ "S.S.Rajamouli's Rapid Fire | RRR", Bollywood Hungama, 27 December 2021, retrieved 29 September 2022; From 4:01 to 4:30
↑ Rajamani, Radhika (7 November 2006). "'I am trying to experiment'". Rediff. Retrieved 29 September 2022. In Telugu cinema, KV Reddy films are my favourites.
↑ "Marga Darsakudu KV Reddy - A book on KV Reddy launched". Idlebrain. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
↑ Nathan, Archana (15 September 2017). "KV Reddy, director of 'Pathala Bhairavi' and 'Mayabazar', was the original fantasy movie king". Scroll.in. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
↑ Sripatisarma, Vedantam (6 June 2019). Southern Glory: About South Indian films among top 100 Indian films listed by CNN-IBN during Indian Film Centenary Year 2013. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-64587-251-1.
↑ "2nd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
↑ "6th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
↑ https://archive.org/details/20th-filmfare-best-director-actress-winners
↑ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (9 January 2019). "'NTR Kathanayakudu' review: On a reverential tone". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

Pulagam Chinnarayana (2019), Mayabazar Madhura Smruthulu, Chennai: Vijaya Publications
D. V. Narasaraju (2004), Tera Venuka Kathalu, Hyderabad: Creative Links, retrieved 30 September 2022
U. Vinayaka Rao (2012), Telugu Cine Rangam - Pouranika Chitralu, Hyderabad: Telugu Academy, retrieved 6 October 2022

External links[edit | edit source]

K. V. Reddy on IMDb

Template:FilmfareAwardBestTeluguDirector

[1] "Nostalgia - Pathala Bhairavi". CineGoer.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.

[:9-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. p. 199. ISBN 978-1-135-94318-9.

[:0-3] 3.0 ^3.1 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.

[CNN_100-6] 6.0 ^6.1 "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.

[:2-7] 7.0 ^7.1 "'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.

[:4-8] 8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 ^8.3 ^8.4 Nagabhiru, Subbarao (1 July 2022). "KV Reddy: తెలుగు సినిమా ఠీవి.. కేవీ రెడ్డి!". NTV (in తెలుగు). Retrieved 29 September 2022.

[:3-9] 9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 ^9.3 S. V., Rama Rao; C. V. R., Manikyeswari (8 September 2018). "భాగ్యచక్రము | ఫ్లాష్ బ్యాక్ @ 50". Andhra Bhoomi (in తెలుగు). Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2022.

[:13-10] 10.00 ^10.01 ^10.02 ^10.03 ^10.04 ^10.05 ^10.06 ^10.07 ^10.08 ^10.09 ^10.10 ^10.11 ^10.12 ^10.13 ^10.14 ^10.15 "Star Profiles : Colossal Visionary of films - K V Reddy". Telugucinema.com. 30 June 2012. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2022.

[జగదేక_దర్శకుడు-11] 11.00 ^11.01 ^11.02 ^11.03 ^11.04 ^11.05 ^11.06 ^11.07 ^11.08 ^11.09 ^11.10 Pulagam, Chinnarayana. "జగదేక దర్శకుడు". Sakshi (in తెలుగు). Retrieved 29 September 2022.

[FOOTNOTEPulagam_Chinnarayana201936-12] Pulagam Chinnarayana 2019, p. 36.

[:5-13] 13.00 ^13.01 ^13.02 ^13.03 ^13.04 ^13.05 ^13.06 ^13.07 ^13.08 ^13.09 ^13.10 ^13.11 "కేవీ రెడ్డి నేటి దర్శకులందరికీ స్ఫూర్తిదాయకం". V6 News (in తెలుగు). 1 July 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.

[FOOTNOTEPulagam_Chinnarayana201937-14] Pulagam Chinnarayana 2019, p. 37.

