Yalamanchili Venkata Satyanarayana Chowdary is an Indian Telugu cinema writer, director, producer, distributor, exhibitor and a music company owner. He made his debut as a director in 1998 with the film Sri Sita Ramula Kalyanam Chootamu Raarandi produced by Nagarjuna under the banner "Great India Entertainments". He then directed Seetharama Raju starring Nagarjuna and Nandamuri Harikrishna, and Yuvaraju starring Mahesh Babu. He then established his own production house "Bommarillu Vari" and started producing his own directorial efforts with Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo. Later, he directed Seetayya, Devadasu, Okka Magaadu, Saleem, Rey. Among these, Saleem is the only film which is not from his production house.[2] He has directed nine films till date. In 2012, he produced Nippu starring Ravi Teja and Deeksha Seth[3] under the direction of Gunasekhar.[4][5]

Y. V. S. Chowdary
Chowdary on sets of Rey
Born
Yalamanchili Venkata Satyanarayana Chowdary

Occupations
  • screenwriter
  • film director
  • film producer
  • film distributor
  • film exhibitor
  • music label owner
Years active1998 – present

Chowdary says he entered the Telugu film industry inspired by Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao.[6][7] He introduced various actors including Venkat, Chandini and Chandu with his debut film Sri Sita Ramula Kalyanam Chootamu Raarandi (1998), Aditya Om and Ankitha with Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo (2002), Ram Pothineni and Ileana with Devadasu (2006), Sai Dharam Tej and Saiyami Kher with Rey (2015), though Sai Dharam Tej's second film Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham (2014) was released earlier than Rey.[4]

Early life edit

Chowdary was born on at Gudiwada of Krishna district as a last child to the couple Yalamanchili Narayana Rao and Ratnakumari. His father was a truck driver and mother was a housewife. His family was of lower middle class and his parents were uneducated.[6]

He joined a college at Gudiwada to pursue Intermediate and joined an engineering college at Madras.[1][6]

Film career edit

Early years edit

Chowdary joined as an assistant to editor Narasimha Rao. He also worked for Raghavendra Rao's films Kaliyuga Pandavulu, Sahasa Samrat, Agni Putrudu, Donga Ramudu, Janaki Ramudu, Rudranetra and Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari.

Chowdary's directorial debut film Sri Sitaramula Kalyanam Chutamu Rarandi started with Nagarjuna as producer in "Great India Entertainments" production house.[6] The film was released on 26 June 1998 was successful which brought him 26 offers from different producers.[6][8][better source needed] After the success of first film, Nagarjuna gave Chowdary an opportunity to direct him and that turned out to be his second film Seetharama Raju.[6][9] He later directed Yuvaraju starring Mahesh Babu, Simran, and Sakshi Shivanand.[1][6]

Turning into producer: Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo (2002) edit

 
Logo of Chowdary's production house "Bommarillu Vaari". "Bommarillu means a house that makes films or a house that exhibits films", Chowdary said in an interview.[6]

Chowdary first production Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo, starrin Nandamuri Harikrishna, was named after the title of a song from popular Telugu film Mayabazar directed by K. V. Reddy.[6] The film became successful and ran for 100 days and he organized the event at Gudiwada.[1][6][10] In an interview, Chowdary stated that R. Narayana Murthy, who established "Sneha Chitra" and E. V. V. Satyanarayana, who established E. V .V. Cinema inspired him for establishing "Bommarillu Vaari" production house.[6][10][11][12]

Later years (2003–present) edit

Nandamuri Harikrishna became a commercially successful actor at the age of 48 with Seetayya, directed by Chowdary.[11] After Seetayya, Chowdary met Sravanthi Ravi Kishore for the film Devadasu. The film featured Kishore's nephew Ram Pothineni and Ileana D'Cruz, The film was released on 11 January 2006 and became a blockbuster grossing 17 crores.[13][14][15] During the post production of Devadasu, Chowdary approached Nandamuri Balakrishna to collaborate for Okka Magaadu. It was released on 11 January 2008. The film became a flop and most of the theaters were seen vacant after the first week of release.[16][17][18]

Chowdary then directed Saleem starring Manchu Vishnu, Ileana and Mohan Babu in prominent roles. It was produced by Mohan Babu in his production house Sree Lakshmi Prasanna Pictures. This was the only film Chowdary didn't produce after establishing his own production house. It was released on 12 December 2009 and failed to get appreciation from audiences and critics.[2][19][20][21]

In 2012, Chowdary produced the film Nippu under the direction of Gunasekhar, starring Ravi Teja and Deeksha Seth. Chowdary and Ravi Teja shared same room and Gunasekhar lived in another floor of same building at Madras, during their trails in film industry. This film was released on 17 February 2012.[22] Though it got good openings it turned out to be a flop later.[5][23][24][25][26] In 2010, Chowdary launched the film Rey introducing Chiranjeevi's nephew Sai Dharam Tej and Saiyami Kher as lead actors. The release was then postponed to 2013 but it didn't happen too. Finally, the film was released on 27 March 2015.[27] Meanwhile, Tej's second film Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham directed by A. S. Ravikumar Chowdary was released. However, Rey became a flop.[7][28][29][30][31] Chowdary is now in trails of launching his next film with debut actors again.[32]

Personal life edit

While working for Ninne Pelladata, Chowdary liked actress Geetha who played the role of Nagarjuna's sister. With mutual consent, they both wanted to get married but Chowdary's parents were not willing to accept an inter-caste marriage. Later, he convinced them and married Geetha. She also acted in Sindhooram opposite Ravi Teja.[6][1] After Seetayya, Chowdary took a break of one year as his brother expired and Chowdary's elder daughter was born.[13] Chowdary has two daughters.

