L. V. Prasad
Encyclopedia
Akkineni Lakshmi Vara Prasada Rao (Telugu
: అక్కినేని లక్ష్మీవరప్రసాదరావు) (17 January 1908 – 22 June 1994), more popularly known as L. V. Prasad was an Indian film producer and actor. He was a recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award
for lifetime contribution to cinema from the Government of India
for the year 1982. The L V Prasad Eye Institute, Prasads IMAX
in Hyderabad, are a part of L. V. Prasad
group.
Taluk in the State of Andhra Pradesh
, India
. Born into an agricultural family Prasad was a pampered child, very intelligent but never interested in studies.
Prasad was drawn by the drums of the touring theatres and drama troupes. Old and worn out film prints used to be shown in ramshackle tents and Prasad used to regularly rush to watch them. He also used to do small roles in the local dramas regularly. This was the passion that drove his life – the passion for acting and the moving image.
At the age of 17, in the year 1924, he got married to his maternal uncle’s daughter Soundarya Manoharamma in a truly cinematic style and atmosphere. Soon they had a baby girl. Prasad’s father was finding the going tough due to mounting debts and was forced to declare insolvency plunging the family into a deep state of depression and humiliation. This was the time when Prasad thought about his acting prowess to make a career and Prasad left his village, without telling anyone, one day with 100 rupees in his pocket!
called Kohinoor in Dadar
where cinemas are made and artists congregate. On the cold winter morning on the new year’s day of the year 1930 Prasad alighted at Dadar. As he set up his lodging in Ramakrishna Lodge he realized that his dream of being in films is not going to be easy to achieve. To top it, he spoke neither Hindi nor English. He tried to convey his ambition to many using his sketchy English vocabulary to no avail. He was unable to gain entry into the studios and looked at another option – peering through the holes in the zinc sheets that made the fencing for the Kohinoor Studios. He used to watch for hours together with his eyes glued to these holes. Opposite the Kohinoor studios there was a tailor’s shop frequented by the stars and Prasad used to stand and watch them come and go. The tailor had been noticing Prasad’s dedication in peering through the holes in the fence and understood his passion for films. But the visiting stars found Prasad’s ambitions funny and merely laughed and made fun. Undaunted, Prasad continued to frequent the tailor shop for he was with cinema people here and he was enjoying it. A few days later he returned to his room to find his trunk broken open and whatever little money that was left was stolen. But the kind hearted thief had left a little money and a note suggesting him to go back to his village with the money. He left the hotel with his trunk
and returned to pursue his interest to enter the studio. The tailor was now quite intrigued to see him with his trunk and inquired. After
listening to Prasad's story he suggested Prasad to stay in his shop, clean the place daily, set up his hookah and start looking for a job later.
Though Prasad’s ambitions seemed to be going farther every day he somehow landed an errand boy’s job in Venus Film Company and here he met a Punjabi youth called Dharilal. Venus neither made any films nor did Prasad get his wages. Dharilal got Prasad a job in a carnival to do a little bit of acting- basically talking and enticing people to visit the games. He then joined India Pictures as an errand boy where Akthar
Nawaz cast him in a bit role in the silent film ‘Star of the East
’. The film was never released. Dharilal’s sister Moti was working in Imperial Film Company and she got Prasad a bit role in Ardeshir Irani
’s ‘Alam Ara
’ the first India Talkie Cinema released in 1931. Prasad was paid a monthly wage of Rs.30/- for his role in Alam Ara and also to do bit roles wherever required as a pandit, chowkidhar and so on. In Imperial he met H. M. Reddy
who had left his police inspector job to try his luck in films. H.M.Reddy gave Prasad a small role in Kalidas, the first Tamil Talkie cinema and subsequently in Baktha Prahlada, the first Telugu Talkie. An excited Prasad dispatched a telegram home, where by now everyone had
given him up for dead. He took a train to his native village to tell about his success where he was given the bad news of his little daughter’s death. He returned to Bombay with his wife where his first son Anand and later Ramesh were born.
Prasad by chance got a role as an assistant director in Kamar-Al–Zaman directed by Ali Shah. This was also the time Prasad saw his name being shortened from Akkineni Lakshmi Varaprasad Rao to L. V. Prasad by a clerk taking attendance who found the name too long to utter. This name stuck with him forever. Imperial had to retrench people and Prasad was left jobless. Things had not improved for him in the past 8 years, but for some acting, a little bit of assistance in directing and some odd roles. He decided to leave Bombay with his family to his native place with an intention of raising some
funds from known people and start his own production company. This did not work. One day when he was desperate, a telegram came from H. M. Reddy to act in Rohini Pictures production Grihalakshmi. He left for Madras and life changed. He made impact in H.M.Reddy’s Tenali Ramakrishna and Gharana Dhonga. Second World War was at its peak and the Japanese bombed Madras forcing many to migrate. H.M.Reddy left for Pune with his family and Prasad had to return to his native place. He was deeply depressed now since he found himself a misfit for any job other than cinema.