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+{{Short description|Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer (1912–1972)}}
 {{Use Indian English|date=February 2018}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
 {{Infobox person
 | name               = K. V. Reddy
-| native_name        =
-| native_name_lang   = telugu
-| image              =
-| alt                =
-| caption            =
 | birthname          = Kadiri Venkata Reddy
 | birth_date         = 1 July 1912
-| birth_place        = Tellamitta Palli [[Tadipatri]], [[Anantapur district]], [[British India]] (now [[Andhra Pradesh]], India)
+| birth_place        = Tellamitta Palle, near [[Tadipatri]], [[Anantapuram district]], [[British India]] (now [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]])
-| death_date         = {{death date and age|1972|9|16|1912|7|1|df=yes}}
+| death_date         = {{death date and age|1972|9|15|1912|7|1|df=yes}}
-| death_place        = [[Chennai]], India
+| death_place        = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
-| othername          = reddy
 | occupation         = Director, Producer, Writer
 | yearsactive        = 1940–1970
 | spouse             = Seshamma (m.1932)
-| domesticpartner    =
 }}
-'''Kadiri Venkata Reddy''' (1 July 1912&nbsp;– 15 September 1972) was an Indian film director, writer, producer and production manager in [[Telugu cinema]], known for his pioneering work in folklore, social and fantasy films. His film ''[[Donga Ramudu (1955 film)|Donga Ramudu]]'' (1955) was archived in the curriculum of the [[Film and Television Institute of India]].<ref>{{cite press release|author=Sashidhar AS, TNN 13 Aug 2012, 04.15PM IST MayabAzar |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-13/did-you-know-/33181554_1_ftii-film-and-television-institute-magnum-opus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504205627/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-13/did-you-know-/33181554_1_ftii-film-and-television-institute-magnum-opus |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-05-04 |title=Donga Ramudu was included in FTII |date=2012-08-13 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2012-08-27}}</ref> ''[[Patala Bhairavi]]'' got critical acclaim  at [[India International Film Festival]] in 1952. He has garnered three [[National Film Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinegoer.com/pathalabhairavi.htm |title=Nostalgia - Pathala Bhairavi |publisher=CineGoer.com |access-date=2012-08-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928162055/http://www.cinegoer.com/pathalabhairavi.htm |archive-date=2012-09-28 }}</ref>
+'''Kadiri Venkata Reddy''' (1 July 1912&nbsp;– 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 [[Cinema of South India|South Indian cinema]], he directed 14 [[feature film]]s during his career. His contributions earned him several prestigious accolades, including three [[National Film Awards]] and a [[Filmfare Awards South|Filmfare Award South]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Nostalgia - Pathala Bhairavi |url=http://www.cinegoer.com/pathalabhairavi.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928162055/http://www.cinegoer.com/pathalabhairavi.htm |archive-date=2012-09-28 |access-date=2012-08-27 |publisher=CineGoer.com}}</ref>
-==Personal life==
+His filmography includes films based on [[Itihasa-Purana|itihasa-puranas]] like ''[[Mayabazar]]'' (1957), ''[[Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu]]'' (1962), ''[[Sri Krishna Satya]]'' (1972); [[Fantasy film|fantasy]] films like ''[[Gunasundari Katha]]'' (1949), ''[[Pathala Bhairavi]]'' (1951), ''[[Jagadeka Veeruni Katha]]'' (1961); [[Historical drama|historical]] [[Biographical film|biopics]] like ''[[Bhakta Potana]]'' (1942), ''[[Yogi Vemana (film)|Yogi Vemana]]'' (1947), and [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] films like ''[[Pedda Manushulu (1954 film)|Pedda Manushulu]]'' (1954), [[Donga Ramudu (1955 film)|''Donga Ramudu'']] (1955), ''[[Pellinaati Pramanalu]]'' (1959).<ref name=":9">{{Cite book |last1=Rajadhyaksha |first1=Ashish |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SLkABAAAQBAJ&dq=Bhakta+Pothana+and+Yogi+Vemana%2C+contributed+to+%E2%80%9CChittor+V+Nagaiah+image+as+Ashish+Rajadhyaksha&pg=PA199 |title=Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema |last2=Willemen |first2=Paul |date=2014-07-10 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-94318-9 |page=199 |language=en}}</ref>
-K. V. Reddy was born on 1 July 1912 in [[Tadipatri]], [[Anantapur district]] in the Indian state of [[Andhra Pradesh]]. He completed his B.Sc degree in Physics in [[Presidency College, Chennai|Madras Presidency College]] before starting his career in film industry as a cashier for [[Vauhini Studios]] in 1938.
-Reddy went on to direct movies such as ''[[Bhakta Potana]]'' and ''[[Yogi Vemana]]'', with [[Chittor V. Nagaiah]] as lead actor. His 1951 production of ''[[Patala Bhairavi]]'', starring [[S. V. Ranga Rao]] and [[N. T. Rama Rao]], was a hit and was screened for 100 days in 28 centers. ''[[Maya Bazaar]]'' is regarded as his magnum opus, while ''[[Donga Ramudu (1955 film)|Donga Ramudu]]'' (1955) is included in the curriculum of the [[Film and Television Institute of India]]. K. V. Reddy had four sons and five daughters. He died on 15 September 1972.
+''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]].<ref name=":0">{{cite press release |author=Sashidhar AS |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/telugu/did-you-know-/Donga-Ramudu-was-included-in-FTII/articleshow/15476065.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504205627/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-13/did-you-know-/33181554_1_ftii-film-and-television-institute-magnum-opus |url-status=live |archive-date=2013-05-04 |title=Donga Ramudu was included in FTII |date=2012-08-13 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2012-08-27}}</ref> ''Mayabazar'' is widely regarded as one of the greatest Indian films ever produced.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 November 2021 |title=How the Telugu classic, Mayabazar, set a trend |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/how-the-telugu-classic-mayabazar-set-a-trend/article37559807.ece |access-date=29 September 2022 |issn=0971-751X |quote=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.”}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-05-12 |title='Mayabazar' is India's greatest film ever: IBNLive poll |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/mayabazar-is-indias-greatest-film-ever-ibnlive-poll-608772.html |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref> 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".<ref name="CNN 100">{{Cite web |date=7 April 2013 |title=100 Years of Indian Cinema: The 100 greatest Indian films of all time |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/13200-60.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312062626/http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/13200-60.html |archive-date=12 March 2015 |access-date=29 September 2022 |website=[[CNN-IBN]]}}</ref> In an online poll featuring the films in the list, ''Mayabazar'' was voted by the public as the "greatest Indian film of all time."<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=12 May 2013 |title='Mayabazar' is India's greatest film ever: IBNLive poll |url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/mayabazar-is-indias-greatest-film-ever-ibnlive-poll-608772.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106080737/http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/mayabazar-is-indias-greatest-film-ever-ibnlive-poll-608772.html |archive-date=6 January 2016 |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=[[CNN-IBN]]}}</ref>
-There is also a colony named after him "KV Reddy Nagar" in his hometown, Tadipatri.{{cn|date=May 2021}}
+{{TOC limit|3}}
-==Filmography==
+==Early life==
-===Director===
+Kadiri Venkata Reddy was born on 1 July 1912 in a [[Telugu people|Telugu]] family in Tellamitta Palle near [[Tadipatri]] in [[Anantapur district]] in present-day [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Nagabhiru |first=Subbarao |date=2022-07-01 |title=KV Reddy: తెలుగు సినిమా ఠీవి.. కేవీ రెడ్డి! |url=https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/kv-reddy-birth-anniversary-special-story-189580.html |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=[[NTV (Telugu)|NTV]] |language=te-IN}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last1=S. V. |first1=Rama Rao |last2=C. V. R. |first2=Manikyeswari |date=8 September 2018 |title=భాగ్యచక్రము {{!}} ఫ్లాష్ బ్యాక్ @ 50 |url=http://www.andhrabhoomi.net/content/flashback50-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909120233/http://www.andhrabhoomi.net/content/flashback50-23 |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 September 2018 |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=[[Andhra Bhoomi]] |language=te }}</ref><ref name=":13" /> His parents were Konda Reddy and Venkata Rangamma. His mother was a devotee of [[Venkateswara|Lord Venkateswara]]. His father died when K. V. Reddy was two years old.<ref name="జగదేక దర్శకుడు">{{cite news |last1=Pulagam |first1=Chinnarayana |title=జగదేక దర్శకుడు |language=te |work=[[Sakshi (newspaper)|Sakshi]] |agency= |url=http://telugucinemacharitra.com/%E0%B0%A6%E0%B0%B0%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B6%E0%B0%95%E0%B1%81%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%95%E0%B1%81-%E0%B0%AE%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%B0%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%97-%E0%B0%A6%E0%B0%B0%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B6%E0%B0%95%E0%B1%81%E0%B0%A1%E0%B1%81/ |accessdate=29 September 2022}}</ref> Later, he started living along with his mother at his maternal uncle's home.{{Sfn|Pulagam Chinnarayana|2019|p=36}}<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-07-01 |title=కేవీ రెడ్డి నేటి దర్శకులందరికీ స్ఫూర్తిదాయకం |url=https://www.v6velugu.com/popular-writer-director-and-producer-k-v-reddy-birth-anniversary-today |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=[[V6 News]] |language=te}}</ref>
-*[[Sri Krishna Satya]] (1972)
-*[[Bhagya Chakramu]] (1968)
+He performed well in academics and actively took part in sports like [[Association football|football]] and [[Field hockey|hockey]]. He was good at mathematics and painting.<ref name="జగదేక దర్శకుడు" /> [[Moola Narayana Swamy]] was a close friend of him right from his school days.{{Sfn|Pulagam Chinnarayana|2019|p=37}}<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":21" /><ref name="నవ్య బ్లాక్ అండ్ వైట్లో కె.వి. గురించి">{{cite magazine |last=Vinayaka Rao |first=U. |date=11 November 2009 |title=దర్శకులకు మార్గదర్శకుడు కె.వి.రెడ్డి |url=http://telugucinemacharitra.com/%E0%B0%A6%E0%B0%B0%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B6%E0%B0%95%E0%B1%81%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%95%E0%B1%81-%E0%B0%AE%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%B0%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%97-%E0%B0%A6%E0%B0%B0%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B6%E0%B0%95%E0%B1%81%E0%B0%A1%E0%B1%81/ |magazine=Navya |language=te |location= |publisher=[[Andhra Jyothi]] |access-date=7 October 2022 |series=}}</ref>