Chowdary had a good personal rapport with Nandamuri Harikrishna from the time of Pattabhishekam, as the latter was the producer of that film. Harikrishna personally took Chowdary along with him to many places. "He was the person who taught me the etiquettes of star hotels. I never knew how to use forks", Chowdary remembered his relationship with Harikrishna in an interview.[1] After the success of Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo, Chowdary held a function at a place where Harikrishna contested and failed in elections, to show the following he had.[11]

Other work edit

Chowdary is a big fan of Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao whom he claims as his inspiration to enter the film industry. Every film produced in his production house "Bommarillu Vaari" starts with a prayer song on NTR by showing his picture on screen. It ends showing his picture again.[33] The prayer song was written, composed and sung by music director M. M. Keeravani.[34] Chowdary started an audio company "Yuktha Music" named after his elder daughter Yuktha and released the audio of Devadasu as the first album through it. He printed 36-page and 24-page special invitations for the film launch and audio launch events respectively of Devadasu.[35]

Chowdary purchased the "Gopala Krishna" theater at Gudivada. He renovated it and renamed it as "Bommarillu" after his production house. It was the first movie theater at Gudivada with AC and DTS technologies. He exhibited Okka Magaadu as the first film in it.[16]

Filmography edit

Year Film Credited as Notes Ref.
Director Writer Producer
1998 Sri Sita Ramula Kalyanam Chootamu Raarandi Yes Yes No [8]
1999 Seetharama Raju Yes Yes No [36]
2000 Yuvaraju Yes Yes No [37]
2002 Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo Yes Yes Yes [38]
2003 Seetayya Yes Yes Yes [39]
Tiger Harischandra Prasad No No No Editor [40]
2006 Devadasu Yes Yes Yes [41]
2008 Okka Magaadu Yes Yes Yes [18]
2009 Saleem Yes Yes No [21]
2012 Nippu No No Yes [22]
2015 Rey Yes Yes Yes [27]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Y.V.S. Chowdary". 18 July 2005. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Saleem announcement". 14 August 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Deeksha Seth in 'Nippu' – Telugu Movie News". IndiaGlitz. 26 May 2011. Archived from the original on 28 May 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Y.V.S. Chowdary". Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Interview with YVS Chowdary". 8 January 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Interview with YVS Chowdary by Jeevi". 9 July 2002. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Chitchat with Y.V.S.Chowdhary : Movie lovers have always blessed me". 1 May 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Sri Sitaramula Kalyanam Chutamu Rarandi (1998)". IMDb. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Nandamuri Harikrishna, a rebel in family politics of TDP". The Times of India. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  10. ^ a b "100 days function of Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo". Archived from the original on 28 August 2002. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  11. ^ a b c "హరికృష్ణ ని హీరోగా పెట్టి ఎందుకు సినిమా తీశానంటే : వై వి ఎస్ చౌదరి". 30 August 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  12. ^ "Rey will collect a minimum of 30 crores – YVS Chowdary Bommarillu Vaari banner completes 11 years". 1 May 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  13. ^ a b "Chitchat with YVS Chowdary on Devadasu". 5 January 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  14. ^ "A few hits and many flops". The Hindu. 29 December 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  15. ^ "Top 10 - Trade report - First half of year 2006". 4 July 2006. Archived from the original on 10 August 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  16. ^ a b "YVS Chowdary About Okka Magadu". 15 January 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  17. ^ "'Okka Magadu' Black Tickets Story In Hyderabad". 15 January 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  18. ^ a b "Okka Magadu". Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  19. ^ "'Saleem' Review: Heads Boil Like 'Haleem'". 12 December 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  20. ^ "Saleem". 12 December 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Saleem". Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  22. ^ "Ravi Teja's Nippu opens up to massive response at Box Office". 18 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  23. ^ "Nippu release postponed to Feb 17". 24 January 2012. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  24. ^ "'Nippu' Review: No Fire, Only Smoke". 17 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  25. ^ "Ravi Teja All Movies Box Office Collection Hits or Flops Analysis List". 4 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  26. ^ a b "Rey". Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  27. ^ "Rey film launch". 17 October 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  28. ^ "Interview with YVS Chowdary". 24 March 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  29. ^ "Interview : Y.V.S.Chowdary- Rey is the shout for success". 26 March 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  30. ^ "Sai dharam tej movies boxoffice collections". 29 March 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  31. ^ "YVS Chowdary to launch newcomers for his next". The Times of India. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  32. ^ "YVS Chowdary tribute to NTR". 28 May 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  33. ^ "ఎన్టీఆర్ వర్ధంతి సందర్భంగా వైవిఎస్ చౌదరి లేఖ". 17 January 2018. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  34. ^ "Audio release - Devadasu". 27 November 2005. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  35. ^ "Seetharamaraju". Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  36. ^ "Yuvaraju". Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  37. ^ "Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo (2002)". Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  38. ^ "Seetayya". Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  39. ^ Jeevi (18 December 2003). "Movie review - Tiger Harischandra Prasad". Idlebrain.com.
  40. ^ "Devadasu". Retrieved 6 May 2019.


External links edit