Krishna Ghattamaneni

Krishna Ghattamaneni was a very famous actor in the Telugu Film industry. His beloved fans popularly called him as "Superstar Krishna." He was born in 1943 to Nagaratnamma Ghattamaneni and Veeraraghavayya Chowdhary near Tenali in Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh. He was the elder son in that family whose occupation was agriculture. His presence was there in more than 350 films. Andhra University felicitated Mr. Krishna with an honorary doctorate in 2008. For the recognition of his contribution to Telugu film industry as an actor, director, producer, writer government of India gave him Padma Bhushan award in 2009. He also got the prestigious Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South in 1997. He completed his intermediate from Narsapur and went to C.R.R College in Eluru to do his graduation. There he met Murali Mohan and Shoban Babu, who also became famous actors in Telugu film industry alongside. He was very enthusiastic in stage performance and participated in all the cultural events during his graduation.

His outstanding skill of acting came to limelight from his role in a play Cheesina Paapam Kaasiki Velleena in College. After the completion of graduation, he got married to Indira Devi in 1962, and they both gave birth to Ramesh Babu Ghattamaneni in 1965. During the very same year, he came up with his debut film "Tenemanasulu”, which was a blockbuster hit and gave Krishna a stardom. By acting in a movie called "Gudachari 116,” a spy film in Telugu, he set a trend for detective roles in the Telugu cinema at that time. He was the first hero who got the opportunity to play as a cowboy through a film namely "Mosagallkau Mosagadu" starring Vijaya Nirmala as Heroine. Another trend-setting role played by him was in Agent Gopi and got the reputation as "Andhra James Bond" at that time. He also played the leading role in "Alluri Sitarama Raju”, a bumper hit film in Telugu film industry. Later he also entered into Direction department by coming up with a movie called "Simhasanam,” where he did a double role and got a bumper hit at box office.

In 1969, he got married to Vijaya Nirmala. Krishna also acted in some of the movies under the direction of Vijaya Nirmala. He also established a film production company called Padmalaya Studios with his brothers. He entered into politics through the Congress party side and won from Eluru constituency in 1989. From 1990 onwards, he saw the darkest side of his life. Except Naggasthram, none of his movies gone well in theaters. After the release of Raktha Tharpanam, he took a long break and in 1993 again starred in super hit films like Pacchani Samsaaram and Vaaraasudu an action film under the direction of E. V. V. Satyanarayana. In 1995, he again came up with successful movies like Number 1 and Amma Dongaa!. He also directed a Hindi movie Ishq Hai Tumse under the production of Padmalaya Telefilms.

Krishna Ghattamaneni is born to Veeraraghavayya Chowdhary and Nagaratnamma Ghattamaneni in Burripallem, Andhra Pradesh, India. He is the eldest of his siblings. 

He was unable to achieve convent education, so he was in a local school of his village. He moved to Denali and Narsapur for his S.S.C. Impressed by Krishna’s academic performance, his father sent him to a known C.R.R. College in Eluru. There, his roommates were Shoban Babu and Murali Mohan, who were aspiring actors. Krishna performed in cultural events of his college. His acting in the "Cheesina Paapam Kaasiki Velleena" was appreciated. It encouraged him to pursue acting.
After his graduation, he tied knots with Indira Devi. In 1965, Ramesh Babu Ghattamaneni was born, the same time Krishna’s featured film "Tenemanasulu", became a hit, making him a star. He popularized and became a trend setter by his Telugu film "Gudachari 116." He was then the lead of "Mosagallkau Mosagadu." He played another detective role in "Agent Gopi" after which he was label as "Andhra James Bond". He was in "Alluri Sitarama Raju,". He was later in "Simhasanam." Which he also directed. 

In 1968, Padmavathi was born to him. Later he married Vijaya Nirmala, and this was all over the news as both of them were married. Krishna got married to Indira Devi and had three more children. He had no children with Vijaya, but he raised her son Naresh. Vijaya Nirmala's made a record in Guinness Book of Records as the most prolific female director in 2002. 
Krishna with his brothers established "Padmalaya Studios” and even won so much respect for being an excellent actor, director, producer, distributor aa well as an exhibitor. He even acted in political movies like that of Congress. He, later on, continued being a part of films and kept supporting Mahesh Babu in his acting career. 

His list of achievement in Indian films is tremendous. He has won many awards including the 2009 Padma Bhushan. He won the NTR National Award for the year 2003 and 1997, Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South.

On 14th November 2022, Krishna was admitted to the hospital after a cardiac arrest and breathlessness. After CPR for 20 minutes, he was revived. But, he died on 15th November 2022 due to a massive cardiac arrest.

Ghattamaneni Family Tree (Infographic Family Tree)