-*[[Uma Chandi Gowri Shankarula Katha]] (1968)
-*[[Satya Harishchandra (1965 Telugu film)|Satya Harishchandra]] (1965)
+He completed his [[Bachelor of Science|B.Sc]] degree in Physics<ref name="ఈనాడు సినిమాలో సింగీతం">{{cite news|last1=Singeetam|first1=Srinivasa Rao|title=స్వర్ణయుగాన్ని చూపించిన గురువు|url=http://telugucinemacharitra.com/%E0%B0%A6%E0%B0%B0%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B6%E0%B0%95%E0%B1%81%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%95%E0%B1%81-%E0%B0%AE%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%B0%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%97-%E0%B0%A6%E0%B0%B0%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B6%E0%B0%95%E0%B1%81%E0%B0%A1%E0%B1%81/|accessdate=7 October 2022|work=[[Eenadu]]|date=1 July 2012|author-link=Singeetam Srinivasa Rao|language=te}}</ref> in [[Presidency College, Chennai|Madras Presidency College]].<ref name=":4" /> While living in [[Chennai|Madras]], he was fascinated with the cinema industry which was still in its nascent stage. He started regularly watching films and would watch three films on Sundays.<ref name="నవ్య బ్లాక్ అండ్ వైట్లో కె.వి. గురించి" /> [[P. Pullayya]] was one year senior to him in college. P. Pullayya entered the film industry while K. V. Reddy was still in college. Both of them would frequently discuss about stories suitable to be made as films.<ref name="నవ్య బ్లాక్ అండ్ వైట్లో కె.వి. గురించి" />
-*[[Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu]] (1962)
-*[[Jagadeka Veeruni Katha]] (1961)
+K. V. Reddy graduated in 1935. He wanted to enter the film industry after the completion of his graduation. He started reading various books on filmmaking. He studied and analysed films and books by [[Cinema of Russia|Russian]] and [[Cinema of Japan|Japanese]] filmmakers.<ref name=":21" />
-*[[Pellinaati Pramanalu|Vazhkai Oppantham]] (1959)
-*[[Pellinaati Pramanalu]] (1958)
+== Career ==
-*[[Mayabazar]] (1957)
+After graduation, K. V. Reddy started a business named "The Standard Scientific Instruments Company" with his friend A. V. V. Krishna Rao.{{Sfn|Pulagam Chinnarayana|2019|p=38}} Started with an initial capital of {{Indian Rupee}}250, the company manufactured scientific instruments that are used in schools and colleges.<ref name="నవ్య బ్లాక్ అండ్ వైట్లో కె.వి. గురించి" /> He ran the business for one year during 1936{{En dash}}37 and it was successful.{{Sfn|Pulagam Chinnarayana|2019|p=38}}
-*[[Donga Ramudu (1955 film)|Donga Ramudu]] (1955)
-*[[Peddamanushulu]] (1954)
+=== 1937{{En dash}}1941: Early career ===
-*[[Pathala Bhairavi]] (1951)
+K. V. Reddy was invited by his childhood friend [[Moola Narayana Swamy]] to work in the production department of a film he was co-producing.<ref name="నవ్య బ్లాక్ అండ్ వైట్లో కె.వి. గురించి" /> K. V. Reddy joined as a cashier for Rohini Pictures in 1937 for the film [[Gruhalakshmi (1938 film)|''Gruhalakshmi'']].{{Sfn|Pulagam Chinnarayana|2019|p=38}}<ref name=":21" /><ref name=":5" /> The film released in 1938 and was commercially successful.<ref name=":3" />
-*[[Gunasundari Katha]] (1949)
-*[[Yogi Vemana]] (1947)
+Rohini Pictures was formed by the partnership of [[H. M. Reddy]] along with [[B. N. Reddy]] and Moola Narayana Swamy. The latter two had differences with H. M. Reddy and split themselves from Rohini Pictures and established [[Vauhini Studios|Vauhini Pictures]].<ref name=":8" /><ref name="నవ్య బ్లాక్ అండ్ వైట్లో కె.వి. గురించి" /> Narayana Swamy was the Chairman and B. N. Reddy was the Managing Director of the company.{{Sfn|D. V. Narasaraju|2004|p=9}} K. V. Reddy joined Vauhini Pictures along with them.<ref name=":21" /> He was also made a partner in the company.<ref name="జగదేక దర్శకుడు" /> He worked as a [[Unit production manager|Production Manager]] for Vauhini films like ''[[Vande Mataram]]'' (1939), [[Sumangali (1940 film)|''Sumangali'']] (1940), ''[[Devatha]]'' (1941).<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":13" /> While working as a cashier and a production manager, K. V. Reddy developed understanding of various aspects of [[filmmaking]].{{Sfn|Pulagam Chinnarayana|2019|p=38}}<ref name=":5" /> While working at Vauhini Pictures, he became acquainted with [[Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]], who was an assistant to B. N. Reddy. They made a pact that the first one to become a director among them would work as an assistant to the other.<ref name="ఫన్ డేలో కె.వి. గురించి సింగీతం2">{{cite news |last1=Singeetam |first1=Srinivasa Rao |author-link=Singeetam Srinivasa Rao |title=మహాదర్శకుడి గురించి ఆయన శిష్యదర్శకుడు |language=te |work=[[Sakshi (newspaper)|Sakshi]] |agency= |url=http://telugucinemacharitra.com/%E0%B0%A6%E0%B0%B0%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B6%E0%B0%95%E0%B1%81%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%95%E0%B1%81-%E0%B0%AE%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%B0%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%97-%E0%B0%A6%E0%B0%B0%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B6%E0%B0%95%E0%B1%81%E0%B0%A1%E0%B1%81/ |accessdate=7 October 2022}}</ref>
-*[[Bhakta Potana]] (1942)
+=== 1942{{En dash}}1950: Directorial debut and breakthrough ===
+==== ''Bhakta Pothana'' (1943) ====
+While working as a production manager at Vauhini, K. V. Reddy prepared the script for a film based on the life of 15th century Telugu poet [[Pothana]].{{Sfn|Pulagam Chinnarayana|2019|p=38}} Though it was opposed by various people in the company for K. V. Reddy's lack of directorial experience, Narayana Swamy greenlit the project. The film was titled ''[[Bhakta Potana|Bhakta Pothana]]'' and featured [[V. Nagayya]] in the [[Title character|title role]]''.<ref name=":3" />'' Kamalakara Kameswara Rao assisted him as was previously agreed upon.<ref name="ఫన్ డేలో కె.వి. గురించి సింగీతం2" /> The production of the film was interrupted by the [[World War II|second world war]]. But ''Bhakta Pothana'' completed its production and was finally released on 7 January 1943. The film was successful all over [[South India]] including [[Mysore state]] and [[Kerala]].<ref>Bhaktha Potana (1943), M. L. Narasimham, Blast from the past, The Hindu, 11 December 2011.</ref><ref name=":21" />
+[[File:K.V. Reddy in Swarga Seema.png|thumb|K. V. Reddy made a [[Cameo appearance|cameo]] in the song "Oho Tapodhana" as an audience member in ''[[Swarga Seema|Swargaseema]]'' (1945). |235x235px]]
+After the huge success of ''Bhakta Pothana'', Narayana Swamy who had interests in other business ventures focused on film production. He made a proposal to the board to confine Vauhini Pictures to [[film distribution]] and start Vauhini Productions for film production. The proposal was approved, and Narayana Swamy invested {{Indian Rupee}}2 [[lakh]] out of the total capital of {{Indian Rupee}}2.5 lakh. Rest of the {{Indian Rupee}}50,000 was provided by the family of B. N. Reddy and K. V. Reddy.<ref name=":8" /> Thus, K. V. Reddy became a partner in Vauhini Productions. It was decided that B. N. Reddy and K. V. Reddy would alternately direct films for the production house.<ref name=":21" /> When Vauhini Productions made ''[[Swarga Seema|Swargaseema]]'' (1945) as its first production under the direction of B. N. Reddy, K. V. Reddy worked as a production manager for the film.<ref name=":21" /> Though the film faced troubles due to the shortage of [[film stock]] due to the world war, it became successful.{{Sfn|D. V. Narasaraju|2004|p=9}} K. V. Reddy also made a [[Cameo appearance|cameo]] appearance in the song "Oho Tapodhana".{{Sfn|Pulagam Chinnarayana|2019|p=63}}
+==== ''Yogi Vemana'' (1947) ====
+While working on ''Swargaseema'', K. V. Reddy started preparing the script for his next directorial venture. Along with [[Samudrala Sr.]], he gathered information on [[Vemana]] from historical and folklore sources and prepared the script for ''[[Yogi Vemana (film)|Yogi Vemana]]'' (1947). K. V. Reddy collaborated once again with Nagayya who played the lead role.<ref name=":4" /> The film was critically acclaimed but underperformed commercially.<ref name="జగదేక దర్శకుడు" /> [[Ashish Rajadhyaksha]] and [[Paul Willemen]] in ''Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema'' note, "''Bhakta Pothana'' and ''Yogi Vemana'', contributed to Chittor V Nagaiah’s image as South Indian cinema’s most famous actor in the saint film genre".<ref name=":9" />
+Around the same time, Vauhini Productions' films were getting delayed due to lack of studio facilities. And so, they decided to build a studio of their own.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=వేణుగోపాల్‌ |first=డా. నాగసూరి |date=2021-08-21 |title=తెలుగు సినిమా స్వర్ణయుగంలో మూలస్తంభం |url=https://www.sakshi.com/telugu-news/guest-columns/moola-narayana-swamy-one-basic-pillar-telugu-cinema-golden-era-1389327 |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=[[Sakshi (newspaper)|Sakshi]] |language=te}}</ref> Narayana Swamy invested the capital required for building the studio while B. N. Reddy took up the responsibility of managing the construction work. Even though B. N. Reddy was to direct the next film for Vauhini as per the agreement, it fell upon K. V. Reddy to direct the next film as B. N. Reddy was busy in the construction work of the studio.{{Sfn|D. V. Narasaraju|2004|p=13}}
+==== ''Gunasundari Katha'' (1949) ====
+K. V. Reddy wanted to make a film that was distinct from his previous films and any of the films produced till then by Vauhini. He chose [[William Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[King Lear]]'' as the inspiration for the core plot.<ref name=":13" /> But K. V. Reddy and his writers [[Pingali (writer)|Pingali]] and [[Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]] changed the tone from the [[tragedy]] of ''King Lear'' to a more entertaining one for the film. Titled ''[[Gunasundari Katha]]'' (1949), the film was successful at the box-office.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=2012-09-29 |title=Gunasundari Katha (1949) |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/gunasundari-katha-1949/article3948788.ece |access-date=2022-09-30 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Gudipoodi |first=Srihari |title=Telugu Cinema - Past and Present |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/research/anal/anal-tc4.html |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=[[Idlebrain.com|Idlebrain]] |quote=Gunasundari Katha was an experiment by itself with Kasturi Siva Rao, a comedian, as hero. It clicked and made good profits.}}</ref> The film had a scene where the protagonist turns into a bear due to a curse. K. V. Reddy remembered a kind-hearted bear in his childhood which spared him his life and made it a character in the film. The film was later remade in Tamil as ''[[Guna Sundari|Gunasundari]]'' (1955) by [[Vijaya Vauhini Studios|Vijaya Productions]] under the direction of Kamalakara Kameswara Rao.<ref name=":6" />
