Krishna
Ghattamaneni Siva Rama Krishna Murthy (31 May 1943 – 15 November 2022), known mononymously as Krishna, was a prolific Indian actor, director, and producer who transformed the landscape of Telugu cinema. Over a career spanning five decades, he starred in more than 350 films in a variety of roles, earning acclaim for his extensive work and fearless creative risks. Krishna began his film career in 1961 with minor roles before achieving his breakthrough with his first lead role in Thene Manasulu (1965). He later starred in several landmark films, including the critically acclaimed Sakshi (1967) and the family drama Pandanti Kapuram (1972), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu. More than just a leading man, Krishna is celebrated as the industry’s foremost technological trailblazer who dared to reshape the cinematic experience. He portrayed the revolutionary lead in the first film to be entirely made in CinemaScope, the historical epic Alluri Seetarama Raju (1974), and later produced, directed, and headlined the first 70 mm feature, Simhasanam (1986), greatly expanding the visual scale and ambition of regional filmmaking. He also introduced the spy genre to South India with Gudachari 116 (1966) and the Western genre with Mosagallaku Mosagadu (1971), notably regarded as the first true Western in Indian cinema. In addition to his acting career, Krishna directed 17 feature films and produced numerous projects through the production company he founded, Padmalaya Studios. For his outstanding contributions to Indian cinema and his pioneering role in modernizing the industry, he was honored with the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2009. In 1989, he was also elected as a Member of Parliament representing the Congress party. His final major release was Sri Sri (2016), after which he retired from films. Krishna passed away on November 15, 2022, following a cardiac arrest.
Filmography
Sri Sri
as Sri Sri
Sri Sri
as Sri Sri
Sukumarudu
Sukumarudu
Sevakudu
as Krishna Prasad
Sevakudu
as Krishna Prasad
Kanthaswamy
as Krishna Rao
Kanthaswamy
as Krishna Rao
Baladur
as Ramakrishna
Baladur
as Ramakrishna
Satyabhama
as Psychiatrist
Satyabhama
as Psychiatrist
Sravana Masam
as Krishna Rao
Sravana Masam
as Krishna Rao
Message of Peace
as Jesus
Message of Peace
as Jesus
Takkari Donga
as Special appearance
Takkari Donga
as Special appearance
Pandanti Samsaram
as Krishnamanaidu
Pandanti Samsaram
as Krishnamanaidu
Vamsi
as Arjun
Vamsi
as Arjun
Ravanna
as Retired Army Major
Ravanna
as Retired Army Major
Rajakumarudu
as Krishnamurthy
Rajakumarudu
as Krishnamurthy
Sultan
as Ashok
Sultan
as Ashok
Osey Ramulamma
as CBI officer Krishna
Osey Ramulamma
as CBI officer Krishna
Ramudochadu
as Krishna Prasad (Cameo appearance)
Ramudochadu
as Krishna Prasad (Cameo appearance)
Jagadeka Veerudu
Jagadeka Veerudu
Amma Donga!
as Chakradhar
Amma Donga!
as Chakradhar
Telugu Veera Levara
as seeta rama raju
Telugu Veera Levara
as seeta rama raju
Yamaleela
as Special appearance
Yamaleela
as Special appearance
Raktha Tharpanam
Raktha Tharpanam
Alludu Diddina Kapuram
Alludu Diddina Kapuram
Indra Bhavanam
Indra Bhavanam
Nagastharam
Nagastharam
Anna Thammudu
as Raja Krishna Prasad
Anna Thammudu
as Raja Krishna Prasad
Rickshawala
Rickshawala