Tantra Subrahmanyam assigned him a job of a production supervisor and assistant director for the film Kashta Jeevi which took him to Bombay again. The film was abandoned after shooting three reels. Prasad
was in no mood to leave now and he got a job as assistant director in a few other films. During this time using his connections with Prithviraj Kapoor
he joined Prithvi Theatres and satisfied his acting passion. It was during this time that he met Raj Kapoor
, the hero of his first Hindi production 'Sharada
'. Though L.V.Prasad was
now comfortable the yearning to achieve greater heights made him restless.
In 1943 he got the opportunity to take on the responsibility of assistant director for Gruha Pravesham. Due to circumstances he became the director of the film and then he was also chosen as the hero of the film! Gruha Pravesham, released in 1946 was one of the finest films of the forties and went on to become a classic of the period. After this K. S. Prakasha Rao offered Prasad an important role in Drohi. During this time Ramabrahmam was facing difficulty in finishing his film ‘Palnatti Yuddham’ due to ill health and he chose Prasad to do justice to this film. After this in 1949, Prasad directed Mana Desam
and introduced N.T.Rama Rao, later to become a legend in Telugu cinema, in a minor role.
In 1950 Vijaya Pictures released their first film ‘Shavukaru’
establishing L.V.Prasad as a great director. N.T.Rama Rao became a hero
in Shavukkaru and Janaki the heroine, climbed to fame to become known as
‘Shavukar Janaki’. Samsaram released in the same year brought together the two legends of the Telugu film industry as brothers – N.T.Rama Rao and A. Nageswara Rao in a social drama which created records wherever it was released. The film provided a model for later film makers, a model and theme relevant and popular amongst film makers even today. After this success chased him. He directed some memorable films in the fifties all of them known for their drama and fine humour. Rani a Hindi film took him to Bombay again and after that Jupiter Films engaged L.V.Prasad to direct their Magnum Opus Manohara
starring the legendary Shivaji Ganesan in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. This film elevated Shivaji Ganesan to the greatest heights of stardom.
In the mid fifties the industrialist in L.V.Prasad came into being and he purchased a plot offered by Ranganadha Das to start building
his own studio. The combined pressure of building the studio and directing films started telling on his health and in 1955 he suffered from a bout of sciatica. Though he recovered sufficiently, his decision to return immediately to his duties, against the doctor’s advice, resulted in prolonged treatment and diet restrictions till the end.
But L.V.Prasad had more goals to achieve. In 1955 he assigned D. Yoganand to direct his first production ‘Ilavelpu
’ in Telugu under the banner Lakshmi Productions. L.V.Prasad established
Prasad Productions soon after this in 1956. His second son Ramesh returned from the United States after obtaining his B.E.M.S degree and established Prasad Film Labs in Chennai in 1974. Prasad Productions made many memorable box office hits including Milan
, Khilona
, Sasural
and Ek Duje Ke Liye. L.V.Prasad contributed generously towards the establishment of L.V.Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, which is today, one the foremost eye research institutes
in the world. The efforts started by him in 1956 is today one of the largest infrastructure for feature film post production in India with
facilities and offices in India, Singapore, Dubai and Hollywood.
During his lifetime L.V.Prasad held many posts and won many awards. In 1982 came the crowning glory of his lifetime – the Dada Saheb Phalke award from the Government of India
, the highest recognition in Filmdom in India.
