Ghattamaneni Siva Rama Krishna Murthy
Ghattamaneni Siva Rama Krishna Murthy, popularly known as Krishna, was a legendary Indian actor, director, producer, and politician, whose career had a profound impact on Telugu cinema. Born on May 31, 1943, in Burripalem village, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, Krishna rose from modest beginnings in a middle-class agricultural family. His journey into film began after his passion for acting was ignited in college dramas and theatrical performances. Krishna made his lead debut in the film "Thene Manasulu" (1965) and went on to act in over 350 films across five decades, becoming known as “Superstar” and “Nata Sekhara” among Telugu audiences. His filmography includes a wide variety of genres, featuring landmark movies like "Gudachari 116," "Mosagallaku Mosagadu," "Alluri Seetarama Raju," and "Pandanti Kapuram," the latter winning the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu. Krishna was known for introducing several technological and thematic innovations in Telugu cinema, such as the first Cinemascope (Alluri Seetarama Raju), first 70mm film (Simhasanam), and first DTS film (Telugu Veera Levara), and for popularizing spy and cowboy genres in the South Indian industry. Besides a dynamic film career, he directed 17 films, produced several others under his Padmalaya Studios banner, and was one of the highest-paid actors of his era. Krishna’s accolades include the Padma Bhushan in 2009, a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, and an Honorary Doctorate from Andhra University. Additionally, he briefly served as a Member of Parliament for the Congress party in 1989. He married twice, to Indira Devi and later to actress-director Vijaya Nirmala, and was the patriarch to a film family including children Ramesh Babu, Manjula, Mahesh Babu, and Priyadarshini. Krishna passed away on November 15, 2022, leaving behind a monumental legacy in the Indian film industry.