Edida Nageswara Rao (24 April 1934 – 4 October 2015) was an Indian film producer and actor known for his work in Telugu cinema.
[1] Nageswara Rao began his career with minor acting roles and as a dubbing artist before establishing Poornodaya Movie Creations, a production house that produced several critically acclaimed and commercially successful films.
[2] Nageswara Rao collaborated with prominent directors such as K. Viswanath, Bharathiraja, and Vamsy, creating iconic films like Sankarabharanam (1980), Seethakoka Chilaka (1981), Sagara Sangamam (1983), Sitaara (1984), Swati Mutyam (1986), Swayam Krushi (1987), and Aapadbandhavudu (1992).
[7] Edida Nageswara Rao was born on 24 April 1934 into a Kapu family[8] to Sattiraju Naidu and Papalakshmi in Kothapeta, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh.
[10] He settled in Madras and began his acting career, gaining recognition with his role as S. V. Ranga Rao's second son in Aatma Bandhuvu (1964).
He appeared in minor roles in films such as Sangeeta Lakshmi (1966), Ranabheri (1968), Pavitra Bandham (1971), Mattilo Manikyam (1971), Chinnanati Snehitulu (1971), Manavadu Danavudu (1972), Neramu Siksha (1973), Bangaru Babu (1973), and Devude Digivaste (1975).
His collaboration with director K. Viswanath, beginning with Chinnanati Snehitulu and Neramu Siksha, proved to be a significant aspect of his career.
[10] Nageswara Rao collaborated with friends from Kakinada, including Bhaskara Reddy, to dub a Tamil film and release it in Telugu as Venkateswara Kalyanam.
[11] Edida Nageswara Rao, who had a close connection with director K. Viswanath, learned that the latter had a script blending music and literature.
Made on a modest budget with lesser-known actors, Sankarabharanam grossed over ₹1 crore, bringing Nageswara Rao widespread recognition and cementing the film as a milestone in Telugu cinema.
This film marked a departure from the classical theme of his previous venture and focused on a romantic story promoting inter-religious harmony.
[15] Following Sitara, Nageswara Rao reunited with K. Viswanath to produce Swathi Muthyam (1986), which starred Kamal Haasan and Radhika.
Despite high expectations, the film struggled at the box office due to competition and poor execution, which led to a major financial loss for Nageswara Rao.
[3] Nageswara Rao’s final film as a producer was Apathbandhavudu (1992), directed by K. Viswanath and starring Chiranjeevi and Meenakshi Seshadri.
The story revolves around a man who sacrifices his own desires to save the woman he loves, who suffers from a mental breakdown after a traumatic incident.
His collaborations with directors like K. Viswanath, Bharathiraja, and Vamsy resulted in several critically acclaimed films in the 1980s and 1990s, known for their artistic value and innovative storytelling.
[6] Nageswara Rao focused on producing meaningful, aesthetically rich films, avoiding the commercial formulas popular during his time.