+=== 1950{{En dash}}1963: Further critical and commercial success ===
+==== ''Pathala Bhairavi'' (1951) ====
+[[Nagi Reddi]] and [[Chakrapani (filmmaker)|Chakrapani]] signed K. V. Reddy in 1950 to direct ''[[Pathala Bhairavi]].'' The film was based on a story from ''Kasi Majilee Kathalu'', written by [[Madhira Subbanna Deekshitulu]].<ref name="Kasi Majilee Kathalu2">{{Cite news |date=28 January 2011 |title=Tollywood on remake spree |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2011/jan/28/tollywood-on-remake-spree-222790.html |url-status=live |access-date=21 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721165919/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2011/jan/28/tollywood-on-remake-spree-222790.html |archive-date=21 July 2019}}</ref> [[Pingali (writer)|Pingali]] adapted the content and wrote the film's story. [[Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]] and Reddy worked on the screenplay.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=2013-04-13 |title=Pathalabhairavi (1951) |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/pathalabhairavi-1951/article4614079.ece |access-date=2022-09-30 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Pingali was also inspired from the story of [[Aladdin]].<ref name=":7" /> ''Pathala Bhairavi'' was made as a bilingual film, shot in Telugu and Tamil simultaneously with both the versions having the same title.
+The film stars [[N. T. Rama Rao]], [[S. V. Ranga Rao]] and K. Malathi. The film focuses on a gardener's son who has to amass wealth equal to that of the king of [[Ujjain]] to marry his daughter and a sorcerer who has to sacrifice an intelligent and brave young man to Goddess Pathala Bhairavi to gain access to a statuette which can grant any wish. As the film is shot as a bilingual, production lasted for a whole year starting from 5 February 1950 until 8 February 1951.
+The Telugu version of ''Pathala Bhairavi'' was released on 15 March 1951, and the Tamil version on 17 May 1951. Both versions were commercially successful. ''Pathala Bhairavi'' became the first Telugu film to run continuously for 175 days,<ref name="175 days2">{{Cite news |last=Kavirayani |first=Suresh |date=14 September 2013 |title=A few milestones in Tollywood |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/A-few-milestones-in-Tollywood/articleshow/22582171.cms |url-status=live |access-date=28 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528063412/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/A-few-milestones-in-Tollywood/articleshow/22582171.cms |archive-date=28 May 2015}}</ref> and the first Telugu film to have a direct run of 200 days.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 April 2015 |title=Balakrishna's film, Legend sets a new TFI record |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Balakrishnas-film-Legend-sets-a-new-TFI-record/articleshow/47250360.cms |url-status=live |access-date=28 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528064310/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Balakrishnas-film-Legend-sets-a-new-TFI-record/articleshow/47250360.cms |archive-date=28 May 2015}}</ref> The 1952 Hindi version was also successful. ''Pathala Bhairavi'' is considered to be a [[Breakthrough role|breakthrough]] film for both Rama Rao and Ranga Rao.<ref name=":13" /> The success of the film established Vijaya Productions as a prominent [[Production company|production house]] in South Indian cinema.<ref name=":9" /> It was also the only South Indian film to be screened at the first [[International Film Festival of India]] held at [[Mumbai]] on 24 January 1952.
+==== ''Pedda Manushulu'' (1954) ====
+[[File:Pedda Manushulu movie poster 1.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|197x197px|''Pedda Manushulu'' poster]]
+After the success of ''Pathala Bhairavi'', [[Nagi Reddi]] asked K. V. Reddy to make another fantasy film for Vijaya Productions.{{Sfn|D. V. Narasaraju|2004|p=19}} But, after directing two historical films (''Bhakta Pothana, Yogi Vemana'') and two fantasy films (''Gunasundari Katha, Pathala Bhairavi'' ), K. V. Reddy wanted to make a [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] this time. As B. N. Reddy and K. V. Reddy previously agreed to alternately direct films for Vauhini, K. V. Reddy planned to make his next film on Vauhini Productions banner.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Pulagam |first=Chinnarayana |date=2014-03-10 |title=చిన్న బుద్ధుల 'పెద్ద మనుషుల' పై సినిమా చురకత్త |url=https://www.sakshi.com/news/movies/cinema-sword-upon-pedda-munushulu-movie-112091 |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=[[Sakshi (newspaper)|Sakshi]] |language=te}}</ref>
+K. V. Reddy was interested in [[western literature]] and films. ''[[The Pillars of Society]],'' a 1877 play by famous Norwegian [[playwright]] [[Henrik Ibsen]] attracted him.<ref name=":13" /> He wanted to direct a film based on the play. He collaborated with [[D. V. Narasa Raju|D. V. Narasaraju]] and D. B. G. Tilak and prepared the script.{{Sfn|D. V. Narasaraju|2004|p=23}} Only two characters from the play were retained and rest of the story was newly developed by the writers.<ref name=":11" />
+The film titled ''[[Pedda Manushulu (1954 film)|Pedda Manushulu]]'' portrayed corruption among so called respectable persons of the society.<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":4" /> It released on 11 March 1954 and was commercially successful.<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |date=14 December 2007 |title=Nostalgia: Peddamanushulu (1954) |url=http://www.cinegoer.com/peddamanushulu.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422100203/http://www.cinegoer.com/peddamanushulu.htm |archive-date=22 April 2009 |access-date=4 October 2022 |website=CineGoer.com}}</ref><ref name=":11" /> It became the first Telugu film to win the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu|National Film Award]].<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |date=30 June 2012 |title=Star Profiles : Colossal Visionary of films - K V Reddy |url=http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/starsprofile/kvreddy_profile.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120080236/http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/starsprofile/kvreddy_profile.php |archive-date=2013-01-20 |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=[[Telugucinema.com]]}}</ref><ref name=":03" /> The film became a trendsetter for many later films with a similar theme. It showed that those who are considered ''Pedda Manushulu'' ({{Translation|Gentlemen}} or {{Translation|Respectable People}}) by the society are corrupt. After the film's release, the term ''Pedda Manushulu'' had negative connotations in Telugu culture for a long time.<ref name=":03" /> The film proved K. V. Reddy's capability in directing not only fantasy and mythological films, but also social dramas.<ref name=":11" />
+==== ''Donga Ramudu'' (1955) ====
+[[File:Donga ramudu.jpg|thumb|241x241px|Poster of ''Donga Ramudu'']]
+After [[Akkineni Nageswara Rao]] became a major [[movie star]] in the early 1950s, his friend and mentor [[D. Madhusudhana Rao|Dukkipati Madhusudhana Rao]] wanted to launch their own [[production company]].<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=రావి |first=కొండలరావు |date=2018-09-02 |title=ఆణిముత్యాలు - 'ప్రమాణాలు' వద్దనుకుంటే... 'దొంగరాముడు' వచ్చాడు |url=http://www.sitara.net/animuthyalu/aanimuthyalu/2705 |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=సితార |publisher=[[Eenadu]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902070612/http://www.sitara.net/animuthyalu/aanimuthyalu/2705 |archive-date=2 September 2018 |language=te}}</ref> They established [[Annapurna Studios#Annapurna Pictures|Annapurna Pictures]], named after Madhusudhana Rao’s stepmother.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |date=1 October 2015 |title=నేటితో అరవై ఏళ్ళు పూర్తి చేసుకున్న 'దొంగరాముడు' |url=https://www.andhrajyothy.com/telugunews/abnarchievestorys-157287 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612151824/https://www.andhrajyothy.com/telugunews/abnarchievestorys-157287 |archive-date=12 June 2021 |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=[[Andhra Jyothi]] |language=te}}</ref> Madhusudana Rao, Nageswara Rao, and few others were its partners.<ref name=":12">{{Cite news |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=2014-07-03 |title=Donga Ramudu (1955) |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/donga-ramudu-1955/article6169986.ece |access-date=2022-10-04}}</ref><ref name=":14" /> They wanted K. V. Reddy to direct the first film for their banner and waited for more than two years for him.<ref name=":21" />
+D. V. Narasaraju, the writer of ''Pedda Manushulu'' was chosen to pen the story and dialogues.<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":14" /> Since he was directing Nageswara Rao for the first time, K. V. Reddy thought it should be different from the actor's earlier films.<ref name=":17" /> He suggested a storyline on brother-sister sentiment with the brother going to any extent, even giving up his life for the sake of his sister.<ref name=":17" /> Madhusudana Rao recollected a short story, ''Loving Brothers'' that he had previously read. In the story, the elder brother commits robberies to educate his younger brother.<ref name=":17" /> Taking only that point, replacing the younger brother with a sister, Narasaraju, Madhusudana Rao and K. V. Reddy wrote the script of ''Donga Ramudu''.<ref name=":17" />
+Released on 2 October 1955, ''Donga Ramudu'' became a super hit.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":15" /><ref name=":12" /><ref name=":17">{{Cite web |date=October 2015 |title=దొంగరాముడుకు 60 ఏళ్లు |url=http://www.prajasakti.com/Content/1694032 |archive-date=2015-10-04 |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=[[Prajasakti|Praja Sakti]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004003344/http://www.prajasakti.com/Content/1694032 |language=te}}</ref> The success of the film established Annapurna Pictures as a leading production house in Telugu cinema. The film was later archived by the curriculum of the [[Film and Television Institute of India]].<ref name=":0" /> ''Donga Ramudu'' was dubbed in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] as ''Thiruttu Raman'' (1956) and was commercially successful.<ref name=":15" /><ref name="anandan">{{Cite book |last=Film News Anandan |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1956.asp |title=Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru |date=23 October 2004 |publisher=Sivakami Publishers |location=Chennai |language=Tamil |trans-title=History of Landmark Tamil Films |author-link=Film News Anandan |url-status=usurped |df=dmy-all |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20170826001149/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1956.asp |archivedate=26 August 2017}}</ref> It was later remade in Hindi as ''[[Man-Mauji]]'' (1962) and again in Tamil as ''[[Vasanthi (1988 film)|Vasanthi]]'' (1988).