Star of the east (Silent) - Incomplete
1931 : Alam Ara
- First Hindi Talkie
1931 : Kalidas - First Tamil Talkie
1931 : Bhakta Prahlada
- First Telugu Talkie
1933 : Sita Swayamvar (Hindi)
1940 : Bondam Pelli (Telugu)
1940 : Barrister Parvatishan
1940 : Chaduvukunna Bharya (Telugu)
1982 : Raaja Parvai (Tamil)
1941 : Tenali Ramakrishna
1942 : Gharana Dhonga (Telugu)
1938 : Stree (Hindi)
1931 : Kamar-Al-Zaman (Silent)
1941 : Darpan (Hindi)
1943 : Dawal (Hindi)
1944 : Lady Doctor (Hindi)
1946 : Gruha Pravesham (Telugu)
1947 : Palnati Yudham
(Telugu)
1948 : Drohi
(Telugu)
1953 : Pempudu Koduku (Telugu)
Kashta Jeevi (Telugu) - Abandoned
1949 : Manadesam (Telugu)
1950 : Shavukar
(Telugu)
1950 : Samsaram (Telugu)
1952 : Kalyanam Panni Paar (Tamil)
1952 : Rani (Tamil- Hindi)
1952 : Pelli Chesi Choodu
(Telugu)
1953 : Paradesi (Telugu)
1953 : Poongothai (Tamil)
1954 : Manohara (Telugu. Tamil & Hindi)
1955 : Missamma
(Telugu)
1955 : Missiamma (Tamil)
1955 : Mangayar Thilagam (Tamil)
1957 : Bhagyavati (Tamil)
1957 : Miss Mary
(Hindi)
1958 : Kadan Vaangi Kalyanam (Tamil)
1958 : Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu
(Telugu)
1961 : Thayilla Pillai (Tamil)
1963 : Iruvar Ullam (Tamil)
1957 : Sharada
(Hindi)
1959 : Chhoti Bahen
(Hindi)
1964 : Beti Bete (Hindi)
1966 : Daadi Maa (Hindi)
1969 : Jeene Ki Raah
(Hindi)
1972 : Shaadi Ke Baad
(Hindi)
1974 : Bidaai (Hindi)
1977 : Jay Vijay (Hindi)
1956 : Ilavelpu
(Telugu)
1965 : Illalu
(Telugu)
1961 : Sasural
(Hindi)
1963 : Ham Rahi (Hindi)
1967 : Milan
(Hindi)
1968 : Raja Aur Runk
(Hindi)
1970 : Khilona
(Hindi)
1976 : Udhar Ka Sindhur (Hindi)
1965 : Idaya Kamalam (Tamil)
1975 : Piriya Vidai (Tamil)
Thande Makkalu (Telugu)
Mane Belagida Sose (Kannada)
1980 : Yeh Kaisa Insaaf (Hindi)
1981 : Ek Duje Ke Liye (Hindi)
1985 : Mera Ghar Mere Bacche (Hindi)
1986 : Swaati (Hindi)
1990 : Bidaai ( Bengali)
1993 : Ardhana (Malayalam)
1994 : Nagpachami (Bengali)
1994 : Sandhyadhara (Bengali)
1996 : Mayer Katha (Bengali)
1996 : Sunapua (Oriya)
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
: అక్కినేని లక్ష్మీవరప్రసాదరావు) (17 January 1908 – 22 June 1994), more popularly known as L. V. Prasad was an Indian film producer and actor. He was a recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Dadasaheb Phalke Award
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema given annually by the Government of India for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. It was instituted in 1969, the birth centenary year of Dadasaheb Phalke, considered as the father of Indian cinema.The award for a particular year is...
for lifetime contribution to cinema from the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
for the year 1982. The L V Prasad Eye Institute, Prasads IMAX
Prasads IMAX
Prasads IMAX was built by demolishing the historical "Hussain Sagar Thermal Power Station" which was supposed to be South India's first thermal power plant. It is South India's first IMAX theater, built by L. V. Prasad group. It has the largest IMAX 3D screen in the world and is located in the...
in Hyderabad, are a part of L. V. Prasad
L. V. Prasad
Akkineni Lakshmi Vara Prasada Rao , more popularly known as L. V. Prasad was an Indian film producer and actor. He was a recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifetime contribution to cinema from the Government of India for the year 1982...
group.
Early life
Lakshmi Varaprasada Rao was born on 17 January in the year 1908 as the second son to Akkineni Sriramulu and Basavamma in a remote village, Somavarapadu, in EluruEluru
Eluru is a city and a municipal corporation in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the headquarters of West Godavari district and has a population of 5,15,343 approximately. Eluru is situated on the national highway NH 5 connecting Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam and about east of state...
Taluk in the State of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Born into an agricultural family Prasad was a pampered child, very intelligent but never interested in studies.
Prasad was drawn by the drums of the touring theatres and drama troupes. Old and worn out film prints used to be shown in ramshackle tents and Prasad used to regularly rush to watch them. He also used to do small roles in the local dramas regularly. This was the passion that drove his life – the passion for acting and the moving image.
