Vedantam Raghavaiah (Telugu: వేదాంతం రాఘవయ్య) (1919-1971) is veteran Telugu film actor, choreographer, director and producer.
[edit] Devadasu
He was the director and producer of Telugu film Devdas (1953) with music by C.R. Subburaman. The hero of Raghavaiah's Devadas, Akkineni Nageshwara Rao, became an overnight star. Nageshwara Rao has gone on record to say that the director shot him only at night so that he could get a "natural" feel to the hero's drunken stupor.
Subburaman (1921-52) did not live long enough and died just before the film was released. He was a partner of Vinoda Pictures which he had formed with writer Samudrala Raghavacharya and Raghavaiah.
[edit] Personal life
- He hailed from the village of Kuchipudi, and was an accomplished dancer. He first worked as a choreographer in films like Raitu Bidda, Vipranarayana, Swargaseema and Vande Mataram.
- He had seven children. One of his daughters Shubha, became an actress. She starred in Puttanna Kanagal's Nagarahavu. The other four sisters learnt music. The only son was sent away to boarding school, and then after graduating from Madras, went to do catering in Bombay. Raghavaiah's son Nagaprasad runs a boutique in Safina Plaza in Bangalore.
- His wife Suryaprabha was an actress. Her sister Pushpavalli was more popular actress.
[edit] Filmography
[edit] Director
- Bhale Ethu Chivaraku Chittu (1970)
- Sapta Swaralu (1969)
- Ulagam Ivvalavuthan (1969)
- Kumkumabharina (1968)
- Rahasyam (1967)
- Sati Sumati (1967)
- Aadabrathuku (1965)
- Nanna Kartavya (1965)
- Sati Sakkubai (1965)
- Swarnamanjari (1962)
- Mangayir Ullam Mangada Selvam (1962)
- Adutha Veetu Penn (1960)
- Mamaku Tagga Alludu (1960)
- Runanubandham (1960)
- Balanagamma (1959)
- Jai Bhawana (1959)
- Raja Nandini (1958)
- Intiguttu (1958)
- Suvarna Sundari (1957)
- Bhale Ammayilu (1957)
- Iru Sahodarigal (1957)
- Manalane Mangayin Bhagyam (1957)
- Chiranjeevulu (1956)
- Bhale Ramudu (1956)
- Prema Pasam (1956)
- Anarkali (1955)
- Annadata (1954)
- Devdas (Telugu and Tamil) (1953)
- Shanti (1952)
- Strisahasam (1951)
[edit] Producer
- Devdas (1953)
- Shanti (1952)
- Strisahasam (1951)
[edit] Choreographer
- Laila Majnu (1949)
- Raksharekha (1949)
- Vande Mataram (1948)
- Palnati Yudham (1947)
- Yogi Vemana (1947)
- Thyagayya (1946)
- Swargaseema (1945)
- Garuda Garvabhangam (1943)
- Panthulamma (1943)
- Seeta Rama Jananam (1942)
- Raitu Bidda (1939)
[edit] External links