+==== ''Mayabazar'' (1957) ====
+K. V. Reddy always had a vision of making a film based on itihas with huge sets similar to [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] films. He found support from [[Vijaya Vauhini Studios|Vijaya Productions]] founded by [[Nagi Reddi]] and [[Chakrapani (filmmaker)|Chakrapani]].<ref name=":13" /> After the success of ''Pathala Bhairavi'', Vijaya Productions selected the film's technical crew for an adaptation of ''Sasirekha Parinayam'', also known as ''Mayabazar''. The eighth adaptation of the folk tale ''[[Sasirekha Parinayam]]'',<ref name="Sastryfifty">{{Cite web |last=Sastry |first=A. Ramalinga |date=11 August 2006 |title=Fifty and still refreshing |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/fifty-and-still-refreshing/article3230310.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128104132/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/fifty-and-still-refreshing/article3230310.ece |archive-date=28 January 2015 |access-date=28 January 2015 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> it was the studio's first film on itihas.<ref name="Hindu">{{Cite web |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=30 April 2015 |title=Mayabazar (1957) |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/mayabazar-1957/article7159111.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502053722/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/mayabazar-1957/article7159111.ece |archive-date=2 May 2015 |access-date=2 May 2015 |website=The Hindu}}</ref> K. V. Reddy wrote and directed ''[[Mayabazar]]'', assisted by [[Singeetam Srinivasa Rao]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan |date=4 November 2011 |title=Lights, Camera, Conversation&nbsp;– Crouched around a campfire storyteller |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/lights-camera-conversation-crouched-around-a-campfire-storyteller/article2597874.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005081103/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/lights-camera-conversation-crouched-around-a-campfire-storyteller/article2597874.ece |archive-date=5 October 2014 |access-date=4 February 2015 |website=The Hindu}}</ref> It was produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani. Nearly a year was spent on pre-production and casting.<ref name="Hindu" /> [[Pingali (writer)|Pingali]] wrote the story, dialogues, and lyrics.
+The film was produced in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Tamil language|Tamil]] versions, with a slightly different cast for each. [[N. T. Rama Rao]], hesitant to play [[Krishna]] after a negative response to his cameo appearance in ''[[Sonta Ooru]]'' (1956), agreed at K. V. Reddy's insistence and special care was taken with his costume and body language;<ref name="Hindu" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 May 2010 |title=నందమూరి తారక రాముని విశ్వరూపం |trans-title=Multiple shades of N. T. Rama Rao's talent |url=http://www.prabhanews.com/cinespecial/article-113800 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204151359/http://www.prabhanews.com/cinespecial/article-113800 |archive-date=4 February 2015 |access-date=4 February 2015 |website=[[Andhra Prabha]] |language=te}}</ref> ''Mayabazar'' was the first of Rama Rao's many appearances as Krishna. During rehearsals, K. V. Reddy timed his actors with a stopwatch, calculating the length of each scene (including songs) to determine the film's length.<ref name="Hindu" /> D.&nbsp;S. Ambu Rao, Bartley's assistant, said that ''Mayabazar'' was shot according to the screenplay and Bartley's lighting.<ref name="Bartley">{{Cite news |last=Sarma |first=G. V. Prasad |date=14 April 2006 |title=Ace lensman recalls magic moments |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/ace-lensman-recalls-magic-moments/article3147160.ece |access-date=30 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230151416/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/ace-lensman-recalls-magic-moments/article3147160.ece |archive-date=30 December 2014}}</ref> In addition to the principal technicians and actors, a crew of 400, including light men, carpenters, and painters, worked on ''Mayabazar'' during production.<ref name="Hindu" />
+The Telugu version of ''Mayabazar'' was released on 27 March 1957,<ref name="Hindu" /> and the Tamil version two weeks later on 12 April.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1957&nbsp;– ல் வெளியான படப்பட்டியல்&nbsp;– தயாரிப்பாளர்கள் விபரம் |trans-title=Films released in 1957&nbsp;– Producers Association Information |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1957-cinedetails20.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217090619/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1957-cinedetails20.asp |archive-date=17 December 2016 |access-date=17 December 2016 |url-status=usurped |publisher=[[Lakshman Sruthi]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=12 April 1957 |title=Maya Bazaar |pages=1 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19570412&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=19 June 2021}}</ref> Both versions have a film-reel length of {{Convert|5888|metres|feet}}. A commercial success, ''Mayabazar'' had a theatrical run of 100 days in 24 theatres and went on to become a [[silver jubilee]] film with a theatrical run of 175 days (25 weeks)<ref name="Hindu" /> ''Mayabazar'' was the first colourised Telugu film,<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 January 2010 |title=Yesteryears Mayabazar in colour |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/article226199.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204080444/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/article226199.ece |archive-date=4 February 2015 |access-date=4 February 2015 |website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> with its audio remastered from monaural to a [[DTS (sound system)|DTS]] 5.1-channel system.<ref name="Mayabazar feb 01">{{Cite web |last=Bhaskar |first=B. V. S. |date=1 February 2010 |title='Mayabazar' in new avatar 'exciting' |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/mayabazar-in-new-avatar-exciting/article700652.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202110253/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/mayabazar-in-new-avatar-exciting/article700652.ece |archive-date=2 February 2015 |access-date=2 February 2015 |website=The Hindu}}</ref>
+''Mayabazar'' is considered as a classic in Telugu cinema, particularly in its use of technology.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=19 January 2007 |title=Reliving the reel and the real |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/reliving-the-reel-and-the-real/article2271205.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204141847/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/reliving-the-reel-and-the-real/article2271205.ece |archive-date=4 February 2015 |access-date=29 September 2022 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref name="Satyanand">{{Cite web |last=Bhattacharjee |first=Sumit |date=20 February 2010 |title=Colouring the colourful |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/colouring-the-colourful/article782058.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202102239/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/colouring-the-colourful/article782058.ece |archive-date=2 February 2015 |access-date=29 September 2022 |website=The Hindu}}</ref><ref name="TOIClassics">{{Cite web |date=5 November 2012 |title=Telugu classics to watch along with family this Deepavali |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Telugu-classics-to-watch-along-with-family-this-Deepavali/articleshow/17100912.cms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205071626/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Telugu-classics-to-watch-along-with-family-this-Deepavali/articleshow/17100912.cms |archive-date=5 February 2015 |access-date=29 September 2022 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> Various words and phrases, such as "antha alamalame kada" ("Is everything fine?"), "Asamadiyulu" ("Friends"), "Tasamadiyulu" ("Enemies"), "Gilpam" and "Gimbali" ("bed-" and "room-mat"), later became part of Telugu vernacular.<ref name="Hindu Friday Review">{{Cite web |last=Chandrakanth |first=W. |date=21 April 2006 |title='Maya Bazaar' forever! |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/article3217898.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102072431/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/article3217898.ece |archive-date=2 January 2015 |access-date=2 January 2015 |website=The Hindu}}</ref>
+==== ''Pellinaati Pramanalu'' (1958) ====
+K. V. Reddy founded a [[production company]] named Jayanthi Pictures, in partnership with P. S. Reddy and [[Tikkavarapu Pattabhirama Reddy]].<ref name=":13" /> K. V. Reddy liked the film ''[[The Seven Year Itch]]'' (1955) and wanted to make a film on the same theme. He initially wanted to make this film for [[Annapurna Studios#Annapurna Pictures|Annapurna Pictures]]' maiden production, but dropped the idea as the producer [[D. Madhusudhana Rao]] was not keen on it.<ref name="జగదేక దర్శకుడు" /> He chose this idea for Jayanthi Pictures' first project.<ref name=":18">{{Cite news |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=30 July 2015 |title=Pellinati Premanalu (1958) |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/blast-from-the-past-column-pellinati-premanalu/article7481072.ece |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220720080605/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/blast-from-the-past-column-pellinati-premanalu/article7481072.ece |archive-date=20 July 2022}}</ref>
+Titled ''Pellilnati Pramanalu,'' the film starred Akkineni Nageswara Rao and [[Jamuna (actress)|Jamuna]], with music composed by [[Ghantasala (musician)|Ghantasala]]. The film was simultaneously made in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] as ''[[Vaazhkai Oppandham]]'' with a slightly different cast that released the following year.<ref name=":18" /> The Telugu version was released on 12 December 1958 and the Tamil film on 4 September 1959. The Telugu version was above average at the box-office while the Tamil film fared average but recovered its money through pre-selling.<ref name=":18" /> At the [[6th National Film Awards]], ''Pellinaati Pramanalu'' won the award for [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu|Best Feature Film in Telugu]].<ref name="6thaward2">{{Cite web |date=28 April 1959 |title=State Awards for Films |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm6thNFAAward.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020054317/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm6thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=20 October 2012 |access-date=3 September 2011 |website=[[International Film Festival of India]]}}</ref>
