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Krishna
Actor

Krishna

31 May 1943Born
15 Nov 2022Died
79Age at death
136Credits

Biography

Ghattamaneni Siva Rama Krishna Murthy (31 May 1943 – 15 November 2022), known mononymously as Krishna, was a prolific Indian actor, director, and producer who transformed the landscape of Telugu cinema. Over a career spanning five decades, he starred in more than 350 films in a variety of roles, earning acclaim for his extensive work and fearless creative risks.

Krishna began his film career in 1961 with minor roles before achieving his breakthrough with his first lead role in Thene Manasulu (1965).

Read the full biography

He later starred in several landmark films, including the critically acclaimed Sakshi (1967) and the family drama Pandanti Kapuram (1972), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu.

More than just a leading man, Krishna is celebrated as the industry’s foremost technological trailblazer who dared to reshape the cinematic experience. He portrayed the revolutionary lead in the first film to be entirely made in CinemaScope, the historical epic Alluri Seetarama Raju (1974), and later produced, directed, and headlined the first 70 mm feature, Simhasanam (1986), greatly expanding the visual scale and ambition of regional filmmaking. He also introduced the spy genre to South India with Gudachari 116 (1966) and the Western genre with Mosagallaku Mosagadu (1971), notably regarded as the first true Western in Indian cinema.

In addition to his acting career, Krishna directed 17 feature films and produced numerous projects through the production company he founded, Padmalaya Studios. For his outstanding contributions to Indian cinema and his pioneering role in modernizing the industry, he was honored with the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2009. In 1989, he was also elected as a Member of Parliament representing the Congress party. His final major release was Sri Sri (2016), after which he retired from films. Krishna passed away on November 15, 2022, following a cardiac arrest.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 136 credits.

  1. 2016Sri SriFilm: Sri Sri
  2. 2013SukumaruduFilm
  3. 2013SevakuduFilm: Krishna Prasad
  4. 2009KanthaswamyFilm: Krishna Rao
  5. 2008BaladurFilm: Ramakrishna
  6. 2007SatyabhamaFilm: Psychiatrist
  7. 2004Ishq Hai TumseFilm: Writer, Director
  8. 2004Message of PeaceFilm: Jesus
  9. 2002Takkari DongaFilm: Special appearance
  10. 2001Pandanti SamsaramFilm: Krishnamanaidu, Director, Screenplay
  11. 2000VamsiFilm: Arjun
  12. 2000RavannaFilm: Retired Army Major
  13. 1999RajakumaruduFilm: Krishnamurthy
  14. 1999SultanFilm: Ashok
  15. 1997Osey RamulammaFilm: CBI officer Krishna
  16. 1997SubhakankshaluFilm: Special Appearance
  17. 1996RamudochaduFilm: Krishna Prasad (Cameo appearance)
  18. 1996Jagadeka VeeruduFilm
  19. 1995Amma Donga!Film: Chakradhar
  20. 1995Telugu Veera LevaraFilm: seeta rama raju
  21. 1994YamaleelaFilm: Special appearance
  22. 1993VarasuduFilm
  23. 1992Raktha TharpanamFilm: Director, Screenplay
  24. 1991Naa Ille Naa SwargamFilm
  25. 1991Alludu Diddina KapuramFilm: Director
  26. 1991Indra BhavanamFilm: Director, Screenplay
  27. 1990NagastharamFilm: Director
  28. 1990BalachandruduFilm: Director, Writer
  29. 1990Anna ThammuduFilm: Raja Krishna Prasad, Director, Screenplay
  30. 1989RickshawalaFilm: Director, Writer
  31. 1989Koduku Diddina KapuramFilm: Chakravarthy, Director, Writer
  32. 1989SarvabhoumuduFilm
  33. 1989Gudachari 117Film: Chandrakanth, Secret Agent 117
  34. 1989Atha Mechina AlluduFilm
  35. 1988Mugguru KodukuluFilm: Phanindra, Director, Screenplay
  36. 1988Maharajashri MayagaaduFilm
  37. 1988JamadagniFilm
  38. 1988Rajakiya ChadurangamFilm: S.P. Pratap
  39. 1988Kaliyuga KarnuduFilm: Director, Screenplay
  40. 1987Maa Voori MagaaduFilm: Ravi
  41. 1987Vishwanatha NayakuduFilm: Vishwanatha Nayakudu
  42. 1987SankharavamFilm: Vijay / Vikram, Director, Screenplay
  43. 1987Makutamleni MaharajuFilm: Pardhasaradhi
  44. 1986Khaidi RudrayyaFilm: Rudramaraju "Rudraiah"
  45. 1986Jayam ManadeFilm
  46. 1986SinghasanFilm: Director, Writer
  47. 1986SimhasanamFilm: Vikrama Simha / Aditya Vardhana, Director, Writer
  48. 1985Pachani KapuramFilm: Gopi
  49. 1985VajrayudhamFilm
  50. 1985Agni ParvathamFilm: Chandram / Jamadagni
  51. 1984Dongalu Baboi DongaluFilm: Rama / Krishna
  52. 1984Kanchu KaagadaFilm: Vikram
  53. 1984YuddhamFilm: Kishan / Krishna Rao
  54. 1984Iddaru DongaluFilm
  55. 1983PoratamFilm: Krishna Murthy
  56. 1983Ramarajyamlo BheemarajuFilm: Bheemaraju / Krishna Raja Kumar
  57. 1983Amayakudu Kadhu AsadhyuduFilm
  58. 1983Siripuram MonagaduFilm: Sridhar
  59. 1983Adavi SimhaluFilm: Krishna
  60. 1983Kirayi KotigaduFilm: Kotigadu
  61. 1983MundhaduguFilm: Balagangadhara Tilak
  62. 1983Oorantha SankranthiFilm: Gopi
  63. 1982EenaduFilm
  64. 1982Kalavaari SamsaramFilm: Vishnu
  65. 1982Shamsher ShankarFilm
  66. 1982KrishnavataramFilm: Kishtayya
  67. 1982Vayyari Bhamalu Vagalamari BhartaluFilm: Chinmababu Diwakar
  68. 1982Prema NakshatramFilm
  69. 1982KrishnarajunuluFilm: Arjun
  70. 1982Bangaru KodukuFilm
  71. 1982Edi Dharmam Edi NyayamFilm
  72. 1982Bangaru BhoomiFilm: Ravi
  73. 1981Gadasari Atta Sogasari KodaluFilm
  74. 1981Bhoga BhagyaluFilm
  75. 1981Rahasya GudachariFilm: Agent Gopi, 116
  76. 1981Guru SishyuluFilm: Gopi
  77. 1981Todu DongaluFilm
  78. 1981Ooriki MonagaduFilm: Ravi
  79. 1981JathagaduFilm: Gopi
  80. 1980Bangaru BavaFilm

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.