Pothina Doondeswara Rao (9 June 1932 – 1 January 2007), popularly known as Doondi or Dhoondy , was an Indian film producer and director noted for his work in Telugu cinema.
[2] Doondi’s father, Pothina Srinivasa Rao, was the founder of Maruthi Talkies, the first cinema hall in Andhra Pradesh, which began operations in 1921.
Doondi produced notable films such as Rakta Sambandham (1962), Bandipotu (1963), Veerabhimanyu (1965), Gudachari 116 (1966), Marapurani Katha (1967) and Chelleli Kosam (1968).
[8] Doondi introduced significant talents to the industry, such as writer and director Mullapudi Venkata Ramana with Rakta Sambandham (1962), and gave Sobhan Babu a star status with Veerabhimanyu (1965).
[13] Doondi was influential in adapting South Indian films for Hindi audiences, producing Farz (1967) with Sunderlal Nahata, which was a remake of Gudachari 116 and helped establish Jeetendra's career.
In addition to producing, Doondi directed films including Abhimanavati (1975) in Telugu[17] and Adha Din Aadhi Raat (1977) in Hindi.