At the age of 17, in the year 1924, he got married to his maternal uncle’s daughter Soundarya Manoharamma in a truly cinematic style and atmosphere. Soon they had a baby girl. Prasad’s father was finding the going tough due to mounting debts and was forced to declare insolvency plunging the family into a deep state of depression and humiliation. This was the time when Prasad thought about his acting prowess to make a career and Prasad left his village, without telling anyone, one day with 100 rupees in his pocket!
Life History
Prasad had heard of a studioStudio
A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall term for an artist and his or her employees who work within that studio. This can be for the purpose of architecture, painting, pottery , sculpture, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, radio or television...
called Kohinoor in Dadar
Dadar
Dadar is a place in Mumbai, and is also a railway station on both the Western and Central lines of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network. Dadar is situated in the heart of Mumbai, and Dadar station is the only railway station common to both the Central and Western lines...
where cinemas are made and artists congregate. On the cold winter morning on the new year’s day of the year 1930 Prasad alighted at Dadar. As he set up his lodging in Ramakrishna Lodge he realized that his dream of being in films is not going to be easy to achieve. To top it, he spoke neither Hindi nor English. He tried to convey his ambition to many using his sketchy English vocabulary to no avail. He was unable to gain entry into the studios and looked at another option – peering through the holes in the zinc sheets that made the fencing for the Kohinoor Studios. He used to watch for hours together with his eyes glued to these holes. Opposite the Kohinoor studios there was a tailor’s shop frequented by the stars and Prasad used to stand and watch them come and go. The tailor had been noticing Prasad’s dedication in peering through the holes in the fence and understood his passion for films. But the visiting stars found Prasad’s ambitions funny and merely laughed and made fun. Undaunted, Prasad continued to frequent the tailor shop for he was with cinema people here and he was enjoying it. A few days later he returned to his room to find his trunk broken open and whatever little money that was left was stolen. But the kind hearted thief had left a little money and a note suggesting him to go back to his village with the money. He left the hotel with his trunk
and returned to pursue his interest to enter the studio. The tailor was now quite intrigued to see him with his trunk and inquired. After
listening to Prasad's story he suggested Prasad to stay in his shop, clean the place daily, set up his hookah and start looking for a job later.
Though Prasad’s ambitions seemed to be going farther every day he somehow landed an errand boy’s job in Venus Film Company and here he met a Punjabi youth called Dharilal. Venus neither made any films nor did Prasad get his wages. Dharilal got Prasad a job in a carnival to do a little bit of acting- basically talking and enticing people to visit the games. He then joined India Pictures as an errand boy where Akthar
Nawaz cast him in a bit role in the silent film ‘Star of the East
Star of the East
Star of the East may refer to:* Barney Aaron, English lightweight champion boxer* The Evening Star newspaper, which had this title between 1885 and 1893* Umm Kulthum , an Egyptian singer...
’. The film was never released. Dharilal’s sister Moti was working in Imperial Film Company and she got Prasad a bit role in Ardeshir Irani
Ardeshir Irani
Khan Bahadur Ardeshir Irani ; popularly known as Ardeshir Irani, was a writer, director, producer, actor, film distributor, film showman and cinematographer in the silent and sound eras of early Indian cinema. He was renowned for making films in Hindi, Telugu, English, German, Indonesian, Persian,...
’s ‘Alam Ara
Alam Ara
Alam Ara is a 1931 film directed by Ardeshir Irani. It was the first Indian sound film.Irani recognized the importance that sound would have on the cinema, and raced to complete Alam Ara before several contemporary sound films. Alam Ara debuted at the Majestic Cinema in Mumbai on March 14, 1931...
’ the first India Talkie Cinema released in 1931. Prasad was paid a monthly wage of Rs.30/- for his role in Alam Ara and also to do bit roles wherever required as a pandit, chowkidhar and so on. In Imperial he met H. M. Reddy
H. M. Reddy
H. M. Reddy produced the first south talkie movie, Bhakta Prahlada. His full name was Hanumappa Muniappa Reddy and he was also referred as HM Reddy. Before making his own productions, he worked as assistant to Ardeshir Irani, creator of the first Indian talkie Alam Ara...
who had left his police inspector job to try his luck in films. H.M.Reddy gave Prasad a small role in Kalidas, the first Tamil Talkie cinema and subsequently in Baktha Prahlada, the first Telugu Talkie. An excited Prasad dispatched a telegram home, where by now everyone had
given him up for dead. He took a train to his native village to tell about his success where he was given the bad news of his little daughter’s death. He returned to Bombay with his wife where his first son Anand and later Ramesh were born.
