L. V. Prasad

L. V. Prasad Biography

Akkineni Lakshmi Vara Prasada Rao, shortly known as L. V. Prasad was a producer, actor, director and cinematographer who concentrated most on Telugu cinema. He was a successful businessman also. He is the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, highest honours of Indian cinema. Prasad Studios, Prasads IMAX and L V Prasad Eye Institute were founded by L. V. Prasad. He has acted as the Chairman of 27th National Film Awards Selection Committee in 1980 as well as All India Selection Panel of Indian Panorama section for the 8th International Film Festival of India held in 1981. He has also held high positions like Member of the Board of Film Censors, Chairman of the International Jury for Children’s Film Festival and President of The South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce.

Lakshmi Varaprasada Rao was born on 17 January in 1908 as the son of Akkineni Sriramulu and Basavamma in Somavarapadu, AP.  He belonged to a poor agricultural family. Later he became attracted towards acting and dramas and used to perform in local dramas. He married his uncle’s daughter at the age of 17, had a baby soon, yet struggled due to financial troubles. So, he thought of finding opportunity in cinema to financially support the poor family.

He reached Mumbai. But his language proved the main obstacle and got a temporary job as a cleaner in a tailoring shop. Then he worked as an errand boy for Venus Film Company and India Pictures. There he got a bit-part role in the silent film Star of the East. But the movie was not released. But he was able to get a small role for him in India's first "talkie", Alam Ara (1931) with the recommendation of Moti, the sister of Dharilal whom he know from Venus Film Company. Then he got bit roles in movies like Kalidas and Bhakthi Prahlada.  

In 1943 he got the opportunity to become Assistant director of Gruha Pravesam and circumstances gave him the lead role of the movie. The movie released in the year 1946 was regarded as a classic during the era of 1040’s. It gave a good start to his acting career and branching as one of the leading names of Indian film industry. Though he started with Hindi, he later concentrated towards Telugu and has contributed as an actor, producer, cinematographer and director of the industry.

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Updated: November 18, 2013