Puri Jagannadh

Petla "Puri" Jagannadh (born 28 September 1966) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer, who works primarily in the Telugu film Industry. He made his directorial debut in 2000 with the Telugu film Badri starring Pawan Kalyan, Renu Desai and Ameesha Patel. In 2006, he directed the Telugu film Pokiri, premiered at the 7th IIFA Film Festival held in Dubai. The film was later re-made into several Indian languages, and brought Puri widespread Indian recognition. He made his Hindi film debut in 2004, with the film Shart: The Challenge. In 2011, he directed the Hindi film Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap starring Amitabh Bachchan, which was archived in the Oscar library.

He also produces films under his co-owned production companies, Puri Jagannadh Touring Talkies, Vaishno Academy and Puri Connects in partnership with actress Charmme Kaur. He owns a music company called Puri Sangeet. The box office hits that he directed include Badri, Itlu Sravani Subramanyam, Appu, Idiot, Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi, Sivamani, Pokiri, Desamuduru, Golimaar, Businessman, Iddarammayilatho, Heart Attack, Temper and iSmart Shankar.

Early life Puri Jagannadh was born on 28 September 1966 in Pithapuram, Andhra Pradesh. His native place is Bapiraju Kothapalli village of Anakapalli district in Andhra Pradesh. He was schooled at St. Theresa High School, Pedda Boddapalli and graduated from A. M. A. L. College, Anakapalle in 1986.

His first younger brother, Petla Uma Sankara Ganesh, is a former MLA from Narsipatnam, YSR Congress Party, while second younger brother, Sairam Shankar, is an actor.

He married Lavanya in 1996. The couple has a son, Akash and a daughter, Pavithra. Akash made his film debut as a lead in Mehbooba (2018).

His paternal cousin, Parasuram, assisted Puri in several movies before making his directorial debut with Yuvatha (2008).

Career Puri started his film directorial career as an assistant director to Ram Gopal Varma for several Telugu films mainly of action genre. His Telugu film directorial debut, Badri starred Pawan Kalyan. Apart from Telugu films, he has also worked in the Kannada film industry and introduced Puneeth Rajkumar with the film Appu. In 2011 he worked with Amitabh Bachchan in the film Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap.

In 2022, Jagannadh directed action film Liger, which was produced by Dharma Productions and Charmme Kaur. It stars Vijay Deverakonda and Ananya Panday in lead roles. The film was a box-office disappointment.

Filmography

As director Year Title Language Notes 2000 Badri Telugu Bachi 2001 Yuvaraja KannadaRemake of Thammudu (1999), which itself was based on Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), which in turn was inspired by Breaking Away (1979) Itlu Sravani Subramanyam Telugu Nandi Award for Best Story Writer 2002 Appu Kannada Cinema Express Award for Best Director – Kannada Cinema Express Award for Best Film – Kannada Idiot TeluguRemake of Appu 2003 Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi Nandi Award for Best Dialogue Writer Sivamani 2004 Andhrawala Shart: The Challenge Hindi Remake of Badri 143 Telugu 2005 Super 2006 Pokiri Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu Santosham Best Director Award 2007 Desamuduru Chirutha 2008 Bujjigadu Neninthe Nandi Award for Best Dialogue Writer2009 Ek Niranjan 2010 Golimaar 2011 Nenu Naa Rakshasi Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap Hindi 2012 Businessman TeluguSantosham Best Director AwardNominated—SIIMA Award for Best Director – Telugu Devudu Chesina Manushulu Cameraman Gangatho Rambabu 2013 Iddarammayilatho 2014 Heart Attack 2015 Temper Jyothi Lakshmi Loafer 2016 Ism Also playback singer 2017 Rogue TeluguKannadaBilingual film Paisa Vasool Telugu 2018 Mehbooba 2019 iSmart Shankar 2022 Liger TeluguHindiBilingual film

As producer

As actor Shiva (1990) as Shiva's friend Ye Maaya Chesave (2010) as himself Businessman (2012) as a taxi driver Temper (2015) as a biker Ism (2016) as a hotel customer ISmart Shankar (2019) as himself Romantic (2021) as himself in a song Liger (2022) as himself in the song "Coka 2.0" Godfather (2022) as Govardhan Ori Devuda (2022) as himself Double iSmart (2024) as himself in the song ""SteppaMaar"