Prasad by chance got a role as an assistant director in Kamar-Al–Zaman directed by Ali Shah. This was also the time Prasad saw his name being shortened from Akkineni Lakshmi Varaprasad Rao to L. V. Prasad by a clerk taking attendance who found the name too long to utter. This name stuck with him forever. Imperial had to retrench people and Prasad was left jobless. Things had not improved for him in the past 8 years, but for some acting, a little bit of assistance in directing and some odd roles. He decided to leave Bombay with his family to his native place with an intention of raising some
funds from known people and start his own production company. This did not work. One day when he was desperate, a telegram came from H. M. Reddy to act in Rohini Pictures production Grihalakshmi. He left for Madras and life changed. He made impact in H.M.Reddy’s Tenali Ramakrishna and Gharana Dhonga. Second World War was at its peak and the Japanese bombed Madras forcing many to migrate. H.M.Reddy left for Pune with his family and Prasad had to return to his native place. He was deeply depressed now since he found himself a misfit for any job other than cinema.
Tantra Subrahmanyam assigned him a job of a production supervisor and assistant director for the film Kashta Jeevi which took him to Bombay again. The film was abandoned after shooting three reels. Prasad
was in no mood to leave now and he got a job as assistant director in a few other films. During this time using his connections with Prithviraj Kapoor
Prithviraj Kapoor
Prithviraj Kapoor , 3 November 1906 – 29 May 1972) was a pioneer of Indian theatre and of the Hindi film industry, who started his career as an actor, in the silent era of Hindi cinema, associated with IPTA and who founded Prithvi Theatres, a travelling theatre company based in Mumbai, in...
he joined Prithvi Theatres and satisfied his acting passion. It was during this time that he met Raj Kapoor
Raj Kapoor
Known as Ranbir Raj Kapoor Rāj Kapūr, 14 December 1924 – 2 June 1988), also known as The Show-Man, was an Indian film actor, producer and director of Hindi cinema. He was the winner of nine Filmfare Awards, while his films Awaara and Boot Polish were nominated for the Palme d'Or at the...
, the hero of his first Hindi production 'Sharada
Sharada
Sarada or Sharada may refer to:* Another name for the Hindu goddess Saraswati* Sharada script, abugida writing system-Film:* Sharada , Bollywood film* Sharada , Telugu film...
'. Though L.V.Prasad was
now comfortable the yearning to achieve greater heights made him restless.
In 1943 he got the opportunity to take on the responsibility of assistant director for Gruha Pravesham. Due to circumstances he became the director of the film and then he was also chosen as the hero of the film! Gruha Pravesham, released in 1946 was one of the finest films of the forties and went on to become a classic of the period. After this K. S. Prakasha Rao offered Prasad an important role in Drohi. During this time Ramabrahmam was facing difficulty in finishing his film ‘Palnatti Yuddham’ due to ill health and he chose Prasad to do justice to this film. After this in 1949, Prasad directed Mana Desam
Mana Desam
Mana Desam or Manadesam is a Telugu social film directed by L. V. Prasad and produced by actress Krishnaveni. The title means "Our Country" in Telugu...
and introduced N.T.Rama Rao, later to become a legend in Telugu cinema, in a minor role.
In 1950 Vijaya Pictures released their first film ‘Shavukaru’
establishing L.V.Prasad as a great director. N.T.Rama Rao became a hero
in Shavukkaru and Janaki the heroine, climbed to fame to become known as
‘Shavukar Janaki’. Samsaram released in the same year brought together the two legends of the Telugu film industry as brothers – N.T.Rama Rao and A. Nageswara Rao in a social drama which created records wherever it was released. The film provided a model for later film makers, a model and theme relevant and popular amongst film makers even today. After this success chased him. He directed some memorable films in the fifties all of them known for their drama and fine humour. Rani a Hindi film took him to Bombay again and after that Jupiter Films engaged L.V.Prasad to direct their Magnum Opus Manohara
Manohara
Manohara is the Kinnari heroine of the Jataka Tale story of Prince Sudhana and Manohara. The legend appears in the Divyavadana and is documented by stone reliefs at Borobodur.This story is famous in Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia...
starring the legendary Shivaji Ganesan in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. This film elevated Shivaji Ganesan to the greatest heights of stardom.
In the mid fifties the industrialist in L.V.Prasad came into being and he purchased a plot offered by Ranganadha Das to start building
his own studio. The combined pressure of building the studio and directing films started telling on his health and in 1955 he suffered from a bout of sciatica. Though he recovered sufficiently, his decision to return immediately to his duties, against the doctor’s advice, resulted in prolonged treatment and diet restrictions till the end.
