Yaragudipati Varada Rao

Early career Rao moved into film direction and made silent films such as Pandava Nirvan (1930), Pandava Agnathavaas (1930) and Hari Maya (1932). In 1932, a Marwari businessman, Chamanlal Doongaji from Bangalore, launched South India Movie Tone. The company made Sati Sulochana, the first talking picture in Kannada with an expense of . Rao directed this blockbuster film shot at Chatrapathi Cinetone, in Kolhapur; the shooting took eight weeks. He then directed Hari Maya (1932) that starred his first wife, Rajam.

Selected filmography As Director

1930: Pandava Agyathavas (silent) 1930: Sarangadhara (silent) 1932: Hari Maya (Kannada - Director) 1934: Sati Sulochana (Kannada - Cast) 1935: Naganand (Hindi) 1936: Bhama Parinayam (Tamil) 1937: Chintamani (Tamil) 1938: Bhakta Meera (Tamil) 1938: Swarnalatha (Tamil) 1939: Malli Pelli (Telugu - Cast) 1940: Viswa Mohini (Telugu - Cast) 1941: Savithiri (Tamil - Cast, Singer) 1942: Sathyabhama (Telugu - Cast) 1944: Thasildar (Telugu - Cast) 1946: Lavangi (Tamil) 1948: Ramadas (Tamil) 1950: Jeevit Amche Ashe (Konkani) 1952: Manavathi (Telugu-Tamil) 1953: Manjari (Telugu - Cast) 1956: Bhagya Chakra (Kannada) 1958: Sri Krishna Garudi (Telugu) 1961: Nagarjuna (Telugu-Kannada) 1963: Hennina Balu Kanneru (Kannada) 1973: Stree (Telugu)