Veteran Telugu film director Kodi Ramakrishna is no more

Acclaimed director Kodi Ramakrishna, who won the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for his contribution to Telugu cinema in 2012, passed away earlier today at a private hospital in Gachibowli, Hyderabad. He was 69 years old.

A native of Palakollu, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, Kodi Ramakrishna began his career as an associate to late director Dasari Narayana Rao in Korikale Gurralaite (1979). His career as a director began with the Chiranjeevi-starrer Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya (1982). Produced by K Raghava under Prathap Art Productions, the family entertainer was a blockbuster and had the record run of 525 days in two centres. It was followed by Tarangini which ran for 365 days.

In a career spanning over three decades, Kodi has directed over a 100 films in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi. These include Srinivasa Kalyanam (1987), Ankusham (1989), 20va Shatabdam (1990), Bharat Bandh (1991), Sathruvu (1991), Pelli (1997), Devullu (2000) and Puttintiki Ra Chelli (2004). His last film Nagarahavu, an epic-fantasy in Kannada, was released in 2016.

Kodi Ramakrishna holds the record of directing three films with Nandamuri Balakrishna -- Mangamma Gari Manavadu (1984), Muddula Krishnayya (1986) and Muddula Mavayya (1989) -- that ran for a year. His other notable film, Mapallelo Gopaludu, which marked the debut of actor Arjun Sarja, ran for 367 days.

He was also known for giving breaks to upcoming actors and film technicians in his films. He introduced a host of actors including Bhanu Chandar, Suman, Babu Mohan, and Gautami Tadimalla, among others to the industry. Kodi Ramakrishna also shone as an actor in films like Inti Donga, Aasti Mooredu Aasha Baaredu and Dongaata. He won 10 Nandi awards and two film fare awards.

Known as a celluloid visionary, Kodi Ramakrishna introduced high-end visual effects to the South Indian film industry in films like Ammoru (1995), Devi (1999), Anji (2004) and Arundhati (2009). He was a multitasker, donning the role of director, actor, script, screenplay and dialogue writer, in his films, most of which were medium budget projects.

Actors Jr NTR, Rana Daggubati, Tanish Alladi, Varun Sandesh, and others have conveyed their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. His last rites will be performed on tomorrow (February 23) at Mahaprasthanam, Hyderabad.