Krishna

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 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" and "Nata Sekhara" in the media. In 2009, for his contributions to Indian cinema the Indian government awarded him the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in the country. 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. Krishna began his film career 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. 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 is recognised for contributing to several technological advancements in Telugu cinema, including the first full-length Cinemascope film, Alluri Seetarama Raju (1974), and the first 70 mm film, Simhasanam (1986). He also introduced the spy genre with Gudachari 116 (1966) and the western genre with Mosagallaku Mosagadu (1971). Notably, Mosagallaku Mosagadu is considered the first true western genre film in Indian cinema. Following Gudachari 116, Krishna also featured in several spy films. Krishna directed 17 feature films and produced many films under his Padmalaya Studios banner along with his brothers Adiseshagiri Rao and Hanumantha Rao.