Krishna, whose full name is Ghattamaneni Siva Rama Krishna Murthy, was a highly esteemed Indian actor, director, producer, and politician, primarily known for his work in Telugu films.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Krishna was born on 31st May 1943 in the village of Burripalem, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Krishna’s personal life saw two marriages. His first wife, Indira Devi, passed away in 2022 after battling prolonged health issues. His second wife, Vijaya Nirmala, was a prominent actress, director, and producer in the Telugu film industry, who unfortunately passed away in 2019 after suffering a cardiac arrest.
On 15th November 2022, Krishna tragically passed away due to a cardiac arrest at the age of 79. His death was mourned by the entire film fraternity, and the Telugu Film Producers Council paid tribute to him by closing film-related operations for a day. Krishna’s legacy as a legendary actor, director, and producer will forever remain an integral part of Indian cinema’s history.
CAREER
Krishna earned several popular names throughout his illustrious career, such as “Nata Sekhara,” “Superstar Krishna,” “Daring and Dashing Hero,” and “James Bond of Telugu films.”
His acting journey began in 1961 with a supporting role in the Telugu film “Kula Gotralu” as a bridegroom. However, it was in 1965 when he rose to fame as a lead actor with the film “Thene Manasulu,” where he portrayed the character of Basavaraju. From there on, Krishna became a prominent figure in the Telugu film industry, delivering memorable performances in numerous films.
Krishna’s contribution to Indian cinema was acknowledged through various prestigious awards and honors. In 1974, he received the Nandi Award for Best Actor for his role in the film “Alluri Sita Rama Raju.” In 1997, he was bestowed with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South at the Filmfare Awards South ceremony. Furthermore, he was granted an honorary doctorate by Andhra University in 2008. In 2009, the Indian government honored him with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, for his outstanding contributions to the film industry. He also received the NTR National Award in 2013 and the Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR) National Award in 2015.
Apart from his acting career, Krishna was actively involved in film production and direction. He co-founded the production company Padmalaya Studios in 1971 along with his brothers. He produced and directed several successful films, including “Devudu Chesina Manushulu” (1973) and “Simhasanam” (1986).
Krishna entered politics and joined the Indian National Congress in 1984, inspired by the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He served as a Member of Parliament from the Eluru parliamentary constituency from 1989 to 1991. However, after the tragic assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, Krishna decided to quit politics.
Krishna was a man of many records and accomplishments in the film industry. He introduced various technical advancements and genres in Telugu cinema, including the spy action thriller and cowboy/western genres. He produced and acted in numerous films, creating a unique record of appearing in 25 films in a double role and 7 films in a triple role.