But L.V.Prasad had more goals to achieve. In 1955 he assigned D. Yoganand to direct his first production ‘Ilavelpu
Ilavelpu
Ilavelpu or Ilavelupu is a 1956 Telugu Drama film produced by L. V. Prasad and directed by D. Yoganand. The story is based on the successful Tamil film, Ethirpaaraathathu...
’ in Telugu under the banner Lakshmi Productions. L.V.Prasad established
Prasad Productions soon after this in 1956. His second son Ramesh returned from the United States after obtaining his B.E.M.S degree and established Prasad Film Labs in Chennai in 1974. Prasad Productions made many memorable box office hits including Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Khilona
Khilona
Khilona is a 1970 Indian film directed by Chander Vohra and recipient of the Filmfare Best Movie Award. Mumtaz won the Filmfare Best Actress Award....
, Sasural
Sasural
Sasural is a hindi word that means "in-laws" It also refers to the place/town where the In laws stay. Its a very common term in Indian Culture - It is also the title of several Hindi movies:*Sasural *Sasuraal...
and Ek Duje Ke Liye. L.V.Prasad contributed generously towards the establishment of L.V.Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, which is today, one the foremost eye research institutes
in the world. The efforts started by him in 1956 is today one of the largest infrastructure for feature film post production in India with
facilities and offices in India, Singapore, Dubai and Hollywood.
During his lifetime L.V.Prasad held many posts and won many awards. In 1982 came the crowning glory of his lifetime – the Dada Saheb Phalke award from the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
, the highest recognition in Filmdom in India.
Filmography
- Actor :
Star of the east (Silent) - Incomplete
1931 : Alam Ara
Alam Ara
Alam Ara is a 1931 film directed by Ardeshir Irani. It was the first Indian sound film.Irani recognized the importance that sound would have on the cinema, and raced to complete Alam Ara before several contemporary sound films. Alam Ara debuted at the Majestic Cinema in Mumbai on March 14, 1931...
- First Hindi Talkie
1931 : Kalidas - First Tamil Talkie
1931 : Bhakta Prahlada
Bhakta Prahlada (1931 film)
Bhakta Prahlada is the first Telugu talkie film made in 1931 by H. M. Reddy, a pioneer of the Indian film industry. It is a movie about a devotee Prahlada in Hindu mythology.-History:...
- First Telugu Talkie
1933 : Sita Swayamvar (Hindi)
1940 : Bondam Pelli (Telugu)
1940 : Barrister Parvatishan
Barrister Parvateesam (film)
-Plot:Barrister Parvateesam is a 1940 Telugu comedy-drama film directed by H. M. Reddy. It is based on the Telugu novel Barrister Parvateesam written by Mokkapati Narasimha Sastry....
1940 : Chaduvukunna Bharya (Telugu)
1982 : Raaja Parvai (Tamil)
- Assistant Director and Actor:
1941 : Tenali Ramakrishna
Tenali Ramakrishna
Garlapati Tenali Ramakrishna , popularly known as Tenali Rama and Vikata Kavi, was a court-poet of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century. He was one of the Ashtadiggajas who belonged to the court of Krishnadevaraya in Vijayanagar....
1942 : Gharana Dhonga (Telugu)
- Camera Assistant:
1938 : Stree (Hindi)
- Assistant Director:
1931 : Kamar-Al-Zaman (Silent)
1941 : Darpan (Hindi)
1943 : Dawal (Hindi)
1944 : Lady Doctor (Hindi)
- Actor and Director:
1946 : Gruha Pravesham (Telugu)
1947 : Palnati Yudham
Palnati Yudham
Palnati Yudham is a 1947 historical based on the battle of Palnadu. This film is directed by L. V. Prasad and Gudavalli Ramabramham. The film starring Govindarajula Subba Rao, Pasupuleti Kannamba and Akkineni Nageswara Rao.-Soundtrack:...
(Telugu)
1948 : Drohi
Drohi
Drohi has appeared as the title of several films.* Drohi , Telugu film by L. V. Prasad* Drohi , 1970 Telugu film directed by K. Bapaiah.* Drohi , Hindi film by Ram Gopal Varma...
(Telugu)
1953 : Pempudu Koduku (Telugu)
- Director:
Kashta Jeevi (Telugu) - Abandoned
1949 : Manadesam (Telugu)
1950 : Shavukar
Shavukar
Shavukar or Sowcar is 1950 Telugu film directed by L. V. Prasad and produced by Nagireddy and Chakrapani. Veteran South Indian actress Janaki has been named after the film as Sowcar Janaki....
