Kovelamudi Bapayya

Kovelamudi Bapayya Biography

Kovelamudi Bapayya, shortly called K. Bapaiah is a Telugu film director who has made a few Hindi movies also. He is known for making family entertainers for audience of both north and south. Dildaar, Dil Aur Deewar, Bandish, Takkar, Aag Aur Shola, Pyar Ka Mandir, Ghar Ek Mandir, Pataal Bhairavi, Izzatdaar, Pyar Ka Karz, Pyar ka devta, Diya Aur Toofan, Pyar Hua Chori Chori and Maqsad are his noted Bollywood movies and he is known for the association with Jeetendra and Mithun Chakraborty, most notably in the 1980’s. He has also worked with super star Rajesh Khanna for a few movies. Soggadu (1975) is his blockbuster film in Telugu, which starred Sobhan Babu, Jayachitra and Jayasudha in the pivot roles. Later the movie was remade to Hindi titled, Dildaar in 1977 which starred Jeetendra, Rekha and Moushumi Chatterjee in the pivot roles and was a box office hit.

Bapayya lost both his parents at a younger age and he was brought up by his uncle, K. S. Prakash Rao – noted film maker. Film director K. Raghavendra Rao is his cousin. His studies were completed at   Vijayawada and Chennai and very soon he joined film industry as an assistant. He worked under director K. B. Tilak for the movies in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Later he worked under Tapi Chanakya. To direct a movie, the offer was given by D. Ramanaidu. He made his directorial debut with 1970 movie Drohi, after spending more than a decade in the industry as an assistant. The movie starred Kongara Jaggayya and Vanisri in lead roles.

It was followed by Memu Manushulame, Urvasi, Eduruleni Manishi and Soggadu. Soggadu, released in 1975 was a huge blockbuster and established K. Bapaiah as a star director. He made his Bollywood debut with Dildaar in 1977, which was the remake of his biggest hit, Soggadu. He was active in the industry till mid 1990s. Towards the end of his career, he fully concentrated on to Hindi film industry by remaking a few south Indian hits. Pyar Hua Chori Chori starring Mithun Chakraborty and Gouthami in lead roles was the remake of Malayalam blockbuster – Chitram. He made Parda Hai Parda – remake of Malayalam hit In Harihar Nagar, which turned to be a surprise hit. This movie is best remembered as the only solo hit of Chunky Pandey. The movie also marked the Hindi debut of south Indian star actress – Meena. The same movie was remade by Priyadarshan in 2007 titled Dhol.

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Updated: July 31, 2014