T. Prakash Rao

Tatineni Prakash Rao was born in Kapileswarapuram of Krishna district in present-day Andhra Pradesh. He was a member of the CPI before Indian Independence and was associated with Praja Natya Mandali, a radical theatre movement.^[1]

Later, Prakash Rao moved to Madras to join the film industry like many others who did not the like the turn of events in the Communist movement.^[1] He started his career as an assistant to L. V. Prasad^[1] for films like Palnati Yuddham (1947), Mana Desam (1949), Shavukaru (1950), Samsaram (1950). He also worked with K. V. Reddy for some time on Pathala Bhairavi (1951).^[1] He debuted as a director with the Telugu film Palletooru (1952).

Prakash Rao's wife Tatineni Annapurna (b. 1930) died on May 10, 2021, in Vijayawada at the age of 91 due to COVID-19.^[2][3]

His son T. L. V. Prasad is a film director while his daughter Leela settled in the US.^[2] Prakash Rao's grandson Tatineni Satya is also a film director who debuted with Bheemili Kabaddi Jattu (2010).^[4] Noted director Tatineni Rama Rao is a cousin of Prakash Rao.^[5][6][7] Rama Rao worked as an assistant director to Prakash Rao in the beginning of his career.

As a director

As an assistant director