+==== Declining ''Sita Rama Kalyanam'' (1961) ====
+[[N. T. Rama Rao]]'s brother [[N. Trivikrama Rao]] decided to produce a film based on ''Ramayana'' for his company National Art Theatre. Rama Rao's portrayal of the Ravana in ''[[Bhookailas (1958 film)|Bhookailas]]'' (1958) earned him critical acclaim.<ref name="BFP TH">{{Cite news |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=14 April 2016 |title=Sita Rama Kalyanam (1961) |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/starring-nt-ramarao-kantharao-haranath-b-saroja-devi-mani-geethanjali/article8475709.ece |accessdate=9 May 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509054000/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/starring-nt-ramarao-kantharao-haranath-b-saroja-devi-mani-geethanjali/article8475709.ece |archivedate=9 May 2021}}</ref> Also, Ravana's reputation as a renowned Lord [[Shiva|Siva]] devotee, made Rama Rao consider reprising the role in this film with a more layered representation of the character.<ref name="SRK NTV">{{Cite news |date=6 January 2021 |title=అరవై ఏళ్ళ 'సీతారామ కళ్యాణం' |language=Telugu |trans-title='Seeta Rama Kalyanam' turns 60 |publisher=[[NTV (Indian TV channel)|NTV Telugu]] |url=https://www.ntvtelugu.com/post/60-years-of-seeta-rama-kalyanam-movie |accessdate=9 May 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509054313/https://www.ntvtelugu.com/post/60-years-of-seeta-rama-kalyanam-movie |archivedate=9 May 2021}}</ref>
+Rama Rao approached his mentor K. V. Reddy to direct the film. But, K. V. Reddy wanted Rama Rao to don the role of [[Rama|Lord Rama]] and [[S. V. Ranga Rao]] to play the character of [[Ravana]].{{sfn|Pulagam Chinnarayana|2019|pp=243, 244}} Since Rama Rao was adamant about playing Ravana, K. V. Reddy declined the offer, saying that he could not envision Rama Rao playing a demon. Rama Rao then decided to direct the film himself, marking his directorial debut with the film titled ''[[Sita Rama Kalyanam (1961 film)|Sita Rama Kalyanam]]'' (1961).<ref name="SRK NTV" />{{sfn|Pulagam Chinnarayana|2019|pp=243, 244}}
+==== ''Jagadeka Veeruni Katha'' (1961) ====
+K. V. Reddy's next project was the Vijaya Productions' fantasy film ''[[Jagadeka Veeruni Katha]]'' (1961). The film was adapted from a popular Tamil [[Folklore of India|folktale]] on which a previous film, [[Pakshiraja Films]]’ ''[[Jagathalapratapan]]'' (1944) was also based.<ref name="hindu2">{{Cite web |author=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=7 July 2016 |title=Jagadeka Veeruni Katha (1961) |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/Jagadeka-Veeruni-Katha-1961/article14475908.ece |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20200610085815/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/Jagadeka-Veeruni-Katha-1961/article14475908.ece |archivedate=10 June 2020 |accessdate=10 June 2020 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Screenwriter [[Pingali (writer)|Pingali]] and K. V. Reddy took the core plot from ''Jagathala Prathapan'', but added new characters, made other changes to the story and prepared the script of ''Jagadeka Veeruni Katha'' which made it quite distinct from the 1944 film.<ref name="hindu2" />
+The film starred [[N. T. Rama Rao]], [[B. Saroja Devi]], and [[Rajanala Kaleswara Rao|Rajanala]] with music composed by [[Pendyala (composer)|Pendyala]]. Released on 9 August 1961, the film was a box office success.<ref name=":13" /> The film was also dubbed into [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Hindi]], [[Kannada]], [[Odia language|Odia]], and Tamil.<ref name="hindu2" />
+==== ''Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu'' (1963) ====
+K. V. Reddy’s next project was the mythological film ''[[Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu]]'' (1963). The film was based on the popular [[Telugu theatre|Telugu play]] ''[[Gayopakhyanam]]'' written by [[Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimham]] in 1890. K. V. Reddy also produced the film under the Jayanthi Pictures banner.<ref>Naati 101 Chitralu, S. V. Rama Rao, Kinnera Publications, Hyderabad, 2006, pp: 193-4.</ref><ref name="కృష్ణార్జున ఆగిన కథ">{{cite news |last1=యు. |first1=వినాయకరావు |date=28 May 2015 |title='కృష్ణార్జున' చిత్రానికి బ్రేక్ ఎందుకు? |language=te |work=[[Andhra Jyothi]] |url=http://www.andhrajyothy.com/artical?SID=114153&SupID=24 |accessdate=5 October 2022 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
+The film stars [[N. T. Rama Rao]] as [[Krishna]] and [[Akkineni Nageswara Rao]] as [[Arjuna]]. Initially, Nageswara Rao was not keen on acting in a mythological film alongside Rama Rao. However, he accepted the role due to his respect towards K. V. Reddy for having directed ''Donga Ramudu'' (1955)'','' the maiden venture of his own production house [[Annapurna Studios#Annapurna Pictures|Annapurna Pictures]].<ref name="కృష్ణార్జున ఆగిన కథ" />{{sfn|U. Vinayaka Rao|2012|p=86}} ''Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu'' became a commercial success.<ref name=":13" /> The film was later dubbed into Kannada and Tamil.<ref>{{cite book |author=Film News Anandan |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1963.asp |title=Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru |date=23 October 2004 |publisher=Sivakami Publishers |location=Chennai |language=Tamil |trans-title=History of Landmark Tamil Films |author-link=Film News Anandan |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20171121062603/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1963.asp |archivedate=21 November 2017}}</ref>
+=== 1964{{En dash}}1970: Decline ===
+==== ''Satya Harishchandra'' (1965) ====
+After the success of ''Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu'' based on popular mythological play ''Gayopakhyanam'', K. V. Reddy planned a film based on another mythological play ''Satya'' ''Harishchandra'' for Vijaya Productions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 April 1965 |title=సత్య హరిశ్చంద్ర |language=te |trans-title=Satya Harischandra |work=[[Visalaandhra]] |url=https://indiancine.ma/document/FWQ/0,0,1859,825 |access-date=6 October 2022}}</ref> The songs and poems written by [[Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi (writer)|Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi]] for his [[Masterpiece|magnum opus]] play ''Satya Harischandriyamu'' in 1924 were already popular with the audience. However, due to copyright issues, K. V. Reddy could not use those poems. [[Pingali (writer)|Pingali]] wrote new poems and songs for the film.{{sfn|U. Vinayaka Rao|2012|pp=89,90}} K. V. Reddy also produced the film for Vijaya Productions.<ref>{{Citation |title=Satya Harishchandra (1965) Telugu Full Length Movie {{!}}{{!}} N. T. Rama Rao, S. Varalakshmi |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDxWp0kmmjI&t=227s |publisher=Shalimar Video Company |language=en |access-date=2022-10-06}}</ref> The film titled ''[[Satya Harishchandra (1965 Telugu film)|Satya Harishchandra]]'' starred [[N. T. Rama Rao]] in the title role and [[S. Varalakshmi]] as Chandramathi.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prakasham |first=Vasiraju |date=30 April 1965 |title=సత్య హరిశ్చంద్ర 'సమీక్ష' |language=te |trans-title=Satya Harischandra 'Review' |work=[[Andhra Patrika]] |url=https://indiancine.ma/document/FWP |access-date=6 September 2020}}</ref> The film released on 22 April 1965 and was a failure at the box-office.<ref name=":20">{{Cite web |last=Kesava Rao |first=V. S. |date=2015-12-06 |title=నాటికీ, నేటికీ మేటిసినిమా హరిశ్చంద్ర |url=https://www.manatelangana.news/raja-harishchandra-is-a-1913-indian-silent-film-directed-and-produced-by-indian-icon-dadasaheb-phalke/ |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=[[Mana Telangana]] |language=te |archive-date=6 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006063752/https://www.manatelangana.news/raja-harishchandra-is-a-1913-indian-silent-film-directed-and-produced-by-indian-icon-dadasaheb-phalke/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=":13" /><ref name=":5" /> Audience accustomed to the old poems of Lakshmikantha Kavi were disappointed with the new ones and this was attributed as one of the reasons for the failure of the film.{{sfn|U. Vinayaka Rao|2012|pp=89,90}}<ref name=":20" />
+K. V. Reddy produced the film simultaneously in [[Kannada]] with [[Satya Harishchandra (1965 Kannada film)|the same title]], starring [[Dr. Rajkumar|Dr Rajkumar]]. The Kannada film was hugely successful at the time of its release and is seen as a milestone in [[Cinema of Karnataka|Kannada cinema]].<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen2014">{{cite book |author1=Ashish Rajadhyaksha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rF8ABAAAQBAJ&pg=RA14-PA1985 |title=Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema |author2=Paul Willemen |date=10 July 2014 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-135-94325-7}}</ref><ref name=":19">{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=G S |date=24 April 2008 |title=Sathya Harishchandra comes to life in colour |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/sathya-harishchandra-comes-to-life-in-colour/articleshow/2977447.cms |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> It won the President's silver medal for [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada|Best Feature Film in Kannada]] at the [[13th National Film Awards]].<ref name="13thaward">{{cite web |title=13th National Film Awards |url=http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/101_13thNfacatalogue.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725172334/http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/101_13thNfacatalogue.pdf |archive-date=25 July 2020 |access-date=6 October 2022 |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals}}</ref> It also became the third Indian and the first South Indian [[Black and white film|black-and-white]] film to be digitally coloured in 2008.<ref name="th1">{{cite news |date=22 April 2008 |title='Satya Harishchandra' CDs to be screened in schools soon |newspaper=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/satya-harishchandra-cds-to-be-screened-in-schools-soon/article1244065.ece |accessdate=7 October 2014}}</ref><ref name=":19" />
+==== ''Uma Chandi Gowri Sankarula Katha'' (1968) ====