Koduku Diddina Kapuram
as Chakravarthy
Koduku Diddina Kapuram
as Chakravarthy
Sarvabhoumudu
Sarvabhoumudu
Gudachari 117
as Chandrakanth, Secret Agent 117
Gudachari 117
as Chandrakanth, Secret Agent 117
Atha Mechina Alludu
Atha Mechina Alludu
Mugguru Kodukulu
as Phanindra
Mugguru Kodukulu
as Phanindra
Maharajashri Mayagaadu
Maharajashri Mayagaadu
Jamadagni
Jamadagni
Rajakiya Chadurangam
as S.P. Pratap
Rajakiya Chadurangam
as S.P. Pratap
Kaliyuga Karnudu
Kaliyuga Karnudu
Maa Voori Magaadu
as Ravi
Maa Voori Magaadu
as Ravi
Vishwanatha Nayakudu
as Vishwanatha Nayakudu
Vishwanatha Nayakudu
as Vishwanatha Nayakudu
Sankharavam
as Vijay / Vikram
Sankharavam
as Vijay / Vikram
Makutamleni Maharaju
as Pardhasaradhi
Makutamleni Maharaju
as Pardhasaradhi
Jayam Manade
Jayam Manade
Simhasanam
as Vikrama Simha / Aditya Vardhana
Simhasanam
as Vikrama Simha / Aditya Vardhana
Pachani Kapuram
as Gopi
Pachani Kapuram
as Gopi
Vajrayudham
Vajrayudham
Agni Parvatham
as Chandram / Jamadagni
Agni Parvatham
as Chandram / Jamadagni
Dongalu Baboi Dongalu
as Rama / Krishna
Dongalu Baboi Dongalu
as Rama / Krishna
Kanchu Kaagada
as Vikram
Kanchu Kaagada
as Vikram
Iddaru Dongalu
Iddaru Dongalu
Poratam
as Krishna Murthy
Poratam
as Krishna Murthy
Ramarajyamlo Bheemaraju
as Bheemaraju / Krishna Raja Kumar
Ramarajyamlo Bheemaraju
as Bheemaraju / Krishna Raja Kumar
Siripuram Monagadu
as Sridhar
Siripuram Monagadu
as Sridhar
Adavi Simhalu
as Krishna
Adavi Simhalu
as Krishna
Mundhadugu
as Balagangadhara Tilak
Mundhadugu
as Balagangadhara Tilak
Oorantha Sankranthi
as Gopi
Oorantha Sankranthi
as Gopi
Kalavaari Samsaram
as Vishnu
Kalavaari Samsaram
as Vishnu
Krishnavataram
as Kishtayya
Krishnavataram
as Kishtayya
Vayyari Bhamalu Vagalamari Bhartalu
as Chinmababu Diwakar
Vayyari Bhamalu Vagalamari Bhartalu
as Chinmababu Diwakar
Krishnarajunulu
as Arjun
Krishnarajunulu
as Arjun
Bangaru Koduku
Bangaru Koduku
Edi Dharmam Edi Nyayam
Edi Dharmam Edi Nyayam
Gadasari Atta Sogasari Kodalu
Gadasari Atta Sogasari Kodalu
Bhoga Bhagyalu
Bhoga Bhagyalu
Rahasya Gudachari
as Agent Gopi, 116
Rahasya Gudachari
as Agent Gopi, 116
Guru Sishyulu
as Gopi
Guru Sishyulu
as Gopi
Todu Dongalu
Todu Dongalu
Ooriki Monagadu
as Ravi
Ooriki Monagadu
as Ravi
Bangaru Bava
Bangaru Bava
Chuttalunnaru Jagrattha
as Ramesh & Gangulu
Chuttalunnaru Jagrattha
as Ramesh & Gangulu
Ram Robert Rahim
as Robert
Ram Robert Rahim
as Robert
Adrushtavanthudu
Adrushtavanthudu
Mama Allulla Saval
Mama Allulla Saval
Devudichina Koduku
Devudichina Koduku
Bhale Krishnudu
as Krishna
Bhale Krishnudu
as Krishna
Samajaniki Sawal
Samajaniki Sawal
Burripalem Bullodu
as Chittibabu
Burripalem Bullodu
as Chittibabu
Hema Hemeelu
as Knight King Raja
Hema Hemeelu
as Knight King Raja
Chal Mohana Ranga
Chal Mohana Ranga
Agent Gopi
as Agent Gopi, 113
Agent Gopi
as Agent Gopi, 113
Alluri Seetarama Raju
as Alluri Seetarama Raju
Alluri Seetarama Raju
as Alluri Seetarama Raju
Vintha Katha
Vintha Katha
Talli Kodukulu
Talli Kodukulu
Rajamahal
as Gopi
Rajamahal
as Gopi
Monagadostunnadu Jagratha
as Raja
Monagadostunnadu Jagratha
as Raja
Pandanti Kapuram
as Ravi
Pandanti Kapuram
as Ravi
James Bond 777
as Kishore
James Bond 777
as Kishore
Mosagallaku Mosagadu
as Krishna Prasad
Mosagallaku Mosagadu
as Krishna Prasad
Padandi Munduku
Padandi Munduku