(Telugu)
1950 : Samsaram (Telugu)
1952 : Kalyanam Panni Paar (Tamil)
1952 : Rani (Tamil- Hindi)
1952 : Pelli Chesi Choodu
Pelli Chesi Choodu
Pelli Chesi Choodu is a 1952 Telugu Drama film directed by L. V. Prasad and produced by Nagireddy and Chakrapani of Vijaya Pictures. This Silver Jubilee Comedy film is based on the social problem Dowry. It was simultaneous made in Tamil as Kalyanam Panni Paar. L. V...
(Telugu)
1953 : Paradesi (Telugu)
1953 : Poongothai (Tamil)
1954 : Manohara (Telugu. Tamil & Hindi)
1955 : Missamma
Missamma
*Aduvari matalaku ardhale verule - A. M. Rajah*Baalanura Madana - P. Susheela*Brindavanamadi andaridi Govindudandari vade - A. M. Rajah*Dharmam Cheyyi Babu - Relangi*Ee NavaNavabhuyudaya*Kaavaalante Isthaale - A. M. Rajah...
(Telugu)
1955 : Missiamma (Tamil)
1955 : Mangayar Thilagam (Tamil)
1957 : Bhagyavati (Tamil)
1957 : Miss Mary
Miss Mary
Miss Mary is a 1986 drama film directed by María Luisa Bemberg and starring Julie Christie, Nacha Guevara and Eduardo Pavlovsky. It was an Argentine-American co-production shot on location in Argentina....
(Hindi)
1958 : Kadan Vaangi Kalyanam (Tamil)
1958 : Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu
Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu
-2008 film:Appuchesi Pappukudu was remade in 2008 directed by Relangi Narasimha Rao and starring Rajendra Prasad and Madhumitha in lead roles.-External links:* * * *...
(Telugu)
1961 : Thayilla Pillai (Tamil)
1963 : Iruvar Ullam (Tamil)
- Producer and Director:
1957 : Sharada
Sharada (film)
Sharada is a 1957 Indian Bollywood film directed by L.V. Prasad. The film stars Raj Kapoor and Meena Kumari in lead roles, and Shyama, Raj Mehra and Anita Guha in supporting roles....
(Hindi)
1959 : Chhoti Bahen
Chhoti Bahen
Chhoti Bahen is a 1959 Hindi film that stars Nanda in the title role, and Balraj Sahni, Shyama, and Rehman....
(Hindi)
1964 : Beti Bete (Hindi)
1966 : Daadi Maa (Hindi)
1969 : Jeene Ki Raah
Jeene Ki Raah
Jeene Ki Raah is a 1969 Hindi movie produced directed and written by L. V. Prasad. The film stars Jeetendra, Tanuja, Jagdeep and Sanjeev Kumar. The films music is by Laxmikant Pyarelal with lyrics by Anand Bakshi...
(Hindi)
1972 : Shaadi Ke Baad
Shaadi Ke Baad
Shaadi Ke Baad is a 1972 Bollywood drama film directed by L. V. Prasad. The film is a remake of the 1952 Telugu film Pelli Chesi Choodu.-Cast:*Jeetendra ... Advocate Shyam B. Ram*Rakhee Gulzar ... Shobha S. Ram...
(Hindi)
1974 : Bidaai (Hindi)
1977 : Jay Vijay (Hindi)
- Producer:
1956 : Ilavelpu
Ilavelpu
Ilavelpu or Ilavelupu is a 1956 Telugu Drama film produced by L. V. Prasad and directed by D. Yoganand. The story is based on the successful Tamil film, Ethirpaaraathathu...
(Telugu)
1965 : Illalu
Illalu
Illalu is a 1940 Telugu Drama film directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam.-The Plot:Murthy is married to Indira and they live happily. Subsequently he falls in love with Leela , an educated and sophisticated lady. He brings her home as his second wife, making Indira unhappy...
(Telugu)
1961 : Sasural
Sasural (1961 film)
Sasural is a 1960 Hindi movie produced by L. V. Prasad and directed by T. Prakash Rao. The film stars Rajendra Kumar, B. Saroja Devi, Mehmood and Lalita Pawar. The music is by Shankar Jaikishan...
(Hindi)
1963 : Ham Rahi (Hindi)
1967 : Milan
Milan (1967 film)
Milan is a 1967 Hindi film directed by Adurthi Subba Rao. It was a remake of his hit Telugu film Mooga Manasulu and was produced by L. V. Prasad. The film stars Sunil Dutt, Nutan, Jamuna , Pran and Deven Varma. The award-winning and very popular music was given by Laxmikant Pyarelal...
