Ghantamneni sivarama Krishna (b. 1943)
Telugu actor, producer and director born in Tenali taluk, Guntur, AP. Educated in Tenali; graduated from the Eluru C.R. Reddy College Stage actor before joining films. First break in Adurthi Subba Rao’s all-new-faces film Thene Manasulu, playing the second lead. Achieved critical acclaim in Bapu’s Saakshi, working for the first time with his future wife, actress-filmmaker Vijayanirmala. Became a top Telugu star with the influential hit, Goodachari 116 (remade in Hindi as Farz, 1967), a James Bondtype thriller. Known mainly for thrillers and police dramas, including remakes of Hollywood films. In the 70s he starred in over a dozen films annually. Established the Padmalaya Films prod. co. which grew into the famous Padmalaya Studio in Hyderabad, one of the largest and most elaborately equipped studios in the country. With Mosagalluku Mosagadu, he introduced aspects of the Italian western into Telugu cinema. Ventured successfully into Hindi with the Jeetendra and Sridevi film Himmatwala (1983), but could not repeat the success with Sinhasan/ Simhasanam, a big-budget flop starring Jeetendra in the Hindi and himself in the Telugu versions. Elected MP in 1989 for the Congress (I), but lost his seat in 1991. Made Praja Pratinidhi and Sahasame Naa Upiri as campaign films, attacking his former colleague NTR’s rule in AP.
FILMOGRAPHY (* also d): 1965: Thene Manasulu; 1966: Kanne Manasulu; Goodachari 116; 1967: Iddaru Monagallu; Saakshi; Marupurani Katha; Stree Janma; Upayamlo Apayam; Private Master; Ave Kallu; 1968: Asadhyulu; Niluvu Dopidi; Manchi Kutumbam; Sircar Express; Amayukudu; Attagaru Kottakodalu; Lakshminivasam; Nenante Nene; Undamma Bottupeduta; Chellelikosam; Vintha Kapuram; 1969: Manchi Mithrulu; Love in Andhra; Bhale Abbayilu; Bommalu Cheppina Katha; Mahabaludu; Shabash Satyam; Astulu Antastulu; Takkaridonga Chakkanichukka; Vichitra Kutumbam; Muhurtabalam; Jarigina Katha; Jagath Kiladilu; Anna Dammulu; Karpura Arathi; Bandhipotu Bhimanna; 1970: Akkachellelu; Maa Nanna Nirdoshi; Malli Pelli; Vidhi Vilasam; Amma Kosam; Talli Bottu; Pelli Sambandham; Pelli Koothuru; Maa Manchi Akkaiah; Pagasadhishta; Agni Pareeksha; Akhantudu; Pachani Samsaram; Rendu Kutumbala Katha; Alludu Menalludu; 1971: Andariki Monagadu; Prema Jeevalu; Master Kiladi; Attalu Kodallu; Pattu Kunte Laksha; Nammaka Drohulu; Anuradha; Bangaru Kutumbam; Mosagalluku Mosagadu; Nenu Manishine; Chalaki Rani Kiladi Raja; James Bond 777; 1972: Monagadosthunnadu Jagratha; Raj Mahal; Anta Mana Manchike; Maavoori Monagallu; Goodu Putani; Hanthakulu Devanthakulu; Kodalu Pilla; Menakodalu; Bhale Mosagadu; Pandanti Kapuram; Nijam Nirupishta; Abbaigaru Ammaigaru; Kathula Rathaiah; Maa Inti Velugu; Prajanayakudu; Marapurani Talli; Illu Illalu; Manchivallaku Manchivadu; 1973: Malamma Katha; Talli Kodukulu; Nindu Kutumbam; Sreevaru Maavaru; Puttinillu Mettinillu; Snehabandham; Neramu Siksha; Devudu Chesina Manushulu; Mamatha; Mayadari Malligadu; Pasi Hridayalu; Vintha Katha; Ganga Manga; Meena; 1974: Gali Patalu; Peddalu Marali; Uttama Illalu; Alluri Seetaramaraju; Manushulu Matti Bommalu; Radhamma Pelli; Adambaralu Anubandhalu; Gauri; Deergha Sumangali; Intinti Katha; Dhanavanthulu Gunavanthulu; Satyaniki Sankellu; Devadasu; 1975: Raktha Sambandhalu; Santhanam