Krishna (Telugu actor)

Ghattamaneni Siva Rama Krishna Murthy (31 May 1943 – 15 November 2022), known mononymously as Krishna, was an Indian actor, director and producer known for his work predominantly in Telugu cinema.

In a career spanning more than five decades, he starred in over 350 films in a variety of roles.

He is referred to as "Superstar" in the Telugu media.

Krishna was born on 31 May 1943 in Burripalem, Guntur district of present-day Andhra Pradesh.

His parents are Ghattamaneni Nagaratnamma, Veeraraghavayya Chowdary.

Krishna was married twice, first to Indira Devi and subsequently to Vijaya Nirmala.

He had five children in his first marriage: two sons, film producer Ramesh Babu and actor Mahesh Babu, and three daughters, Padmavathi, Manjula Ghattamaneni, and Priyadarshini.

Krishna began his film career with minor roles in films such as Kula Gothralu (1961), Padandi Mundhuku (1962), and Paruvu Prathishta (1963).

His career began with minor roles in films such as Kula Gothralu (1961), Padandi Mundhuku (1962), and Paruvu Prathishta (1963).

He debuted as a lead actor with the 1965 film Thene Manasulu and went on to star in films such as Sakshi (1967), which won critical acclaim at the Tashkent film festival in 1968.

He was then cast in Thene Manasulu (1965) as one of the male leads.

Despite commercial pressure being placed on Adurthi Subba Rao, the film director, to drop Krishna, the film was released as originally planned.

He uniquely starred in the spy films Gudachari 116 (1966), James Bond 777 (1971), Agent Gopi (1978), Rahasya Gudachari (1981) and Gudachari 117 (1989).

It was a success and Adurthi repeated the cast for his next film Kanne Manasulu (1966).

Krishna was also selected to play the lead role in Doondi and Sunderlal Nehta's hit movie Gudachaari 116 (1966), which brought the spy genre of films to the forefront in Telugu cinema.

Krishna met Vijaya Nirmala on the sets of Sakshi (1967).

The pair worked together in over 40 films.

Though action films were his standard, Krishna also acted in films such as Marapurani Katha (1967), Atthagaaru Kotthakodalu (1968), and Undamma Bottu Pedatha (1968).

He also worked with more established actors, such as N. T. Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao, in films such as Stree Janma (1967), Niluvu Dopidi (1968), Manchi Kutumbam (1968), Vichithra Kutumbam (1969), Akka Chellellu (1970) during this period.

At this time, Krishna established his own production house, Padmalaya Films and produced several big-budget films such as Agni Pariksha (1970), Mosagallaku Mosagadu (1971), Pandanti Kapuram (1972), Devudu Chesina Manushulu (1973), Alluri Seetharama Raju (1974).

Mosagallaki Mosagadu, which brought the Cowboy genre of films in 1971 and Alluri Seetharamaraju, which released in 1974 were sensational in many ways.

In 1972, he starred in Pandanti Kapuram, which garnered the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu for that year.

He has essayed roles across different genres including mythological, drama, western, fantasy, action, spy and historical films.

Krishna was credited with producing many technological firsts in the Telugu film industry such as the first Cinemascope film – Alluri Seetarama Raju (1974), the first Eastmancolor film – Eenadu (1982), the first 70mm film – Simhasanam (1986), the first DTS film – Telugu Veera Levara (1995) and introducing the cowboy genre to the Telugu screen.

With his second wife Vijaya Nirmala, Krishna also set up another production house called Vijaya Krishna movies, and produced some critically acclaimed films, including Meena and Devadasu (1974).

In 1975, except for Cheekati Velugulu, none of his films of this time made any impact at the box office as people were reluctant to watch him in softer roles after his portrayal of Alluri Seetharama Raju in the eponymous film.

He suffered 14 consecutive flops (Devadasu also one of them) after the release of Alluri Seetarama Raju.

In 1976, he produced Paadi Pantalu, written by Maharadhi Tripuraneni, Raja Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club, and Rama Rajyamloo Raktha Paasam.

He also appeared as an actor in Kolleti Kapuram, Bhalee Dongalu and Devudee Gelichaadu.

In the 1977 film Kurukshethram, based on the Mahabharata epic, he appeared as Arjuna.

Krishna directed Sankharavam (1987), Mugguru Kodukulu (1988), Koduku Diddina Kapuram (1989), Bala Chandrudu (1990) and Anna Thammudu (1990), casting his son Mahesh Babu in pivotal roles.

Krishna directed 17 feature films and produced many films under his Padmalaya Studios production company along with his brothers Adiseshagiri Rao and Hanumantha Rao.

Krishna was one of the highest-paid Telugu actors during his time.

Krishna collaborated with several notable directors of the time such as Adurthi Subba Rao, V. Madhusudhana Rao, K. Viswanath, Bapu, Dasari Narayana Rao and K. Raghavendra Rao.

He also holds the record of co starring with the same actress – 48 films with Vijaya Nirmala and 47 films with Jaya Prada.

He was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Congress party in 1989.

In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South in addition to Honorary doctorate from Andhra University in 2008.

He died on 15 November 2022 due to cardiac arrest.

In 2009, the government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to Indian cinema.

In December 2012, at the age of 69, Krishna announced his retirement from politics.