+K. V. Reddy's next film was ''Uma Chandi Gowri Sankarula Katha'' (1968). It is a [[Hindu mythological film|mythological film]] produced by [[Nagi Reddi]] and [[Chakrapani (filmmaker)|Chakrapani]] under the [[Vijaya Productions]] banner. The film starred [[N. T. Rama Rao]] as [[Shiva|Lord Siva]] and [[B. Saroja Devi]] in a triple role as Uma, Chandi and Gowri.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Masura |title=సినిమా: ఉమా చండి గౌరీ శాంకురాల కథ |language=te |trans-title=Cinema: Uma Chandi Gowri Shankarula Katha |work=[[Visalaandhra]] |url=https://indiancine.ma/documents/GYH/0,466,2550,2116 |access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Krishna |first=Radha |date=21 January 1968 |title=రూప వాని: ఉమా చండి గౌరీ శాంకురాల కథ |language=te |trans-title=Roopa Vaani: Uma Chandi Gowri Shankarula Katha |work=[[Andhra Prabha]] |url=https://indiancine.ma/documents/GYG/0,0,2550,1688 |access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref> Released on 11 January 1968, the film was a commercial failure.{{Sfn|U. Vinayaka Rao|2012|p=99}}<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":5" />
+==== ''Bhagya Chakramu'' (1968) ====
+After directing two consecutive flop films for Vijaya Productions, technicians and crew who were a part of K. V. Reddy’s team and were being employed by Vijaya Productions on a monthly salary basis were laid off by the company. This caused a stir in the film industry.{{sfn|D. V. Narasaraju|2004|p=32}}
+K. V. Reddy started directing a folklore film titled ''[[Bhagya Chakramu]]'' for his own production company, Jayanthi Pictures with N. T. Rama Rao in the lead role. K. V. Reddy clashed with his partners in Jayanthi Pictures during the production. Though he was credited as the director and producer, K. V. Reddy’s involvement in the making of the film was less.<ref name=":21">{{Cite web |last=Raavi |first=Kondala Rao |author-link=Raavi Kondala Rao |date= |title=ప్రతిభకు గీటురాయి... సృజనకు సూదంటురాయి! - సినీ మార్గదర్శకులు |url=http://www.sitara.net/cine-margadarsakulu/tollywood/kadiri-venkata-reddy/2992 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109081354/http://www.sitara.net/cine-margadarsakulu/tollywood/kadiri-venkata-reddy/2992 |archive-date=2018-11-09 |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=Sitara |publisher=[[Eenadu]] |language=te}}</ref> The film released on 13 September 1968 and was also a failure at the box-office.<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":5" />
+=== 1971{{En dash}}1972: Ending on a high note ===
+==== ''Sri Krishna Satya'' (1971) ====
+After the failure of ''Bhagya Chakramu'', K. V. Reddy had no offers for two years. He also felt humiliated by the [[layoff]] of his collaborators by Vijaya Productions. He was worried about not directing another successful film and ending his career as a director with three failures in his last stage.{{sfn|D. V. Narasaraju|2004|p=32}}<ref name="నవ్య బ్లాక్ అండ్ వైట్లో కె.వి. గురించి" /> He started assisting in the script work of others’ films.
+In this situation, N. T. Rama Rao approached him with two scripts written by his collaborator Pingali {{Em dash}} ''Chanakya Chandragupta'' and ''Sri Krishna Satya''.<ref name=":5" /> He offered K. V. Reddy the choice of directing either of the scripts for Rama Rao's own production house. K. V. Reddy chose the latter.{{sfn|D. V. Narasaraju|2004|p=32}}<ref name=":5" /> The plot of ''[[Sri Krishna Satya]]'' is linked to both [[Treta Yuga]] and [[Dvapara Yuga]]. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao as Lord Krishna and [[J. Jayalalithaa|Jayalalithaa]] as his consort [[Satyabhama]]. After shooting a large part of the film, K. V. Reddy fell ill. Then, Rama Rao finished the remaining portions under the supervision of K. V. Reddy. ''Sri Krishna Satya'' released on 24 December 1971 and was commercially successful.{{sfn|U. Vinayaka Rao|2012|p=100}}<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> The film won the [[Nandi Awards|Nandi Award]] for [[Nandi Award for Best Feature Film#Second Best Feature Film - Silver|Second Best Feature Film]] for the year 1971.<ref name=":04">{{Cite web |title=నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008) |trans-title=A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008) |url=http://ipr.ap.nic.in/New_Links/Film.pdf |access-date=21 August 2020 |publisher=[[Andhra Pradesh (magazine)|Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh]] |language=Telugu}}</ref>
+Directing the film and its success gave a lot of satisfaction to K. V. Reddy.<ref name="నవ్య బ్లాక్ అండ్ వైట్లో కె.వి. గురించి" /> He wanted to make one more successful film and then retire to his hometown [[Tadipatri]]. As his health deteriorated, he could not fulfil his wish and died on 15 September 1972.{{sfn|D. V. Narasaraju|2004|p=32}}
+== Personal life ==
+K. V. Reddy married Seshamma. They had nine children {{Em dash}} five daughters and four sons. When Seshamma was diagnosed with cancer, he was depressed and stopped taking his medicines for [[Diabetes]] and [[Hypertension]].<ref name="జగదేక దర్శకుడు" />
+His children were featured in the song "Bhale Thatha Mana Bapuji" in ''[[Donga Ramudu (1955 film)|Donga Ramudu]]'' (1955). His son Srinivasa Reddy worked as an assistant director to his father on ''Uma Chandi Gowri Sankarula Katha'' (1968) and ''Bhagya Chakramu'' (1968).<ref name="జగదేక దర్శకుడు" /> Another son K. Ramachandra Reddy was educated at [[Indian Institutes of Technology|IIT]]. He is a [[Entrepreneurship|serial entrepreneur]] and worked in [[United States|US]] for 30 years.<ref name="జగదేక దర్శకుడు" /> He founded Moschip Technologies Ltd. in 1999 in [[Hyderabad]]. As of 2015, it is the only publicly traded [[Fabless manufacturing|fab-less]] [[semiconductor]] company based in India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-05-12 |title=Pioneer in chips bets on Made-in-India business |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150512/business-latest/article/pioneer-chips-bets-made-india-business |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |language=en}}</ref>
+K. V. Reddy died on 15 September 1972.{{sfn|D. V. Narasaraju|2004|p=32}} His wife also died three months after his death.<ref name="జగదేక దర్శకుడు" />
+== Filmmaking style ==
+K. V. Reddy was a [[Perfectionism (psychology)|perfectionist]] who was passionate about filmmaking. [[Singeetam Srinivasa Rao]], who assisted K. V. Reddy for over a decade, mentions that he had a ‘scientific approach’ to filmmaking.<ref name="ఈనాడు సినిమాలో సింగీతం" /> He would always work with a bound script. Everything regarding the film would already be written in the script prior to the commencement of filming {{Em dash}} dialogues, shot division, [[camera angle]]s, [[prop]]s on the [[Set (film and TV scenery)|set]] etc.<ref name="ఫన్ డేలో కె.వి. గురించి సింగీతం2" /><ref name=":22">{{Cite web |date=25 December 2000 |title=Interview with Gudipoodi Srihari by Jeevi |url=https://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/interview_gudipoodi.html |access-date=2022-10-09 |website=[[Idlebrain.com]] |quote=KV Reddy used to estimate the length of shot in the planning stage and write it in the script itself. Then he used to order raw film in accordance with the estimation done during the script stage. KV Reddy was one of the most economical directors.}}</ref> Once the script is finalized, he would not make any changes to it during the shooting.<ref name="ఈనాడు సినిమాలో సింగీతం" /> He used [[stopwatch]] to time his actors calculating the length of each scene to determine the film's length.<ref name="నవ్య బ్లాక్ అండ్ వైట్లో కె.వి. గురించి" /><ref name="ఈనాడు సినిమాలో సింగీతం" />
+He was careful in finishing the film within the range of [[film stock]] that was planned to be used during [[Pre-production|preproduction]].<ref name="నవ్య బ్లాక్ అండ్ వైట్లో కె.వి. గురించి" /><ref name=":22" /> He was also mindful of finishing the film within the range of pre-planned budget. [[Film editing|Editing]] would only start after the completion of shooting.<ref name="ఫన్ డేలో కె.వి. గురించి సింగీతం2" />
+He was also particular about [[casting]].<ref name="ఫన్ డేలో కె.వి. గురించి సింగీతం2" /> He was insistent on casting N. T. Rama Rao for the role of Lord Krishna in ''Mayabazar'', though many members of the production opposed it.<ref name="జగదేక దర్శకుడు" /> N. T. Rama Rao followed the filmmaking style of K. V. Reddy after he became a director and was successful.<ref name="నవ్య బ్లాక్ అండ్ వైట్లో కె.వి. గురించి" />
+== Collaborators ==
+K. V. Reddy is noted for his collaboration with writer [[Pingali (writer)|Pingali]] which produced many successful films.<ref name=":3" /> K. V. Reddy also introduced [[D. V. Narasa Raju|D. V. Narasaraju]], who became a noted screenwriter, into the film industry.<ref name=":21" /> He also collaborated with [[Marcus Bartley]] on most of his films.<ref name=":13" /> [[Pendyala (composer)|Pendyala]] worked as a music composer for seven of his films, while [[Ghantasala (musician)|Ghantasala]] composed the music for three films. [[Ogirala Ramachandra Rao]] and Nagayya composed music for three and two films respectively. [[Singeetam Srinivasa Rao]], who would later become a doyen of [[South Indian cinema]], worked with K. V. Reddy from ''Donga Ramudu'' (1955) till ''Uma Chandi Gowri Sankarula Katha'' (1968). He initially joined Reddy as an [[apprentice]] and later became an assistant director in his team.<ref name="ఈనాడు సినిమాలో సింగీతం" /><ref name=":52">{{Cite web |last=M. L. |first=Narasimham |date=20 May 2005 |title=Spinning magic |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/05/20/stories/2005052001520300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060409062525/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/05/20/stories/2005052001520300.htm |archive-date=9 April 2006 |access-date=7 October 2022 |website=The Hindu}}</ref>
+[[N. T. Rama Rao]] collaborated with him on eight of his films. [[Akkineni Nageswara Rao]] acted in four films of his. Nagayya played the lead role in K. V. Reddy’s first two films {{Em dash}} ''Bhakta Potana'', ''Yogi Vemana'' and later played supporting roles in three films. [[S. V. Ranga Rao]] acted in three of his films {{Em dash}} ''Pathala Bhairavi, Pellinaati Pramanalu, Sri Krishna Satya''. [[B. Saroja Devi]] played the female lead in four of his films. [[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]] and [[Jamuna (actress)|Jamuna]] each played the female lead in two of K. V. Reddy’s films.{{fact|date=November 2023}}
+== Legacy ==
+{{Quote box
+| quote = I was 7-8 years old when I first saw it [Mayabazaar] as a kid, I loved it immensely. Later, when I came to the film industry, I kept thinking about how KV Reddy and his team made the film back in those days. I was mesmerised by the visual effects in that film. Later, while making [[Yamadonga]], my VFX supervisor and I spent two days just to figure out how KV Reddy had pulled off such amazing special effects back then. The more I explored the world of Mayabazaar, my respect for KV Reddy kept growing.