Saubhagyam; Abhimanavathi; Kotha Kapuram; Saubhagyavati; Chikati Velugulu; Gajula Kishtayya; Devudulanti Manishi; Padi Pantalu; 1976: Shri Rajeshwari Vilas Coffee Club; Manavoori Katha; Rama Rajyamlo Raktha Pasam; Kolleti Kapuram; Bhale Dongalu; Devude Gelichadu; Manasakshi; 1977: Kurukshetramu; Savasagallu; Eenati Bandham Yenatido; Janma Janmala Bandham; Panchayathi; Dongalaku Donga; Manushulu Chesina Dongalu; Indra Dhanushu; 1978: Patnavasam; Allari Bullodu; Anna Dammula Saval; Agent Gopi; Dongala Dopidi; Mugguru Muggure; Chal Mohanaranga; Dongala Veta; Simha Garjana; Cheppindi Cheshta; Kumara Raja; Atanikante Ghanudu; Moodu Puvvulu Aaru Kayalu; 1979: Viyalavari Kayalu; Hema Hemeelu; Dongalaku Saval; Kotha Alludu; Evadabba Somu; Mande Gundelu; Mutthaiduva; Sankhu Teertham; Buripalem Bullodu; Captain Krishna; Samajaniki Saval; Hum Bhi Kuch Kam Nahin; 1980: Bhale Krishnudu; Devudichina Koduku; Kothapeda Rowdy; Gharana Donga; Mama Allula Saval; Adrushtavanthudu; Ram Robert Rahim; Sirimalle Navvindi; Chuttalunnaru Jagratha; Ragile Hrudayalu; Kiladi Krishnudu; Bandodu Gundamma; Hare Krishna Hello Radha; Maa Inti Devatha; Ammayi Mogudu Mamaku Yamadu; Allari Bhava; Bangaru Bhava; Raktha Sambandham; 1981: Urinki Monagadu; Todu Dongalu; Guru Shishyulu; Bhogimanthulu; Boga Bhagyalu; Gadasari Attaha Sogasari Kodalu; Jatagadu; Antham Kadidi Arambham; Mayadari Alludu; Nayadugarabbai; Rahasya Goodachari; 1982: Bangaru Bhoomi; Bangaru Koduku; Krishnarajunulu; Doctor Cineactor; Nivurigappina Nippu; Prema Nakshatram; Vayyari Bhamulu Vagalamari Bharthulu; Jagannatha Rathachakralu; Pagabattina Simham; Krishnavataram; Ekalavya; Shamsher Shankar; Kalavari Samsaram; Eenadu (Tel); Kannodu Kann*; 1983: Bezwada Bebbuli; Urantha Sankranthi; Mundadugu; Kirai Kotigadu; Chattaniki Veyi Kallu; Adavi Simhalu; Siripuram Monagadu; Amayakudu Kadhu Asadhyudu; Rama Rajyamlo Bheemaraju; Shakti; Praja Rajyam; Lanke Bindelu; Poratham; 1984: Iddaru Dongalu; Yuddham; Pulijudam; Mukhya Mantri; Nayakulaku Saval; Kirai Alludu; Bangaru Kapuram; Udanthudu; Kanchu Kagada; Dongalu Baboi Dongalu; 1985: Agni Parvatham; Maha Sangramam; Andarikante Monagadu; Palnati Simham; Vajrayudham; Pachani Kapuram; Surya Chandra; Krishnagaradi; Devalayam*; Mahamanishi; Vande Mataram*; 1986: Brahmastham; Sinhasan/Simhasanam?*; Khaidi Rudraiah; Krishna Paramatma; Pratibhavanthudu; Jayam Manade; Parasuramudu; Naa Pilupe Prabhanjanam*; Shantinivasam; 1987: Sardar Krishnama Nayudu; Muddayi; Dongoduchhadu; Makutamleni Maharaju; Dongagaru Swagatham; Muddubidda; Maavoori Maagadu; Thene Manasulu; Vishwanatha Nayakudu; Savkharavam*; 1988: Dorakani Donga; Kaliyuga Karnudu*; Chuttalabbai; Rowdy No. 1; Jamadagni; Ashwathama; Agni Keratalu; Maharajashri Mayagadu; Praja Pratinidhi; Mugguru Kodukulu*; 1989: Prajala Manishi*; Rajakiya Chadarangam; Atta Mechina Alludu; Manchi Kutumbam; Goodachari 117; Sahasame Naa Upiri; Ajatashatru; Sarvabhowmudu; Rickshawala*; Goonda Rajyam; Parthudu; Koduku Diddina Kapuram*; Inspector Rudra*; 1990: Anna Thamudu*; 1991: Paramashivudu; Naa Ille Naa Swargam; Nagastharam*; Indra Bhavanam*; Alludu Diddina Kapuram*; 1992: Pachani Samsaram; 1993: Varasudu; 1994: Gharana Alludu; Doragariki Donga Pellam; Yes Nenante Nene; Hello Alludu; Police Alludu; 1995: Amma Donga; Super Mogudu; Dear Brother; Real Hero.