Mumbai, June 21: L.V. Prasad was a remarkable filmmaker in Indian cinema who began his journey as an actor, faced numerous challenges, and eventually made a significant mark as a director. He was honored with one of the highest accolades in cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Prasad passed away on June 22, 1994. Interestingly, his transition to directing was not planned; it was circumstances during a film that led him to the director’s chair.
Born on January 17, 1907, in Somavarappadu village, West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, his real name was Akkineni Lakshmi Vara Prasad Rao. Coming from a farming family, he was wise beyond his years but lacked interest in formal education. His passion for drama, acting, and the film industry drew him in from a young age.
A significant change occurred in his life when his family’s financial situation deteriorated. His father fell into debt, leading the family to face hardships. This prompted L.V. Prasad to try his luck in the film industry, and he moved to Mumbai.
In Mumbai, he found work with Venus Film Company and later joined Imperial Film Company, where he got his first acting opportunity. In 1931, he acted in India’s first talking film, “Alam Ara.” He also appeared in the first Tamil-Telugu bilingual “Talkie Kalidasa” and the first Telugu talkie “Bhakta Prahlada.”
As he worked in films, his interest in directing grew. He initially started as an assistant director. In 1943, he was appointed as an assistant director for the film “Griha Pravesham.” However, due to unforeseen circumstances during production, he had to take over as the director and also acted in the film. Released in 1946, this film was a success, marking the beginning of his recognition as a director.
After that, L.V. Prasad never looked back. In 1949, he directed “Mana Desam,” and the 1950 film “Shavukaru” established him as a successful director. The same year, “Samsaram,” featuring N.T. Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao, became quite popular.
L.V. Prasad made his mark not only in Telugu cinema but also in Hindi and Tamil films. He directed the notable film “Manohara,” featuring Shivaji Ganesan. His recognition in Hindi cinema came through films like “Chhoti Behen,” “Milan,” “Khilona,” “Jeene Ki Raah,” and “Ek Dujhe Ke Liye.”
In addition to directing, he founded Prasad Productions in 1956. He later established Prasad Studio, Film Labs, and the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute.
In 1980, he received the Raghupathi Venkayya Award, and in 1982, the Government of India honored him with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
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