+| source = &nbsp;— S. S. Rajamouli about K. V. Reddy.<ref name=":51"/>
+| align = right
+| width = 32.5%
+}}
+Noted director [[S. S. Rajamouli]] cited K. V. Reddy as the Indian director who had the biggest influence on him.<ref>{{Citation |title=S.S.Rajamouli's Rapid Fire {{!}} RRR |date=27 December 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zVh_1cROP4&t=241s |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |language=en |access-date=29 September 2022}}; From 4:01 to 4:30</ref><ref name=":51">{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Hemanth |date=2017-04-27 |title=SS Rajamouli on Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, being an atheist and his love for cinema |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/ss-rajamouli-on-baahubali-2-the-conclusion-being-an-atheist-and-his-love-for-cinema-3408524.html |access-date=29 September 2022 |website=Firstpost |language=en |quote=I was 7-8 years old when I first saw it as a kid, I loved it immensely. Later, when I came to the film industry, I kept thinking about how KV Reddy and his team made the film back in those days. I was mesmerised by the visual effects in that film. Later, while making Yamadonga, my VFX supervisor and I spent two days just to figure out how KV Reddy had pulled off such amazing special effects back then. The more I explored the world of Mayabazaar, my respect for KV Reddy kept growing.}}</ref><ref name=":16">{{Cite web |last=Rajamani |first=Radhika |date=7 November 2006 |title='I am trying to experiment' |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/nov/07rajamouli.htm |access-date=29 September 2022 |website=[[Rediff]] |quote=In Telugu cinema, KV Reddy films are my favourites.}}</ref>
+A street was named after him in his hometown [[Tadipatri]].<ref name="జగదేక దర్శకుడు" /> In 2012, on the occasion of K. V. Reddy’s birth centenary, a book on his film career was written by H. Ramesh Babu and Tanneeru Srinivas.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=16 September 2012 |title=Marga Darsakudu KV Reddy - A book on KV Reddy launched |url=http://idlebrain.com/news/functions1/booklaunch-kvreddy.html |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=[[Idlebrain.com|Idlebrain]]}}</ref>
+On the centenary of [[Cinema of India|Indian cinema]] in April 2013, ''[[CNN-IBN]]'' included ''Pathala Bhairavi'' and ''Mayabazar'' in its list of "100 greatest Indian films of all time".<ref name="CNN 100" /> In an online poll conducted by ''CNN-IBN'' among those 100 films, ''Mayabazar'' was voted by the public as the "greatest Indian film of all time."<ref name=":2" />
-===Writer===
+Archana Nathan of ''[[Scroll.in]]'' called K. V. Reddy, "the original fantasy movie king". She added that ''Pathala Bhairavi'' successfully revived the adventure fantasy genre when it was declared that the genre had run out of steam.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nathan |first=Archana |date=15 September 2017 |title=KV Reddy, director of 'Pathala Bhairavi' and 'Mayabazar', was the original fantasy movie king |url=https://scroll.in/reel/848988/kv-reddy-director-of-pathala-bhairavi-and-mayabazar-was-the-original-fantasy-movie-king |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=[[Scroll.in]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
-* [[Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu]] (1963)
-* [[Mayabazar]] (1957)
-* [[Donga Ramudu (1955 film)|Donga Ramudu]] (1955)
-* [[Pathala Bhairavi]] (1951)
-* [[Gunasundari Katha]] (1949)
-===Producer===
+Vedantam Sripatisarma, a film critic, wrote of him, "Kadiri Venkata Reddy stands out as one of the most seasoned minds of yesteryears who missed no moment in entertaining the viewer even inside a subject involving melancholy and drama. His style of comedy was absolutely unimaginable. His ways never appeared to be contrived. There was this great ease with which he moved his subjects."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sripatisarma |first=Vedantam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=08GbDwAAQBAJ&dq=KV+Reddy+venkata&pg=PT40 |title=Southern Glory: About South Indian films among top 100 Indian films listed by CNN-IBN during Indian Film Centenary Year 2013 |date=2019-06-06 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-64587-251-1 |language=en}}</ref>
-* [[Satya Harishchandra (1965 Telugu film)|Satya Harishchandra]] (1965)
-* [[Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu]] (1963)
-* [[Jagadeka Veeruni Katha]] (1961)
-* [[Pellinaati Pramanalu]] (1958)
-===Production manager===
+==Filmography==
-* [[Swargaseema]] (1945)
+K. V. Reddy directed 14 [[feature film]]s.
-* [[Devatha]] (1941)
+{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
-* [[Sumangali (1940 film)|Sumangali]] (1940)
+|+Directed features
-* [[Vande Mataram]] (1939)
+|-
+! scope="col" | Year
+! scope="col" | Title
+! scope="col" | Language
+! scope="col" | Direction
+! scope="col" | Screenplay
+! scope="col" | Story
+! scope="col" | Producer
+|-
+| 1942
+! scope="row" | ''[[Bhakta Potana]]''
+| rowspan=3 |[[Telugu language|Telugu]]
+| {{yes}}
+| {{no}}
+| {{no}}
+| {{no}}
+|-
+|  1947
+! scope="row" | ''[[Yogi Vemana (film)|Yogi Vemana]]''
+| {{yes}}
+| {{yes}}
+| {{no}}
+| {{yes}}
+|-
+|  1949
+! scope="row" | ''[[Gunasundari Katha]]''
+| {{yes}}
+| {{yes}}
+| {{no}}
+| {{yes}}
+|-
+| 1951
+! scope="row" | ''[[Pathala Bhairavi]]''
+| Telugu<br />[[Tamil language|Tamil]]
+| {{yes}}
+| {{yes}}
+| {{no}}
+| {{no}}
+|-
+| 1954
+! scope="row" | ''[[Pedda Manushulu (1954 film)|Pedda Manushulu]]''
+| rowspan=2 |Telugu
+| {{yes}}
+| {{yes}}
+| {{yes}}
+| {{yes}}
+|-
+|  1955
+! scope="row" | [[Donga Ramudu (1955 film)|''Donga Ramudu'']]
+| {{yes}}
+| {{yes}}
+| {{yes}}
+| {{no}}
+|-
+| 1957
+! scope="row" | ''[[Mayabazar]]''
+|Telugu<br />Tamil
+| {{yes}}
+| {{yes}}
+| {{no}}
+| {{no}}
+|-
+| 1958
+! scope="row" | ''[[Pellinaati Pramanalu]]''
+| rowspan="7" |Telugu
+| {{yes}}
+| {{no}}
+| {{yes}}
+| {{yes}}
+|-
+| 1961
+! scope="row" | ''[[Jagadeka Veeruni Katha]]''
+| {{yes}}
+| {{yes}}
+| {{no}}
+| {{yes}}
+|-
+| 1963
+! scope="row" | ''[[Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu]]''
+| {{yes}}
+| {{yes}}
+| {{no}}
+| {{yes}}
+|-
+| 1965
+! scope="row" | [[Satya Harishchandra (1965 Telugu film)|''Satya Harishchandra'']]
+| {{yes}}
+| {{yes}}
+| {{no}}
+| {{yes}}
+|-
+|1968
+! scope="row" | ''[[Uma Chandi Gowri Sankarula Katha]]''
+| {{yes}}
+| {{yes}}
+| {{yes}}
+| {{no}}
+|-
+|1968
+! scope="row" | ''[[Bhagya Chakramu]]''
+| {{yes}}
+| {{yes}}
+| {{no}}
+| {{no}}
+|-
+|1971
+! scope="row" | ''[[Sri Krishna Satya]]''
+| {{yes}}
+| {{yes}}
+| {{no}}
+| {{no}}
+|}
+'''Other roles'''
+* ''[[Satya Harishchandra (1965 Kannada film)|Satya Harishchandra]]'' (1965) (Kannada) - Producer
+* ''[[Swarga Seema]]'' (1945) - Production manager
+* ''[[Devata (1941 film)|Devata]]'' (1941) - Production manager
+* [[Sumangali (1940 film)|''Sumangali'']] (1940) - Production manager
+* ''[[Vande Mataram]]'' (1939) - Production manager
 ==Awards==
 ;[[National Film Awards]]
-*[[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu]] - [[Pedda Manushulu]] (1955)<ref name="2ndawardPDF">{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/2nd_nff_1955.pdf|title=2nd National Film Awards|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]|access-date=23 August 2011|format=PDF}}</ref>
+*[[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu]] - ''[[Pedda Manushulu (1954 film)|Pedda Manushulu]]'' (1955)<ref name="2ndawardPDF">{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/2nd_nff_1955.pdf|title=2nd National Film Awards|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]|access-date=23 August 2011}}</ref>
-*[[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu]] - ''[[Pelli Naati Pramanalu]]'' (1958)<ref name="6thaward">{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm6thNFAAward.aspx|title=6th National Film Awards|publisher=[[International Film Festival of India]]|access-date=3 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020054317/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm6thNFAAward.aspx|archive-date=20 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
+*[[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu]] - ''[[Pellinaati Pramanalu]]'' (1958)<ref name="6thaward">{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm6thNFAAward.aspx|title=6th National Film Awards|publisher=[[International Film Festival of India]]|access-date=3 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020054317/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm6thNFAAward.aspx|archive-date=20 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
-*[[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada]]  -  [[Satya Harishchandra (1965 Kannada film)|Satya Harishchandra]] (1966)
+*[[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada]]  - [[Satya Harishchandra (1965 Kannada film)|''Satya Harishchandra'']] (1966)<ref name="13thaward" />
 ;[[Filmfare Awards South]]
-* [[Filmfare Best Director Award (Telugu)]] - [[Sri Krishna Satya]] (1972)
+* [[Filmfare Best Director Award (Telugu)]] - ''[[Sri Krishna Satya]]'' (1972)<ref>https://archive.org/details/20th-filmfare-best-director-actress-winners</ref>
+==In popular culture==
+K. V. Reddy is portrayed by director [[Krish Jagarlamudi]] in the films ''[[Mahanati]]'' (2018) and ''[[NTR: Kathanayakudu]]'' (2019).<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dundoo|first=Sangeetha Devi|date=2019-01-09|title='NTR Kathanayakudu' review: On a reverential tone|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ntr-kathanayakudu-on-a-reverential-tone/article25949259.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
+== Notes ==
+{{Notelist|30em}}
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
+==Bibliography==
+* {{Citation |title=Mayabazar Madhura Smruthulu |author=[[Pulagam Chinnarayana]] |publisher=Vijaya Publications |year=2019 |isbn= |location=Chennai}}
+* {{Citation |author=[[D. V. Narasaraju]] |title=Tera Venuka Kathalu |publisher=Creative Links |location=Hyderabad |year=2004 |url=http://www.sathyakam.com/pdfImageBook.php?bId=4567 |accessdate=30 September 2022}}
+* {{Citation|author=U. Vinayaka Rao|title=Telugu Cine Rangam - Pouranika Chitralu|date=2012|publisher=[[Telugu Academy]]|location=Hyderabad|url=http://www.sathyakam.com/pdfImageBook.php?bId=26999|accessdate=6 October 2022}}
 ==External links==
@@ Line 93: / Line 329: @@
 [[Category:Filmfare Awards South winners]]
 [[Category:People from Anantapur district]]
-[[Category:20th-century Indian film directors]]
 [[Category:Film directors from Andhra Pradesh]]
 [[Category:Telugu film producers]]

K. V. Reddy
Born	Kadiri Venkata Reddy 1 July 1912 Tellamitta Palle, near Tadipatri, Anantapuram district, British India (now Andhra Pradesh, India)
Died	15 September 1972(1972-09-15) (aged 60) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation	Director, Producer, Writer
Years active	1940–1970
Spouse(s)	Seshamma (m.1932)