(Hindi)
1968 : Raja Aur Runk
Raja Aur Runk
Raja Aur Runk is a 1968 Bollywood film, directed by Kotayya Pratyagatma and starring Sanjeev Kumar and Ajit.The film is an Indian adaptation of Mark Twain's novel, The Prince and the Pauper.- Synopsis :...
(Hindi)
1970 : Khilona
Khilona
Khilona is a 1970 Indian film directed by Chander Vohra and recipient of the Filmfare Best Movie Award. Mumtaz won the Filmfare Best Actress Award....
(Hindi)
1976 : Udhar Ka Sindhur (Hindi)
1965 : Idaya Kamalam (Tamil)
1975 : Piriya Vidai (Tamil)
Thande Makkalu (Telugu)
Mane Belagida Sose (Kannada)
1980 : Yeh Kaisa Insaaf (Hindi)
1981 : Ek Duje Ke Liye (Hindi)
1985 : Mera Ghar Mere Bacche (Hindi)
1986 : Swaati (Hindi)
1990 : Bidaai ( Bengali)
1993 : Ardhana (Malayalam)
1994 : Nagpachami (Bengali)
1994 : Sandhyadhara (Bengali)
1996 : Mayer Katha (Bengali)
1996 : Sunapua (Oriya)
Awards
- L.V.Prasad directed the silver jubilee hit ‘Khilona’ which was also screened in the Dreamland Theatre in Mumbai where he had worked as a ticket collector in the early years of his career!‘Khilona’ won the Filmfare Award for Best Film.
- Manohara, a Tamil film directed by L.V.Prasad, in 1954, propelled the Immortal Tamil Cinema Legend Shivaji Ganesan to dazzling heights of stardom.
- Dr.M.Karunanidhi, the present Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu wrote the script for all the Tamil films produced by L.V.Prasad and also for ‘Manohara’ ‘Iruvar Ullam’ and ‘Thayilla Pillai’ directed by L.V.Prasad.
- He was Awarded ‘RAJA SANDOW MEMORIAL AWARD’ for the year 1978-79 by the then Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr. M. G. Ramachandran at Madras.
- L.V.Prasad was Chairman of the 27th National Film Festival Awards Selection Committee (Feature Films) held at New Delhi in 1980.
- He was honoured by the Andhra Pradesh Government with the ‘RAGHUPATHI VENKAYYA AWARD’ for the year 1980.
- He was honored with ‘UDYOG PATRA AWARD’ by the Honorable Vice President of India, Mr. M.Hidayatullah at New Delhi on 20 December 1980.
- He was Chairman of the All India Selection Panel(Indian Panorama) for the 8th International Competitive Film Festival held in New Delhi from January 3 to 17, 1981. Kala Sagar and the Madras Film Fan’s Association bestowed honours on L. V. Prasad on 18 October 1981.
- L.V.Prasad was Chairman of the International Jury for Children’s Film Festival held in November 1981 at Madras.
- He received the ‘RAMNATH AWARD-82’ by the Cine Technicians’ Association of South India on 5 June 1982.
- In the year 1982 he was awarded the DADASAHEB PHALKE AWARD, the crowning glory of his life. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is an annual award given by the Indian Government for lifetime contribution to Indian Cinema. It was instituted in 1969, the birth centenary year of Dadasaheb Phalke, considered the father of Indian Cinema.
- He was given ‘KALAATAPASVI’ award by Telugu cinema weekly magazine ‘SITARA’ on 13 March 1983 at Hyderabad.
- He was elected as the President of The South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce for the year 1982-83.
- Kala Prapoorna award was conferred on him by Chancellor, Andhra UniversityAndhra UniversityAndhra University or Andhra Viswa Kala Parishad , located in Visakhapatnam, north east coastal Andhra Pradesh, is one of the older premier universities in India with a broad focus...
at Waltair on 21 December 1985.
- He was Member of the Board of Film Censors from October 1980 to February 1987.
- ‘ANDHRA RATNA’ award was conferred on L.V.Prasad by Andhra Pradesh KALAVEDIKA on 27 March 1987 at Hyderabad.
- L.V.Prasad was Chairman of the Studio Owners, Council, a wing of Film Federation of India.
- The Government of India released a Commemorative postage stamp in his memory in 2006
- He also donated acres of Land to the non governmental Eye Hospital named after him as L V Prasad Eye Institute, in posh area of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.